Take "Before" Photos

A home inventory makes it easier to document belongings after a loss. Photos and video help, but they do not guarantee coverage or a fast insurance payout.

Make the inventory useful

1. Photograph each room and its major items before work or a move. Open closets and drawers where appropriate without recording private papers unnecessarily.
2. Record make, model, serial number, purchase date, and receipts for valuable items. Narrate identifying details during a slow video walkthrough.
3. Store receipts, appraisals, and warranties alongside the inventory. Ask your insurer about special coverage requirements for high-value belongings.
4. Save an encrypted or access-controlled backup outside the home. Keep an offline recovery method as well as a cloud copy.
5. Update after significant purchases, sales, renovations, or disposals.

Check the result

Open the backup from another device and confirm photos, labels, and receipts are readable. A local copy on the phone inside the same house is not enough if both are lost.

Keep access limited to trusted people and tell the relevant household member how to recover it. Follow your insurer’s claim process after a loss; the inventory supports that process rather than replacing it.

Sources and scope

• Insurance Information Institute: inventory documentation and off-site copies

These references support the guidance above. Source review is not a hands-on test of your home or a certification of a product. Follow the instructions for your exact model and local requirements.