Updated: August 6, 2026
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A home inventory is a list of everything in your home, with descriptions, approximate values and supporting documentation such as photos, videos and receipts.
A home inventory helps you choose the right homeowners insurance coverage and makes filing a claim much faster.
Understanding Home Inventory
A home inventory list is a useful tool for homeowners, but many haven't created one.
A complete home inventory records important details about your belongings, including a description and estimated value.
Only 43% of homeowners had an inventory of their possessions in 2020.
A homeowners insurance policy usually covers personal property at 50% to 70% of the dwelling coverage amount. A home inventory helps you determine whether that's enough.
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A home inventory is a list of all items you keep in your home. Creating one is more straightforward than it sounds: list your belongings and add important details about each.
A home inventory helps you determine the right home insurance coverage. If a disaster strikes, you may also use it to support your insurance claim.
Start your inventory before you need to file a claim. Do it before buying homeowners insurance, too, so you know how much coverage you need.
Your home inventory must include enough information to identify items and calculate their value.
Write the item name and a brief description. Under appliances, for example, list items like refrigerators, dishwashers and microwaves.
Some items in your home have product and serial numbers. Record these, along with the make and model. They serve as references when you file a homeowners insurance claim. If applicable, note the manufacture date.
Record the date you purchased each item whenever possible. You can check receipts to confirm.
Keep receipts for large purchases. They help you track the purchase date and price, and serve as proof for warranty claims. Scan your receipts to keep digital backup copies.
Replacement cost is what you'd pay to buy the same item at today's prices.
Take photos or videos of your possessions to support your home inventory. Label each photo clearly. Videos work well, too. Walk through each room and describe items as you go.
A home inventory helps you track your belongings and their value in several ways. Although insurance companies don't require one, a home inventory helps you determine how much home insurance you need. It also helps you prove your losses and get the full payout you're owed when you file a claim.
Your coverage needs determine what type and how much homeowners insurance to buy. An inventory helps you and your provider choose the right coverage amount. The same applies to renters insurance.
A home inventory can prove what you have in your home. If you file a claim, it can simplify the process. It also helps you get paid for exactly what you lost.
Documenting your possessions shows you which items you no longer use. Sell, donate or give them to family or friends.
A home inventory helps when you relocate. Moving companies often ask for one to calculate the cost and plan the job. Your list also helps with home maintenance. Check appliance details before calling for repairs.
If a major disaster causes losses, you may be eligible for tax breaks or assistance. But you'll need to prove your financial losses. Your home inventory provides that proof.
Making a home inventory can feel overwhelming. But following the right steps makes it easier.
Start by choosing where to build your list. Some people use spreadsheets; others prefer to write it down. Apps also let you create and save your inventory digitally, which is often simpler.
Walk through your home and pick a small area to start, such as a closet or cabinet. Starting small keeps the task manageable.
Document your belongings by taking photos whenever possible. You can use your phone or a digital camera. Store the photos on your computer and back them up to cloud storage so you can access them anywhere. Label each photo clearly. You can also shoot video walkthroughs.
If a closet still feels like too much, start with recent purchases. Add them first, then work back through older items.
Record the serial numbers of your belongings. Keep your receipts, as they help verify purchase dates and prices.
dd a brief description for each item, including the price. Note any identifying characteristics, like the product number, make and model.
Use categories for similar items. For example, instead of detailing all clothing items you have, list items broadly, such as four pairs of jeans and six pairs of shoes.
Don’t forget items you keep in storage boxes. Also list items outside your home, like tools in your garage or shed.
If you're unsure where to start, look for existing home inventory templates online.
Several tools can help with a home inventory. A ready-made template is often the simplest starting point. MoneyGeek's home inventory template is easy to use; download it and save a copy in cloud storage.
Include all your belongings in your home inventory. That may seem daunting at first.
To feel less overwhelmed, start with your most recent purchases. Include the price and a few identifying details, then gradually add more items.
Room | Items to List |
|---|---|
Bedroom |
|
Living room |
|
Kitchen |
|
Dining room |
|
Garage |
|
Home Office |
|
Others |
|
A home inventory app is another option. Use one on your phone or tablet to store your list along with photos and videos. Compare apps to find the features that fit your needs.
