Home Inventory Checklist

A home inventory only matters if it’s usable during a claim. Most people make lists that fall apart when the adjuster asks basic questions. This checklist cuts the fluff and focuses on the items that actually affect payout value.

If you haven’t already documented your home with photos and video, pair this checklist with the tactical guide on documenting your home for insurance so your inventory has proof behind it.

1. Living Room

• TVs, sound systems, gaming consoles
• Furniture: sofas, recliners, tables
• Rugs and decor worth more than “garage sale” value
• Electronics accessories with serial numbers

Photograph the back of all electronics—serial numbers turn arguments into approvals.

2. Kitchen

• Appliances (built-in and countertop)
• Cookware and knife sets (higher value than people assume)
• Small appliances: mixers, pressure cookers, coffee machines
• Dish sets and glassware

Group small items. You do not need to list “14 forks.” Adjusters care about category value, not individual pieces.

3. Bedrooms

• Beds and mattresses
• Dressers and nightstands
• Clothing (group by type: jeans, shirts, jackets)
• Shoes—especially name brands

If any item is high-value enough to need separate coverage, see personal property basics and check whether it qualifies for special limits.

4. Bathroom

• Hair dryers, straighteners, grooming devices
• Medicine cabinet contents (expensive prescriptions especially)
• Towels and linens (group by count)

5. Home Office

• Laptops, monitors, routers
• Printers, scanners
• Office furniture
• External hard drives and accessories

Business-use items may not be covered fully. If you rely on your office for income, review your policy’s exclusions before a claim surprises you.

6. Garage and Tools

• Power tools and hand tools
• Lawn equipment: mowers, trimmers, blowers
• Seasonal equipment: camping gear, sports gear
• Automotive tools and specialty equipment

Tools get hit by theft claims constantly. Photograph them and keep a video sweep so the insurer can’t undervalue your set.

7. Storage Areas

• Holiday decorations
• Bins of clothing or old electronics
• Sentimental items (list but note they have limited insurable value)
• Spare appliances

8. High-Value Items (List Separately)

These items are the ones that trigger disputes if they’re not documented well:

• Jewelry
• Firearms
• Collectibles
• Instruments
• Artwork

Many of these require scheduling or special endorsements. Cross-check with the guide on understanding policy limits if you’re not sure how your coverage handles them.

9. Final Check: Is Your Inventory Claim-Ready?

• Every major item photographed
• Video walkthrough stored in two locations
• Receipts/screenshots for higher-value purchases
• Updated at least once per year

Your inventory doesn’t need to be perfect—it needs to be defensible. This checklist gets you there.