Guide
Home inventory checklist, room by room
What to photograph in each room, what to record for each item, the things people forget, and how to keep it current. Printable, and the same order the app walks you through.
Last updated September 12, 2026
A good home inventory checklist is about coverage, not precision. The items people forget are not the television; they are the closet of clothes, the kitchen drawers, the garage wall, and the boxes in storage, which together are often the largest share of a contents claim. Work room by room, photograph the whole room before anything in it, open every door, and record groups as groups. Here is the list, then what to write down per item, then how to keep it alive.
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 |
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.
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.
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. Every item gets a replacement-cost range and the valuable ones get flagged for a close-up. Free for 2 rooms; see how it works. If you'd rather do it by hand, 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.
Let the app hold the checklist.
It asks for the doorway shot, the opposite corner, and each open door, room by room.
Free for 2 rooms. No credit card, no subscription.