The Ultimate Home Inventory Checklist for Insurance Claims

A room-by-room guide to documenting your belongings for maximum coverage

Bonus: Download your free printable PDF checklist at the end

Why You Need a Home Inventory — Before You Need One

If disaster struck tomorrow — a fire, flood, or break-in — could you list every valuable item in your home from memory?

Most people can’t. That’s why thousands of insurance claims fall short each year.

• Prove what you owned
• Speed up the claims process
• Maximize your insurance payout
• Feel confident that you're prepared

Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, or landlord, having a digital and physical record of your belongings is one of the smartest (and easiest) ways to protect your assets.

What to Include in Your Home Inventory

A strong home inventory should capture:

• Item name & description
• Brand/model/serial number (if available)
• Estimated value or original purchase price
• Photos or videos
• Receipts or proof of purchase (optional, but useful)
• Location in your home

Pro Tip: Use an app like MyStash to organize, store, and protect your inventory in the cloud. Backed-up. Shareable. Always ready.

Room-by-Room Home Inventory Checklist

We recommend starting small: tackle one room at a time. Set a 15-minute timer and focus on what’s visible. You can always go deeper later.

🛋️ Living Room / Family Room

• Sofa, chairs, recliners
• Coffee and side tables
• Lamps and lighting fixtures
• Rugs or carpets
• Bookshelves and decor
• Electronics: TVs, sound systems, game consoles
• Art, framed photos, collectibles

🍽️ Kitchen / Dining Room

• Dining table and chairs
• Major appliances: fridge, oven, dishwasher
• Small appliances: blender, toaster, air fryer
• Cookware and utensils
• Dishes, glassware, and silverware
• Pantry staples and wine collection (yes, they count!)

🛏️ Bedrooms

• Bedframe, mattress, box spring
• Dresser, nightstands, closet contents
• Jewelry and accessories
• Designer clothing or high-end items
• Electronics: TVs, laptops, smart devices

🛁 Bathrooms

• Towels and linens
• Hair tools (dryer, curler, straightener)
• Skincare, grooming kits
• Prescription items or medical devices

💼 Office / Studio

• Desk, chair, bookshelves
• Laptop, printer, monitor, routers
• Cameras, microphones, recording equipment
• Software licenses or subscriptions
• Business inventory (if working from home)

🧸 Kids’ Rooms & Nursery

• Crib, changing table, playpen
• Toys, books, learning tools
• Stroller, car seat
• Baby monitors, tech gear

🛠️ Garage / Storage / Basement

• Power tools, lawn equipment
• Bikes, scooters, sports gear
• Camping or travel gear
• Holiday decorations
• Stored collectibles or memorabilia

📦 Miscellaneous

• Safe contents
• Firearms (if applicable)
• Luggage
• Musical instruments
• Pet supplies or specialty equipment

How Often Should You Update Your Home Inventory?

We recommend reviewing and updating your inventory:

• Once a year (mark your calendar 📅)
• After big purchases
• Before renewing or changing your insurance policy
• After a move or remodel

Want to Make This Easier?

We’ve built a simple, secure tool to help:

Perfect for printing or scanning with your phone as you go room by room. Or go digital with MyStash — our app lets you snap, store, and organize everything in minutes. Plus, you can export your inventory for your insurer with one tap.

Final Tip: Don’t Wait for a Wake-Up Call

Fires. Floods. Earthquakes. Burglaries. We never expect them — but when they happen, the difference between frustration and recovery is often preparation.

Start small, but start today.

Your future self will thank you.