Extension > Family > Financial Security for Later Life > Organizing Your Important Papers > List It or Lose It - The Case for Household and Property Inventory
List It or Lose It - The Case for Household and Property Inventory
Lori Hendrickson, Extension Educator — Family Resource Management
Revised April 2011 (by the author)
A disaster can happen at any time. Whether you are a homeowner or a renter it is important to be prepared before and after the disaster occurs. An up-to-date household and property inventory is a valuable resource that will show proof of your losses.
Before a disaster the inventory will help you determine if you have enough or the right type of insurance to cover the contents of your home and property. After the disaster the inventory will help prove for insurance, assistance, or tax deduction purposes the value of the possessions that are damaged or destroyed.
It is recommended that the inventory consist of a:
- Detailed description of each item (include model and serial numbers where appropriate)
- Date purchased
- Original cost
- Alterations or repairs done on an item, especially if the alteration or repair made the item appreciate in value
To jumpstart the inventory process, photograph or videotape all walls in your home and garage that have furnishings, tools, etc. If using a video with an audio recorder, verbally describe the contents as you go room by room. Photograph open closets, cabinets, cupboards, and drawers. Take close–ups of unique or expensive items to document their existence and condition. Date photographs and use them to show all furniture, furnishings, accessories, office equipment, small and large appliances, jewelry, clothing, linens, silverware, tools, recreation equipment, items normally stored in the garage, basement or out-buildings, etc. This Household Inventory Form will help you begin a written inventory for the home and garage.
Product manuals can be used to list furnishing or equipment details on your written inventory or make a computer file of this information that can be easily updated. Photographs should be kept with the inventory in a location away from the premises.
It is recommended that you keep one copy of your inventory away from the dwelling, as in a safe- deposit box. Also keep a working copy in the home file. Remember to keep all copies up-to-date and compare them on a semi-annual basis.
The initial investment of time and frustration in preparing the inventory may seem significant, but once completed the inventory will be useful for a long time with regular updating.
Cindy Petersen, Extension Educator — Family Resource Management
Reviewed by Phyllis Onstad, Extension Educator — Family Resource Management (March 2010)
