Home Inventory Forms

Making Home Inventory Easier

Today there are a variety of ways to make it easier to do a home inventory. You can purchase or find free inventory or cataloguing software programs, or even hire a home inventory company to complete this task for you.

For many people, however, it's easily within their grasp to do the inventory themselves. Online home inventory forms or checklists can make what seems like a daunting task relatively simple and painless. It may take a bit of time to accurately complete the inventory, but carving out that slice of time from your weekend is a task you won't regret in case of unforeseeable circumstances, such as fire, flood, theft, or other disasters. Without an accurate and detailed list of your belongings, you may be at a great disadvantage when it comes to receiving compensation from your insurance.

What You Need to Complete Home Inventory Checklists

Although a notebook, pen, and paper can suffice for doing an inventory, printable checklists or forms can help you to remember every item and the details of each item in a more organized format. It may be helpful to walk through each room and any storage areas of your home when doing the inventory rather than rely on memory.

You will need:

• A pen
• Your printed inventory forms or checklists
• Receipts or other documentation of major purchases
• Any appraisals of your belongings

You may also want to use a clip board to make forms more portable and easier to complete as you are walking through your home. Individual photographs or a videotape clearly showing your items can also be a helpful addition to your inventory.

Information Commonly Found on Home Inventory Worksheets

When you use a home inventory worksheet or form, the following information should be recorded, especially for big-ticket items:

• Quantity of items
• Date/year item was purchased
• Serial or model number
• Brand name or manufacturer
• The cost of the item when it was purchased
• The current value or replacement cost of the item (This can be estimated for many items, but appraisals are important for items whose value may have increased over time.)
• The place of purchase for items without a receipt
• If you are not using photo or video, a description or details of the item

Insurance companies may have different ways of analyzing the costs of items. In many cases, it is the original cost, minus depreciation, which equals the ACV, or actual cash value. Calculating replacement cost is another way of determining the compensation for items. Talk to your insurance company to find out what formula they use to determine compensation so you can create a home inventory that is most accurate according to their guidelines and the most beneficial to you in case of losses.

Although some home inventory worksheets only account for large or more expensive items, many experts recommended accounting for smaller items as well. The cost of replacing daily living necessities such as pots and pans, linens, and personal belongings can be significant, so documenting these items as well may be to your advantage.

Free Printable Home Inventory Forms

Although many of the most common household items are noted, be sure to include other items you own, with special notation on items that are rare or costly. When you've completed your forms, sign and date them. Check with your insurance to find our exactly what your coverage is and for any possible limits on particular items, such as jewelry or collectibles. Your insurance agent can work with you to make sure you have the best coverage for what you own.

LoveToKnow offers convenient, free printable home inventory forms for you to use:

• General Home Inventory Form
• Living Room Home Inventory Form
• Dining Room Home Inventory Form
• Family Room Home Inventory Form
• Bedroom Home Inventory Form
• Home Office Inventory Form
• Kitchen Home Inventory Form
• Laundry Room Home Inventory Form
• Home Storage Inventory Form
• Bathroom Home Inventory Form
• Patio or Deck Home Inventory Form
• Blank Home Inventory Form.