Comments on: Keep & Update Your Home Inventory

By: OutpostUSA.org

OutpostUSA.org — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:21:06 +0000

Especially with outdoor equipment and sports items, you NEED to go through it frequently and clean and air it. Mold, mildew, mice and other issues are risks for items stored for months at a time without attention.

By: mewithoutdebt

mewithoutdebt — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:38:05 +0000

Really good idea. Once I buy anything major, I make a folder and put all related info (such as manual, warranty, receipt etc). However, I don’t know if keeping the inventory updated (with its current price – need some work) is something most people will do or want to do.

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:56:54 +0000

Nice post! I would guess less than 10% of the people out there have a formal inventory . . .

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:08:04 +0000

I video tape or photograph everything, because the lists just don’t cover everything. Video and photos also shows the condition of the items and can prove that on x day the items like expensive electronics were operational and not broken. You can also check with your insurance company to see if they accept video/photographic archives to maintain with your account. Some do.

By: Jace

Jace — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:37:48 +0000

If you use the video / photo / home software methods, make sure you store copies of your inventory on the internet, with family members or in a bank deposit box! If your house burns down or gets robbed and they take your computer (they probably will), your inventory is pretty useless!

By: centsandthecity

centsandthecity — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:18:34 +0000

This is an excellent post. I definitely NEED to do this. Plus the point from the previous poster about de-cluttering is also great. This is going on the to do list ASAP.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:51:51 +0000

Yes that’s an excellent point!

By: Ellen

Ellen — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:02:19 +0000

This is also a great way to de-clutter your life. When you have to go through everything in your home, you realize how much of it you just don’t use.

By: Kevin@OutOfYourRut

Kevin@OutOfYourRut — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:43:05 +0000

This is well worth doing. One of our neighbors had significant flood damage and the insurance company battled them on nearly everything they claimed.

And that was a situation where the items in question were damaged, but still in existence. Had there been a fire and possessions were destroyed completely it would have been far worse.

By: Roy in Virginia

Roy in Virginia — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:25:01 +0000

“you can use software to help track your property.”

I have been using Know Your Stuff, a free site sponsored by the Insurance Information Institute. I advise taking the guided tour first because it allows you to see the great tool set they have included. Organize by room, add items, paste photos of items, keep track of purchase price, estimate current value and produce a summary of the results. The summary can be printed for personal records, but you can also copy to CD and distribute redundant copies to your insurance agent and to family members for safe keeping.