If you lost all of your possessions today, would you be able to list each item and its value from just your memory.
That’s the value of a home inventory. Making a detailed list of what you own ensures nothing will be omitted if you have to recall your home contents after a loss by fire, flood or other circumstance.
Start by assembling the tools for documenting what you own and by figuring out how you will store the inventory list. The way you document what you own dictates how you’ll store the information.
If you document with a notebook and with a traditional camera, you’ll need to store the inventory in a physical location like a safety deposit box, with a lawyer or with a trusted family member or friend.
Consider making three copies of the inventory: one to keep at home; and one each for two trusted sources, like a close relative and a trusted financial professional. This increases the chances that at least one record will be easily accessible when you need it. Make paper copies of documents such as warranties and receipts.
If you document your belongings digitally, you’ll want to make digital duplicates, with the option of storing the files in the cloud in case something happens to your hard drive.
- Use a digital camera to take photos.
- Scan documents.
- Save the document on several separate flash drives for offsite storage.
- Set up an online account, such as Google Drive, to store your home inventory data. Be sure to document your password and how to access your account.