When a fire destroys your home, you will be asked to list every item of personal property you lost — from the furniture to the silverware to the contents of every closet. Without a home inventory, this process is both emotionally overwhelming and financially costly.
For high-value homes with significant personal property, a thorough home inventory is not optional — it is essential.
Why Home Inventories Matter at Claim Time
Personal property claims are paid based on what you can document. If you cannot prove you owned something, your insurer is not obligated to pay for it.
Without a home inventory, most people significantly underestimate their personal property losses. Studies suggest that homeowners without inventories recover 30–40% less on personal property claims than those with thorough documentation.
For high-value homes with expensive furnishings, art, jewelry, and electronics, the difference can be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What a Good Home Inventory Includes
For each item:
- Description (make, model, serial number where applicable)
- Purchase date and price
- Current replacement value (may differ from purchase price)
- Photographs or video
- Receipts, appraisals, or other documentation
Categories to document:
- Furniture (room by room)
- Electronics (TVs, computers, audio equipment, cameras)
- Appliances
- Clothing and accessories
- Jewelry and watches (with appraisals)
- Art and collectibles (with appraisals)
- Sporting equipment
- Tools and equipment
- Books and media
- Kitchen items (cookware, dishes, small appliances)
- Outdoor furniture and equipment
The Video Walk-Through Method
The fastest way to create a basic home inventory is a video walk-through. Walk through every room, opening closets and drawers, narrating what you see. This takes 30–60 minutes for most homes and creates a visual record that is far better than nothing.
For a high-value home, supplement the video with:
- Photographs of individual high-value items
- Serial numbers for electronics and appliances
- Appraisals for jewelry, art, and collectibles
Digital Tools for Home Inventory
Several apps and tools make home inventory easier:
- Encircle: Designed specifically for insurance home inventories
- Sortly: General inventory app with photo documentation
- Home Inventory (Mac/iOS): Purpose-built home inventory software
- Spreadsheet: A simple spreadsheet with photos attached works fine
The format matters less than the completeness and the storage location.
Where to Store Your Home Inventory
Your home inventory is useless if it is destroyed in the same fire that destroys your home. Store copies:
- In cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox)
- With your insurance agent
- In a safe deposit box
- With a trusted family member outside your home
Do not store your only copy in your home.
Updating Your Inventory
A home inventory is not a one-time project — it needs to be updated as you acquire new items. Best practices:
- Update after any significant purchase
- Review and update annually
- Update after any renovation that adds value to the home
- Update after receiving gifts or inheritances of significant value
High-Value Items Require More Than a Photo
For jewelry, art, collectibles, and other high-value items, a photograph is not sufficient documentation. You need:
Professional appraisals. A GIA-certified appraiser for jewelry; an ASA-certified appraiser for art and collectibles. Appraisals should be updated every 3–5 years.
Scheduled coverage. High-value items should be scheduled on your policy for their full appraised value. Standard homeowners sublimits (typically $1,500–$2,500 for jewelry) are inadequate for significant pieces.
Receipts and provenance documentation. For art and collectibles, documentation of provenance (ownership history) supports both value and authenticity.
Our Home Inventory Tool
RightQuote offers a free Home Inventory tool that helps you document your personal property room by room. It stores your inventory securely and makes it easy to update as you acquire new items.
The Bottom Line
A thorough home inventory is one of the most valuable things you can do to protect your financial interests — and it costs nothing but time. For high-value homes, it is essential.
Talk to a RightQuote advisor about your personal property coverage, or explore homeowners insurance options.
Part of the High-Value Home Insurance Guide.