How to Create a Home Inventory (for Insurance and Peace of Mind)
Creating a home inventory sounds tedious, but done room by room with your phone it takes an afternoon — and it's the difference between a smooth insurance claim and a stressful one. Here's how.
How to create a home inventory
- Go room by room so nothing gets missed — start with the highest-value room.
- For each item, take a photo, and note the room, a rough value, and any make/model or serial number.
- Don't forget closets, the garage and stored items — that's where inventories usually fall short.
- Keep receipts or warranties with the item where you can.
- Store the inventory somewhere private that you'll still have access to after an incident — ideally on your own device, not just in your head.
- Update it when you buy something significant, so it stays accurate.
Photos do the heavy lifting. For a claim, a photo showing the item and its condition is worth more than a line in a spreadsheet. An app like Homivo attaches a photo, room and value to each item and works offline — no account, one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions
What should a home inventory include?
For each item: a photo, the room, an approximate value, and any make/model or serial number. Prioritise high-value items and anything hard to remember later.
How do I keep a home inventory for insurance?
Build it room by room with photos and values, then keep it somewhere private and accessible — a dedicated app like Homivo keeps it all in one place and works offline, so it's ready if you file a claim.