How to Create a Home Inventory for Insurance Claims (2026 Guide)

If a fire destroyed your home tomorrow, could you list everything you owned? Most people can’t—and that’s a problem when filing insurance claims.

Why Your Home Inventory Matters

Insurance companies don’t just take your word for what you owned. They need documentation. Without it, you’re likely to:

• Forget items in the chaos of a claim
• Underestimate values and receive less compensation
• Face claim delays while you try to prove ownership
• Accept lower settlements out of frustration

Studies show homeowners without documentation recover only 30-50% of their losses. Those with comprehensive inventories recover 80-90%.

What to Document

High-Priority Items

Start with items worth $500 or more:

• Electronics (TVs, computers, gaming systems)
• Major appliances
• Furniture
• Jewelry and watches
• Art and collectibles
• Musical instruments
• Power tools

Everything Else

Once high-value items are done, work through:

• Kitchen items and small appliances
• Clothing (estimate by category)
• Books, media, and games
• Linens and towels
• Sporting goods
• Outdoor equipment
• Holiday decorations

What Information to Capture

For each item, record:

1. Photos — Multiple angles, close-ups of labels
2. Description — Brand, model, color, size
3. Serial numbers — For electronics and appliances
4. Purchase date — When you bought it
5. Purchase price — What you paid
6. Current value — Replacement cost today
7. Receipts — Digital copies

The Best Approach: Use an App

While spreadsheets and paper lists work, they’re tedious and easy to lose. Apps like Dib offer:

• AI scanning that identifies items from photos
• Automatic value estimates
• Cloud backup that survives disasters
• One-click reports for insurance claims

What takes hours manually takes minutes with AI assistance.

Room-by-Room Process

Work systematically through your home:

1. Start with one room
2. Photograph everything — wide shots and details
3. Add any documentation — receipts, warranties
4. Move to the next room
5. Don’t forget closets and storage

Maintenance Tips

Your inventory is only useful if it’s current:

• Update after major purchases (within a week)
• Annual review — walk through everything once a year
• Store receipts digitally — scan immediately after purchase
• Keep it accessible — cloud storage, not just your computer

Next Steps

Don’t wait for a disaster to realize you need an inventory. Start today:

1. Download Dib or your preferred inventory app
2. Document your highest-value items first
3. Work room by room over the next few weeks
4. Review your insurance coverage once complete

Your future self—filing a claim and receiving full compensation—will thank you.