Home inventory for an insurance claim: what adjusters want

If you ever file a contents claim, you'll be asked for a schedule of the personal property you lost: usually a spreadsheet with one line per item. Here's what goes on it and how to have most of it ready before you need it.

The usual columns

Insurers' contents forms vary, but most ask for some version of:

• Room or location
• Item description, brand and model
• Quantity
• Age or purchase date (approximate is normal)
• Original price if known
• Replacement cost today

Photos, videos, receipts, bank or card statements and online order history all help support the list.

Replacement cost vs actual cash value

Many homeowners policies pay actual cash value first (replacement cost minus depreciation) and the rest of the replacement cost after you actually replace the item. Others pay actual cash value only. Either way, the starting number is usually what it would cost to buy a similar item new today, which is why a replacement cost estimate per item is useful. Check your declarations page or ask your agent which one you have.

What California changed after the 2025 fires

In February 2025, Commissioner Ricardo Lara urged insurers to pay full contents limits to LA wildfire survivors without a detailed inventory; some agreed to 75 to 100 percent (California Department of Insurance, Feb 6 2025). California then passed SB 495: starting January 2026, after a declared emergency, insurers must advance 60 percent of contents limits (capped at $350,000) to total-loss policyholders without a detailed inventory (SB 495 announcement). That helps, but to recover the rest, up to your limits, you still need a full inventory. Outside California, and for partial losses, the list is still the norm.

Build it before you need it

Reconstructing a home from memory after a loss is slow and you'll forget things. A list made today, while you can still open every drawer, is faster and more complete. The simplest version: one video walkthrough, turned into a spreadsheet. See how to make a home inventory and our filming guide.

Tips adjusters appreciate

• Group small items sensibly ("men's shirts, 14") rather than leaving them out.
• Be honest about age and condition. Inflated lists slow everything down.
• Keep the evidence (photo or video frame) next to each line.
• Keep a copy off-site.

General information, not insurance or legal advice. Talk to your insurer, agent or your state's department of insurance about your claim.