Protecting your household goods and personal possessions is as important as protecting your home itself. But it is nearly impossible to tell how much you own or what it's all worth unless you make an inventory.
Source: The Hartford Insurance Co.

Pick a room, any room in your home.
Let's say you pick your living room. Get a pen and pad and move to any other room. Now try to write down everything you own in your living room.

That's the list you'll have to work with if a disaster destroys the contents of your living room.

"Since most people have a hard time recalling exactly what they have in every room of their house, a documented home inventory helps to easily identify exactly what was lost," said Candysse Miller, executive director of the Insurance Information Network of California.

Insurance experts say taking full, detailed inventory now, before disaster strikes, is the best way to protect everything you own in the event of a disaster
Source: New Home Source.com

Keep track of what you own so you can replace it!
After a fire or other disaster, to get reimbursed for your property by the insurance company, you need to give them a list of everything you lost and how much it was worth.

If you do a home inventory then you'll be able to give the insurance company a full, accurate list. A home inventory is basically a detailed list of everything you own.
Source: The Beehive.org

Why an inventory?
What if you were to return home at night to a pile of ashes? Would you be able to list all the items you owned of value such as linens, kitchen utensils, clothing and bric-a-brac?

Or suppose you were to come home from vacation and find your stereo equipment and television gone. How would you determine if anything else was missing, or if recovered, how would you identify?

In either case, would you find your insurance enough to cover your loss?

A completed Household Inventory Form will give you: A permanent record of the contents of your home and their value that is readily available.
Serial numbers listed for your "theft-prone items" so identification of stolen articles can be made easily.
A good indication if you have adequate protection.
Source: State Farm Insurance

Why do I need an inventory?

An inventory is especially important for insurance purposes. When you make an insurance claim for damaged, lost, or stolen property, your renters policy will require you to show the quantity, description, actual cash value (i.e., depreciated value), and amount of loss associated with each item. You'll also be asked to provide copies of bills, receipts, or other documentation to support your figures. If you omit some items or fail to include an adequate description of others, you may receive less than full compensation for your losses. Relying solely on your memory can be an expensive mistake. As an exercise, try to name every item in your kitchen junk drawer, and then imagine having to do that for the whole house!

A good time to conduct an inventory is when you're moving into a new apartment, condo, or other rental property. That way, if something is lost or damaged, you'll be prepared to file a claim against the moving insurance that you've purchased (or the insurance that the mover has provided).
Source: Insurance.com

Doing a home inventory
Making sure you have homeowners or renters insurance is a good way to protect your personal property from theft or damage. But do you know exactly what you have to insure? That may sound a little silly, but it's actually a very legitimate question.

After a devastating event like a fire or tornado, people often find it very difficult to remember everything that was in their homes before disaster struck. Most people can list big-ticket items such as TVs, computers and stereos. But when you have to begin thinking about everything else, it gets more complicated--there are pots and pans, dishes, small appliances and all your clothes. Replacing those kinds of everyday items can quickly add up to thousands of dollars. Source: Texas Department of Insurance

How do I take a home inventory and why?
Would you be able to remember all the possessions you’ve accumulated over the years if they were destroyed by a fire? Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you get your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and help you purchase the correct amount of insurance.
Source: Insurance information institute

One of the most important things you can do to protect your belongings is to know exactly what you have — a home inventory. Most insurance policies will pay to have household items replaced if they are stolen, lost or damaged in a fire or flood. However, most of us haven't taken the time to prepare a detailed list of valuables — and relying on memory to account for a lifetime of purchases after a traumatic event is stressful and ineffective. Home inventories can also help in a variety of situations, such as estate planning and prenuptial agreements.

Creating a home inventory can be a challenge, but it is well worth the effort. Try not to be overwhelmed by the task. While keeping your home inventory on paper is one solution, the process will be much easier if you take advantage of modern technology such as a digital camera, digital camcorder, scanner and computer. Check with your insurance agent, accountant, or lawyer before you start to be sure of what information you should capture.
Source: Imation corp.