Build It Before You Need It
If your home were damaged by a fire, flood, or burglary tomorrow, your insurance company would ask you to itemize what you lost. Without a written record, you are working from memory under stress — and most people forget a significant portion of what they actually owned. A home inventory spreadsheet costs nothing to build and removes that problem entirely.
What to Track and How to Set It Up
Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, or any similar program. Create six columns: Item Name, Category, Brand and Model, Serial Number, Purchase Price or Estimated Value, and Date Purchased. Then walk through your home room by room, listing anything that would cost real money to replace.
The Details That Actually Matter to an Adjuster
Serial numbers are the single most useful piece of information on any inventory. A serial number proves ownership and gives your insurer something specific to price for replacement. For jewelry or art without serial numbers, a clear photograph paired with a description and estimated value is the next best thing. Keep receipts for any item over $200 if you still have them — scan them and attach them as a separate file linked to the spreadsheet.
Store your inventory somewhere other than your home. A house fire that destroys your belongings will also destroy a spreadsheet saved only on a home computer. Upload it to Google Drive, iCloud, or email it to yourself so it survives the event you are preparing for.
Update the spreadsheet after every significant purchase — a new appliance, a piece of furniture, a piece of jewelry. A five-minute update now is far simpler than trying to reconstruct years of purchases after a loss.
With care,
Mike Bridges
Founder, The O55 Report