HOME INVENTORY KIT

Imagine this. You’re not home. You get a call on your cell phone that your house is on fire and the fire trucks have just arrived.

Or maybe a hurricane or tornado is headed toward your home. They both seem to be more frequent in recent years. Floods also. Maybe you have to evacuate, grabbing what you can in just a few minutes.

If you lose everything you own, will you have the information needed for an insurance claim?

The last thing you want to be thinking about at this point is how to make a list of everything that’s gone.

After a friend told me they had lost the entire contents of their house in a fire a few years prior, I decided it was time for me to have a home inventory. I created a simple list in Excel®. When I showed it to a few clients, they wanted my help creating an inventory for themselves. Over time, I expanded on my spreadsheet, and now am making the template available to you.

What is a Home Inventory?

• A list of what you own, with some details
• The value of each item
• Photos and a video

Why Do You Need a Home Inventory?

• To make sure you have adequate insurance coverage.
• To have details, photos, and values if you need to make a claim so you have a better chance of getting a fair shake.
• To make sure you don’t forget anything. If you’re under stress because of the loss, I guarantee you will forget to list some items.
• To prepare for a move, especially if downsizing—a room-by-room inventory is great to have to figure out what will fit in your new space.
• To note items to donate and those you might be able to sell.
• To note specific items to be gifted to individual people.
• To use in distributing items from a person’s estate.
• To serve as a list from which heirs can indicate items they would like.
• To distribute items in a divorce.

• There was a lightning strike last Monday night that destroyed two condo buildings in my development, and 26 people were displaced. I realized I needed a home inventory now. Your explanation of what needs to be documented in the home inventory spreadsheet and your step-by-step instructions are phenomenal. It made it so easy for me. I think everyone should have a Home Inventory spreadsheet—before tragedy strikes.
  Stuart J., Maryland
• It gives me peace of mind having my home inventory documented, and it’s so efficient to have it in Excel. I already knew how to use Excel and can easily update the inventory myself.
  Debbie J., Gaithersburg, MD

Buy Your Home Inventory Kit!

The Home Inventory Kit costs $30 and includes:

• An Excel® spreadsheet inventory template
• Step-by-step instructions on how to create your inventory
• Tips to make it easy to create

(The kit will be emailed to you shortly after purchase.)

To buy multiple copies at a discount, please contact Susan directly.

If you want help completing your Home Inventory, check out my Resources section. You’ll find tips there as well.