Nobody makes a home inventory for fun. You make it because the one time you need it — after a burglary, a flood, a fire — insurers ask you to prove what you owned, and “I think there was a TV” is not proof. The good news: a usable inventory takes an hour or two, your phone is all the equipment you need, and you only have to do the bulk of it once.
Your phone is enough
You do not need special software or a professional. A list in a notebook will technically do the job; a phone, which can photograph, film, and store everything in one place, does it far better. The aim is simple: a record, kept somewhere safe, that shows what you owned and roughly what it was worth.
Work room by room
Trying to list “everything” is overwhelming, so don’t. Go one room at a time and treat each as a small, finishable task: living room, kitchen, each bedroom, bathroom, hallway, then the places people forget — the attic, basement, garage, and any outbuildings named on your policy. Open drawers, closets and storage boxes as you go; a surprising amount of value hides inside them.
What to record for each item
For everyday things, keep it light: a description and a rough count is fine. For anything of real value, capture more:
- What it is — description, brand and model.
- Age and purchase price, and the rough cost to replace it today.
- Serial numbers for electronics and appliances.
- Proof — a photo of the receipt, an order confirmation email, or an appraisal document.
Don’t limit the list to electronics and jewelry. Furniture, clothing, kitchenware, books, bedding and tools add up to far more than most people guess, and they are exactly what a “contents” policy is meant to cover. Include the things you use only occasionally too — holiday decorations, sports gear, power tools — and high-value items kept outside, like a grill or garden equipment.
Photograph and film everything
Photos and video are the fastest proof you can make. A good method: walk through each room filming, narrating as you go — “55-inch TV, bought 2024, Sony,” opening cupboards and closets so the camera sees inside. Then take clear stills of anything valuable, close enough to read a serial plate. Fifteen minutes of video can stand in for pages of typing.
Get appraisals for the big stuff
Expensive jewelry, art, antiques and collectibles often need a professional appraisal to be insured for their true value, especially if you have no receipt. It is worth doing before you need it — an appraisal after a loss is far harder.
Store it where a disaster can’t reach it
This is the step people get wrong: they keep the inventory on the same laptop, in the same house, that the fire takes. Keep at least one copy off-site or in the cloud — an email to yourself, a cloud drive, or a fireproof box. Whatever service you use, check its privacy settings first, because this file is a map of everything you own.
Keep it current
Review the inventory once a year and after any major purchase, and share a copy with your insurer so they can check your coverage limits are actually high enough. An inventory that stops at the day you made it slowly stops being true.
Where My Storage List fits
This is my app, so take it with the appropriate pinch of salt. My Storage List was built to catalog boxes, but the same machinery works for a home inventory: photograph an item, let on-device AI suggest the name, add value and serial if you like, and it keeps everything in a searchable list grouped by room or box. You can export a PDF to hand your insurer, and because it supports iCloud, a copy lives off your device by default — which is exactly where an inventory should be. It won’t file your claim, but it turns “document the whole house” into an afternoon of pointing your camera. If you’re also using boxes or a storage unit, pair this with organizing a self-storage unit.
Catalog every box with your iPhone
My Storage List photographs what you store, writes the label with on-device AI, and prints a QR code for each box — so you find anything in seconds without opening a single one. Free to download, with a one-time optional upgrade. No subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What should a home inventory include?
Go room by room and record each item’s description, brand and model, age, purchase price, estimated replacement cost, and serial number where relevant. Include everyday items (furniture, clothing, kitchenware), occasional items (holiday decorations, tools, sports gear), and anything in the attic, basement, garage or outbuildings. Attach photos, video, and receipts or appraisals as proof.
Do I need special software to make a home inventory?
No. Your phone is enough — you can photograph, film and store everything in one place. A notebook list also works. Dedicated apps like My Storage List speed it up by suggesting item names from photos and keeping the list searchable and exportable.
How should I document belongings for an insurance claim?
Walk through each room filming and narrating what you see, opening drawers and closets; take clear still photos of valuables close enough to read serial numbers; and save receipts, order confirmations or appraisals. Keep a copy off-site or in the cloud so it survives the same disaster you’re insuring against.
How often should I update my home inventory?
Review it once a year and after any major purchase, and share a copy with your insurer so they can confirm your coverage limits are high enough.