Create A Home Inventory

If your home or business were to encounter a disaster, would you remember all the things you have purchased if they were destroyed? Part of emergency preparedness is having an inventory of all the items in your home and business. This inventory will help speed up the claims process, verify losses, and purchase the right amount of insurance.

This database should include the room items are in, a description of the item, serial numbers, model numbers, date of purchase, and receipts. With clothing, inventory the items by category: pants, shirts, shoes, etc. It is also advised by the Insurance Information Institute that one also photographs and/or makes a video of possessions.

Once the list is complete, continue to update it as you make new purchases. Store copies of the inventory, along with photographs or videos, in a safety deposit box or at a friend or relative’s home. This will ensure the inventory will still be available if your copy is destroyed in a disaster.
There are several places one can download home inventory worksheets or computer databases. Here are a few: Inventory Worksheets from “Real Simple”
Home Contents Inventory List for Microsoft Excel (97 or later)excel 300x218
Home Inventory for Microsoft Access 2007 access 07 249x300
Home Contents Inventory List for Microsoft Access (2000 or later) access 97 300x227

Learn more about recovering from a disaster.