How to begin making your Home Inventory Checklist:
This guide is organized on a room-by-room basis. This makes it easy for you to systematically record the items in each area of your home.
- Simply walk through each room and write down the items that you see. Take your time. Also, it really helps if you take a video of each room with closet doors, dresser drawers and cabinets open. If you do not have access to a video camera a still photo camera will work.
- Be sure to list all items of value, along with their year of purchase, original price and current estimated value. If you don’t have all the relevant information at the time of your “walk-through,” leave blanks and fill them in after checking your purchase records.
- As you’re completing your inventory, jot down serial numbers of items such as cameras, computers and home electronics. Items without serial numbers should be permanently marked with a unique identifier that will allow you to positively identify the item as belonging to you. Having such numbers available helps the police return recovered property to the rightful owner and is evidence to help prove that the property was stolen.
- Do not use Social Security numbers or any other information that could be useful to an identity thief.
Do you own a number of valuable items, such as antique jewelry or original works of art? If so, it’s wise to have these items appraised to establish their market value. Your agent can work with you to determine the right kind of coverage for these special items. This way, in the event of a covered loss, you can be confident that you will receive an insurance settlement that is appropriate to the value of the items.
- Wisely, you want to protect the things that mean so much to you, so you carry homeowners insurance.
- Be certain your valued possessions are fully covered against fire, theft, and other types of losses. Many prudent homeowners install security devices, such as deadbolt locks, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and perhaps even fire and burglary alarm systems connected to the fire or police station.
- These precautionary measures will greatly reduce
the chance and severity of a loss occurring. However, there is no guarantee a loss will not occur. - Another step toward protecting your personal property — one that is often overlooked — is to create an inventory of the things in your home. We believe that you should complement your home insurance plan with an inventory of all of your personal possessions. We are providing you with this information to help you take such an inventory, easily and thoroughly.
This guide gives you simple instructions, along with room-by-room listings, to help you make a detailed record of your home furnishings, personal possessions and valuable items.
You should review this inventory with your agent. This is to determine whether or not your home insurance provides adequate protection for the things you value most. If needed, supplemental insurance coverages may be recommended. This will protect property such as jewelry, collections, antiques, china, crystal — even personal computers! This inventory will also be useful to you in the event of a loss. Having this information on hand will make it easier for you to file a complete and prompt claim, supported by accurate documentation. This, in turn, helps determine the replacement cost* of your lost or damaged possessions so we can settle your
claim quickly.
• Valuable small items such as silverware, furs, china or crystal, as well as larger items such as sculpture, paintings or collections must be recorded with extra care. Lay small items out on a plain cloth or rug next to a ruler to establish actual size. Try to photograph at close range in order to include as many visual details as possible. Turn over a single piece of china or silver to show the hallmark, manufacturer and pattern name.
• Whether you get prints of your photos, or store them on a CD, be sure to label each with the name of the item(s) and its location in your house (as recorded in your written inventory).
• If you own a second residence, such as a summer cottage or beach house, you should complete a separate inventory for that residence.
• Keep your photos with this inventory guide. Be certain to store them in a safe place outside your home, such as in a safe deposit box to prevent unauthorized access to the information.
Create a photographic record of your belongings. Photographs are an important supplement to your written inventory, because they give details that written descriptions cannot. In addition, photographs document the quality, appearance and size of the things you own.
• Use any camera you’re comfortable with, digital or film, but be certain to use color. Color prints will best show the true characteristics and quality of your possessions. If you have a camcorder, you can create an especially valuable photographic record of your home and possessions. A video of each room in your home, as well as hallways, porches, gardens and shrubbery, will help establish the general appearance and quality of your home, in addition to documenting your personal possessions.
• Photograph systematically. Start with one wall in the living room, taking as many photographs as necessary to record the entire room’s contents. Then do the same with all the other rooms in
your home.
• Don’t forget to open closets. Even though photographs can’t document the quality of your wardrobe, they do record its quantity.
• Your basement, garage and attic may not hold valuable items, but they do hold items you would need to replace in the event of a major loss. Check each of these locations for items that should be photographed, such as power tools, lawn furniture, laundry appliances, etc.
Number Year Original Estimate of of items Description of Items Purchased Cost Present Value
Don’t forget fireplace accessories, air conditioners and home audio equipment.
Year Description of Items purchased Cost Present Value
Dining Room
Don’t forget table linens and decorative items.
Home Office, Den or Study
Recreation or Family Room
Don’t forget electronics, such as TVs, DVDs/DVRs and home theater systems; bar equipment, including wines and liquors; games; toys; etc.
Halls, Sunrooms and Porches
Don’t forget window accessories, floor coverings and valuable
light fixtures.
Bathroom(s)
Don’t forget mirrors; small electrical appliances such as toothbrushes, water pics, shavers and hairsetters; scales; cosmetics and medicines.
Bedroom(s)
Including sewing or hobby room. Don’t forget clothing and
bed linens.
Kitchen
Don’t forget pots and pans; disposals; small electrical appliances, such as blenders, can openers, food processors and similar items; and cleaning utensils, such as mops and brooms.
Attic, Basement and Garage
Don’t forget tools, auto equipment, barbecue equipment, fans, freezers, home and garden tools, holiday decorations, house painting equipment, swimming pool accessories and vacuum cleaners.
Major Appliances
Small Appliances
Furniture
Jewelry
Watch
Don’t forget valuable belts and hair ornaments.
Silverware
Don’t forget candelabras and service sets.
Furs
Including all garments in which fur represents the principal value.
China and Glassware
Don’t forget salt and pepper sets and serving pieces.
Fine Art and Collections
Including paintings, antique furniture, porcelain, statuary, coin collections, etc.
Sports and Hobby Equipment
Don’t forget arts and crafts equipment, board games, bicycles, gym and weight loss equipment.
Cameras, Musical Instruments
and Accessories
Personal Computers, Printers and
Data Storage Equipment
Don’t forget handhelds, such as PDAs and MP3 players.
Summary
Total Estimate of
Original Cost Present Value
Living Room
Dining Room
Home Office, Den or Study
Recreation or Family Room
Halls, Sunrooms and Porches
Bathroom(s)
Bedroom(s), including sewing
or hobby room
Kitchen, including breakfast
room, pantry, laundry room
Attic, Basement and Garage
Jewelry
Furs
Silverware
China and Glassware
Fine Art and Collections
Cameras, Musical Instruments
and Accessories
Sports and Hobby Equipment
Personal Computers, Printers and Data Storage Equipment
Grand Total
Total Amount or Your Present
Insurance on Personal Property
Credit Cards
If your credit cards are lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to the issuing company or bank. Otherwise, you may be held responsible for purchases made with the card. By completing the blanks below, you will have all the information you need to stop payments immediately on any lost or stolen credit cards.
Company
Last 4 Digits of Credit Card Number
Phone Number
Company
Last 4 Digits of Credit Card Number
Phone Number
Company
Last 4 Digits of Credit Card Number
Phone Number
Company
Last 4 Digits of Credit Card Number
Phone Number
Select Source Insurance Group 481 S Pine St Spartanburg SC 29302 864-585-8318
