Home Inventory Checklist: A Room-by-Room Guide

If your home were damaged or your belongings stolen, could you name everything you own — and its approximate value? Most people can't, which is exactly why creating a home inventory before something happens is one of the most practical things you can do as a homeowner or renter.

A home inventory is a documented record of your personal belongings, including descriptions, estimated values, and ideally photos or video. In the event of a covered loss, it makes the claims process faster, easier, and more complete. Here's a room-by-room checklist to get you started.

How to Build Your Inventory

Before you dive into the room-by-room list, here's the approach we recommend:

• Use video: Walk through each room with your phone camera, narrating what you own and any notable details (brand, model, approximate age).
• Take photos of high-value items: Electronics, jewelry, appliances, art, instruments, and collections deserve individual photos and, where possible, photos of serial numbers, model numbers, and receipts.
• Store your inventory offsite: A home inventory stored only on your home computer or in a filing cabinet won't survive a house fire. Use cloud storage, email it to yourself, or keep copies with a family member.
• Update it regularly: Revisit your inventory once a year and after any major purchase.

Living Room

• Furniture (sofas, chairs, coffee table, bookshelves, TV stand)
• Television(s) — note brand, screen size, model number
• Stereo or audio equipment
• Gaming consoles and accessories
• Rugs and window treatments
• Lamps and lighting fixtures
• Artwork and decorative items
• Books and media collections

Kitchen and Dining Room

• Refrigerator, range, oven, dishwasher (if not built-in)
• Microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, and other small appliances
• Stand mixer, blender, food processor
• Dishes, glassware, flatware, and cookware sets
• Dining table and chairs
• Kitchen electronics and gadgets

Bedrooms

• Bed frames, mattresses, and bedding
• Dressers, nightstands, armoires
• Clothing — by category (outerwear, suits/formal wear, shoes, accessories)
• Jewelry — note descriptions, estimated values, and any appraisals for high-value pieces
• Personal electronics (laptops, tablets, phones, e-readers)
• Clocks, lamps, mirrors

Home Office

• Desktop or laptop computers — note brand, model, and approximate purchase price
• Monitors, keyboards, mice, printers
• Office furniture (desk, chair, file cabinets)
• External hard drives and storage devices
• Cameras and photography equipment
• Office supplies and equipment

Bathrooms

• Linens (towels, bath mats)
• Hair dryers, electric razors, and other personal care electronics
• Medicine cabinet contents (prescription medications, first aid supplies)

Basement, Garage, and Utility Areas

• Washer and dryer
• Water heater and HVAC equipment (if owned, not rented)
• Power tools and hand tools
• Lawn equipment (mower, leaf blower, snow blower)
• Bicycles, sporting goods, camping equipment
• Holiday decorations and seasonal storage
• Sports equipment and hobby gear

High-Value Items — A Special Note

Standard personal property coverage may have sublimits for certain categories — commonly jewelry, furs, silverware, firearms, collectibles, musical instruments, and camera equipment. If you own items in these categories that are worth more than a few hundred dollars, it's worth reviewing your policy limits. Scheduled personal property coverage (sometimes called a rider or floater) may provide higher limits and broader coverage for specific high-value items. ShieldPoint offers scheduled coverage options for eligible items; ask about this when you get your quote or review your current policy.

Once You Have Your Inventory

Store it somewhere safe and accessible — cloud storage is ideal. Share it with your insurance agent so they can confirm your coverage limits are adequate. If you find that the total estimated value of your belongings significantly exceeds your current personal property coverage limit, it may be worth updating your policy.

A home inventory takes a few hours to put together but can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of a claim. It's one of those tasks that's genuinely worth doing before you need it.

This article is for general educational purposes only. Coverage details, sublimits, and available endorsements vary by policy and state. Please review your policy documents or speak with a licensed ShieldPoint agent to understand your specific coverage.