How to make a home inventory (the fast way)

A home inventory is a list of what you own, with enough detail to prove it and price it after a fire, flood, hurricane or burglary. Most people never make one because it sounds like a weekend of typing. It doesn't have to be.

Why it matters

After a covered loss, your insurer pays for personal property (the "contents" part of your policy) based on what you can show you owned. Without a list, you rebuild it from memory while dealing with everything else. After the 2025 Los Angeles fires, California's insurance commissioner urged insurers to pay full contents limits to survivors without a detailed item-by-item inventory (California Department of Insurance, Feb 6 2025). The cheapest fix is a list made before anything happens.

What to record for each item

• Room and a short description ("55 inch TV, living room wall").
• Brand and model where you can see them, and serial numbers for electronics and appliances.
• Quantity (6 dining chairs, 40 hardcover books).
• Approximate replacement cost: what it would cost to buy new today, not what you paid.
• Proof: a photo or video frame, plus receipts for big items if you still have them.

Method 1: the spreadsheet, room by room

Open a spreadsheet with the columns above. Start in one room, move clockwise, and type as you go. It's thorough, but a typical 3-bedroom home has several hundred items once you count clothing, kitchenware, tools and decor. Most people stall in the second room.

Method 2: the video walkthrough (start here)

Video is the fastest way to capture everything at once, and it's evidence on its own. Walk every room slowly with your phone, narrate the room names and anything expensive, open closets, drawers and cabinets for a second or two, and get close to serial labels. Our filming guide covers the details.

A video alone is better than nothing, but a claims adjuster wants a list. You can turn the video into a list yourself by pausing every few seconds and typing, or have it done for you.

Don't forget these

• Inside closets, wardrobes and dressers: clothing and shoes add up fast.
• Kitchen cabinets and small appliances.
• Garage, shed, attic and basement: tools, bikes, holiday decor, sports gear.
• Jewelry, art and collectibles: these often have separate limits, so check your policy and consider an appraisal or a scheduled item.

Store it off-site

An inventory saved on a laptop in the house burns with the house. Keep a copy in cloud storage, email it to yourself, or give a copy to someone you trust.

Update it

Re-film once a year and after any big purchase. A quick 10 minute walkthrough each year keeps the list honest.

General information, not insurance or legal advice. Your policy wording decides what's covered.