Home Inventory List & Checklist

A home inventory list records what you own, room by room, so you can prove it and price it after a loss. This checklist covers what to photograph in each room, what to write down for each item, and the things people most often forget. A good inventory is about coverage, not precision. The items people forget aren't the television; they're the closet of clothes, the kitchen drawers, the garage wall and the boxes in storage. Work room by room, photograph the whole room before anything in it, open every door, and record groups as groups.

Before you start

Find your declarations page and note the contents limit (Coverage C on a homeowners policy) and whether it pays replacement cost or actual cash value.
Decide where the inventory will live. Off the phone: an account-backed app, a cloud folder, or a PDF sent to your agent.
Charge the phone and clear the surfaces you can. A tidy room is a faster room, but a messy one still works.

Room by room

Room	Photos to take	Commonly forgotten
Living room	Doorway, opposite corner, media cabinet open, bookshelves straight on	Rugs, curtains, lamps, the books as a group, game consoles behind the TV
Kitchen	Two corners, every cabinet and drawer open, pantry	Small appliances in cupboards, knives, cookware sets, the contents of the freezer
Dining room	Two corners, sideboard open	Table leaves stored elsewhere, china and glassware sets, table linens
Main bedroom	Two corners, closet open, dresser drawers open, nightstands	Clothing and shoes as a group, bedding, jewelry (appraise, don't photograph for value), watches
Other bedrooms	Two corners, closet open	Kids' electronics, sports gear, collections, musical instruments
Home office	Two corners, desk close-up, cabinet open	Monitor and computer model numbers, cameras and audio gear, software licenses, cables and chargers as a group
Bathrooms	One shot from the door, medicine cabinet open	Hair tools, electric toothbrushes, towels as a group
Laundry and utility	One shot	Washer and dryer model plates, vacuum, ironing equipment, cleaning stock
Garage and shed	Two corners, workbench close-up, wall of tools straight on	Power tools with serials, bicycles, ladders, sports and camping gear, lawn equipment, holiday decorations
Closets and storage	Door open, one shot per shelf if dense	Luggage, seasonal clothing, spare bedding, boxes (open them or list contents)
Outdoor	Patio, grill, furniture	Grill, patio furniture, planters, outdoor speakers, pool equipment

Household inventory list by category

Some things don't belong to one room. Use this list as a second pass so nothing is missed.

Electronics: TVs, computers, tablets, phones, game consoles, cameras, speakers, chargers and cables as a group.
Appliances: large (fridge, washer, dryer, dishwasher, range) and small (microwave, coffee maker, mixer, vacuum).
Furniture: sofas, beds and mattresses, tables, chairs, dressers, shelving, outdoor furniture.
Clothing and shoes: by closet, as groups, plus coats, bags and accessories.
Kitchenware: cookware, knives, dishes, glassware, small tools.
Linens: bedding, towels, curtains, table linens.
Jewelry, watches and valuables: list each, and attach appraisals or receipts.
Art, collectibles and antiques: list each, with appraisals where you have them.
Books, music and media: as groups with a count.
Tools and equipment: power tools with serial numbers, hand tools as a group, ladders, lawn and garden equipment.
Sports, hobby and outdoor gear: bikes, camping gear, instruments, fitness equipment.
Seasonal and stored items: holiday decorations, luggage, boxes in storage (open them or list contents).

What to record for each item

Name and quantity. Group interchangeable things: “paperbacks, about 60”, “kitchen knives, set of 8”.
Brand and model where there is a label. Electronics and appliances always; furniture when known.
Serial number for anything electronic or powered.
Condition in one word: new, good, worn, damaged.
Purchase date and price when you know them; attach the receipt to the item.
Replacement cost as a range if you're estimating, a figure if you have a receipt or appraisal.
A photo that shows it in the room, plus a close-up of the label for the valuable ones.

For a book collection, a room-level count and a title-by-title catalog serve different purposes. Our related app Better Bookshelf’s guide to organizing a home library explains how to keep titles and shelf locations organized. Keep any receipts or specialist valuations needed for your inventory separately.

The items that need more than a photo

Jewelry, watches, fine art, antiques, collectibles, firearms and musical instruments have two things in common: their value depends on authenticity, and many policies cap them with sub-limits. Get appraisals or keep receipts, attach them to the item, and ask your agent whether a rider is needed. Do not let an app or a guess put a number on them; that is the one line an adjuster will challenge.

Keeping it current

Add a purchase over a few hundred dollars the day it arrives, with the receipt.
At renewal, re-photograph the rooms that changed and check the total against the limit again.
After a move, start fresh. The rooms are different and so is the policy.

When an inventory walk reveals a repair or a service job, put it on a separate task list with a due date. Our related app HomeTend’s home maintenance schedule helps plan monthly checks and seasonal upkeep. An inventory records what you own; the schedule helps you follow through on looking after it.

Doing it with the app

AI Home Inventory walks the same list: doorway shot, opposite corner, then a chip for each closed door or drawer it saw so you can photograph inside. Most items get a replacement-cost range. Jewelry, art and collectibles never get a number; you enter the appraisal or receipt value, and valuable items are flagged for a closer photo. Free for 4 AI photos total across 2 rooms; see how it works. If you'd rather do it by hand, this home inventory spreadsheet has the columns, and the table above is the whole method; the insurance guide explains what to do with the total.

Questions

Do I need to photograph every single item?

No. Photograph rooms and open storage; the room photo covers everything visible at once. Photograph individually only the valuable items, for their labels and serial numbers.

What about things with no resale value, like clothes?

Record them as groups with a replacement value: a closet of clothes costs real money to replace. Insurers pay for clothing, linens and kitchenware; they are usually the biggest gap in a first inventory.

How do I value jewelry and art?

With an appraisal, not a photo. Apps cannot tell a print from an original or plated from solid. Get appraisals, attach them, and ask your agent whether the items need their own rider.

How do I keep the list current?

Add anything over a few hundred dollars when you buy it, and re-photograph the rooms that changed at renewal. A yearly reminder is enough for most homes.

What's the difference between a home inventory list and a checklist?

The checklist tells you what to look at and photograph in each room. The list is the record you end up with: each item or group, with details and replacement cost. This page gives you both.