Home Inventory Checklist

A home inventory is the only thing standing between you and a nightmare insurance claim where you “try to remember what you owned.” This checklist gives you a room-by-room structure for documenting everything: photos, serial numbers, purchase dates, and estimated values.

For more on protecting records, pair this with Protecting Important Documents at Home.

How to Use This Checklist

• [ ] Use your phone camera—photos prove condition and ownership.
• [ ] Keep all inventory notes in one folder or one cloud document.
• [ ] Include photos of receipts, warranties, and model labels.
• [ ] Update the list once per year or after major purchases.

1. Entryway and Living Room

• [ ] Electronics (TV, consoles, speakers)
• [ ] Furniture sets
• [ ] Rugs and décor
• [ ] Artwork or collectible displays
• [ ] Small valuables stored near entryways
• [ ] Photos of serial/model numbers on all electronics

2. Kitchen

• [ ] Major appliances (fridge, dishwasher, stove)
• [ ] Small appliances (microwave, blender, mixers, air fryer)
• [ ] Cookware sets and knives
• [ ] Dishes, glassware, meal prep gear
• [ ] Pantry items of high cost (bulk food, spices)
• [ ] Serial/model photos for appliances

3. Bedrooms

• [ ] Beds, frames, dressers, nightstands
• [ ] TVs or electronics
• [ ] Clothing (separate high-value items)
• [ ] Shoes and accessories
• [ ] Safes or valuables stored in closets
• [ ] Important documents kept in drawers

4. Bathrooms

• [ ] Grooming tools (electric razors, hair dryers)
• [ ] Medicine cabinet—document prescription bottles if needed
• [ ] Towels and linens sets
• [ ] Specialty items (water flossers, electric toothbrushes)

5. Office or Workspace

• [ ] Computers, monitors, laptop accessories
• [ ] Printers, scanners, external drives
• [ ] Headphones, webcams, studio gear
• [ ] Filing cabinets with documents
• [ ] Software or subscription receipts

6. Garage, Tools, and Outdoor Items

• [ ] Power tools (drills, saws, compressors)
• [ ] Lawn equipment (mower, trimmer, blower)
• [ ] Camping gear or recreational equipment
• [ ] Stored seasonal items
• [ ] Bicycles, scooters, helmets
• [ ] Serial numbers for tools and bikes

7. Electronics and High-Value Items

• [ ] Phones, tablets, laptops
• [ ] Game consoles and VR gear
• [ ] Cameras, lenses, drones
• [ ] Jewelry and watches
• [ ] Firearms (serials + safe storage documentation)

8. Insurance-Ready Information

• [ ] Photos of each room “as a whole”
• [ ] Close-ups of expensive items
• [ ] Document purchase dates and values when possible
• [ ] Store digital backups in cloud or encrypted drive
• [ ] Keep at least one offline copy for disasters

A complete home inventory eliminates guesswork after a fire, theft, or disaster. Document it once and maintain it—you only benefit when something goes wrong.