The NAIC Home Inventory App lets you record your belongings, categorize items, scan barcodes and upload or export photos. It also provides advice on disaster preparedness and information on filing insurance claims. The app is available in the App Store and Google Play.
Sortly is available in the App Store and Google Play. Organize your home inventory by categories, and use custom fields to add as much detail as you want. If you have multiple properties, build a separate inventory for each. The app also generates built-in barcodes and QR codes. Try it for free or upgrade to the premium version.
BluePlum Home Inventory is a paid app you can download from the App Store. Desktop users can buy a software version, too. The app lets you organize items by category and use color-coded tags. You can upload photos, videos and copies of documents, such as receipts, manuals and contracts. It also lets you scan documents and take pictures that go straight to your inventory.
Unique featureEasily create PDF or Excel summary reports.
Encircle is a free app you can get on the App Store or Google Play. It offers photo and video documentation. You can add notes about each item. It also lets you create a summary report in PDF or Excel.
Download MyStuff for free from Google Play or the App Store. Create an inventory with categories for easy tracking. You can customize each category and add purchase date, price and place. You can have custom barcodes for your items. The app also sends warranty expiration reminders.
Keep your home inventory safe and accessible, not just at home. For a paper inventory, store a backup somewhere outside your house. For a digital version, save it on your computer, back it up on an external hard drive and store another copy in cloud storage.
You can also hire a home inventory specialist. Read reviews from past and current clients before choosing one. Once you've narrowed your options, check the company's privacy policy and ask how it stores your data.
Don't share your inventory with anyone outside your household. Cloud storage should be set to private, not public. Give access only to the adults in your household.
Don't include your home address in your inventory. If you lose it and someone finds it, they won't know where your belongings are located. Your inventory is a detailed list of everything valuable in your home.
Keep your home inventory current and update it at least once a year. Add new items as you buy them. A current inventory helps you track what you own, what's new and what you've gotten rid of. It also shows whether your home insurance coverage still meets your needs.
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Nathan Paulus is the Senior Director of Content and SEO at MoneyGeek, where he leads content strategy and produces original data research across insurance, consumer costs, transportation safety, housing, public policy and personal finance. He also reviews published studies for methodology, source quality and factual accuracy before they reach readers.
Research and Analysis
In more than six years at MoneyGeek, Nathan has published more than 100 original studies and explanatory guides. His insurance research includes 50-state comparisons of health care outcomes, costs and access, plus an analysis of how uninsured rates track with state Medicaid expansion decisions and electoral patterns. He has analyzed full coverage auto rates across major insurers in all 50 states and tracked how premium trends relate to industry underwriting losses. The analysis draws on combined ratio data from Fitch Ratings and AM Best, plus Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI figures. Beyond insurance, his work spans vehicle pricing trends across the U.S. new car market, summer traffic fatality rates by state, homeowner underinsurance ratios using mortgage and policy data, and housing affordability across all 50 states.
His research has been cited by Bloomberg, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Fast Company, the San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today and NBC Los Angeles. Harvard, MIT, Stanford and Yale have referenced his work.
Career
Nathan traces his interest in personal finance back to his grandmother, who ran her household on a simple rule: spend less than you make and save the difference before anything else. That rule shows up in his work today. His writing skips jargon and complex strategy in favor of the basics that help someone living paycheck to paycheck.
He joined MoneyGeek in July 2020 as Director of Content Marketing, where he led the content team and oversaw data journalism production across insurance and personal finance verticals. A promotion to Head of Marketing and Communications followed in December 2023. The new role added digital PR and communications strategy to his scope. He has held his current position, Head of Content and SEO, since January 2025.
Before MoneyGeek, Nathan served as Director of Content Marketing and SEO at Ventrix Advertising, where he helped build two content sites from scratch, contributed to link-building programs that generated more than 1,500 unique referring domains within a year and co-managed a marketing team of more than 20 people. Two and a half years at ABUV Media preceded that role. He advanced from Marketing Research Analyst to Senior Marketing Tactics Analyst, where he developed skills in audience research, content strategy and SEO.
