Best Free Home Inventory Software

The Best Free Home Inventory Software

According to Chris Pirillo, an online radio personality who addresses tech issues, the best home inventory software is a free, online inventory tracking website called StuffSafe. StuffSafe has also been featured by AppScout, a website that highlights quality software programs.

Completing the StuffSafe Inventory

To set up your inventory on StuffSafe, you need to:

• Register and create an account. There is no charge to sign up.
• Create a location. This can be your house or apartment, plus you can add other locations such as work or a vacation home.
• Choose the rooms within each location in which you want to inventory your belongings. For your home, you would add the living room, bedrooms, kitchen, etc.
• Create the inventory of your belongings for each room.

This step-by-step method helps you stay organized and breaks the task down into manageable parts. You create an inventory of one room at a time until you’ve entered everything you own.

Since all you need is a web browser, StuffSafe works with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. You can leave your inventory online, or you can download a list of your items to save on your computer and print out.

Pros and Cons of Storing an Inventory Online

The main advantage to storing your home inventory online is that your records are kept away from where theft or damage is most likely to occur — your home. A well-kept home inventory stored on your computer is of no use if your computer crashes, is stolen or damaged by flood, fire, etc.

The downside to storing a home inventory in any online program is that your inventory could be stolen by a hacker and a potential burglar could learn exactly what is inside your home. The odds are slim that this would happen or that using this software would raise the likelihood of your home being targeted by thieves.

Know Your Stuff Software

If you prefer to use a software application, an excellent free home inventory software is Know Your Stuff. The software is provided by the Insurance Information Institute, a nationally-recognized information source on insurance issues. The program is optimized for creating large inventories — so it can handle all the belongings in the typical home.

Know Your Stuff is compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Mac OS 10.3 and higher.

Saving the Inventory Data

Know Your Stuff is partnered with Vault 24, a company that allows you to store your home inventory on computer servers located in Switzerland. The cost is relatively inexpensive for a basic account. This is something you can consider ordering, but is not required to use Know Your Stuff.

Home Inventory Templates

Microsoft

If you have Microsoft Access or Excel installed on your computer, Microsoft offers free home inventory templates. The templates are available to download.

One of the best looking templates, and the one with the highest user rating, is the template designed for Access 2007. You start by entering your data into the spaces provided. You then can save the data entered as records in the database. You can add, delete or modify records at any time.

If you don’t have Access 2007, there is also a basic template for Excel. While not as visually attractive as the Access template, it will still help you create an inventory.

LoveToKnow Insurance

Easy-to-use inventory templates are available for easy printing here at LoveToKnow Insurance. There are templates for all the rooms in your home as well as your patio or deck area. Just select the template or templates you need. Or, select the blank home inventory form for any special inventory needs you have.

Keep your Inventory List Secure

A home inventory is worthless if you can't find it when you need it -- even if you use the best free home inventory software. If you save your home inventory list on your own computer, be sure to back up your list in case something happens to your computer. You can:

• Burn your inventory to a CD or DVD and save the disc in a secure location such as a safe deposit box at your bank.
• Print your inventory and save it somewhere safe outside of your home.
• E-mail your inventory to a friend or family member so that it’s saved outside of your home.