How to Back Up Your Home Inventory (And Why You Should)

The Insurance Company Question You Can't Answer

Your home is burglarized, or worse, destroyed in a fire or flood. The insurance adjuster asks: "Can you provide a list of everything that was taken or damaged?"

Most people can't. You remember the big things—TV, laptop, jewelry—but what about everything else? The kitchen appliances, tools, clothes, books, sporting equipment, and thousands of other items?

Without documentation, you might recover only 30-50% of your actual loss. With a proper inventory, you get fairly compensated.

Why You Need a Home Inventory

Beyond insurance claims, a home inventory helps with:

• Estate Planning: Your heirs will know what you own and its value
• Moving: Create an accurate inventory for moving companies
• Divorce or Separation: Document shared property fairly
• Tax Deductions: Prove donations or business equipment depreciation
• Warranty Claims: Know when you bought items and their serial numbers

Traditional Methods Are Too Slow

Insurance companies recommend keeping a home inventory, but the traditional method is tedious:

• Walk through your home with a video camera or notepad
• Open every drawer and cabinet
• Write down or film every item
• Store the documentation somewhere safe

This takes hours or even days. Most people never get around to it, or they do it once and never update it.

The Storagely Approach: Inventory as You Go

Instead of a massive one-time project, Storagely lets you build your inventory gradually:

• Organizing your garage? Photograph and list items as you organize
• Buying something new? Add it to your inventory immediately
• Cleaning out a closet? Document what you're keeping
• Storing seasonal items? Create a box in Storagely first

Over time, you naturally build a comprehensive inventory without dedicating a full day to the task.

What to Include in Your Inventory

Focus on:

• Valuables: Electronics, jewelry, collectibles, art
• Appliances: Kitchen, laundry, HVAC units
• Furniture: Everything from couches to dining tables
• Tools & Equipment: Power tools, lawn equipment, sports gear
• Clothing: At least count and estimate value of wardrobes
• Storage Items: Anything in boxes, attics, basements, or garages

You don't need to photograph every sock, but document categories and high-value items thoroughly.

Take Better Photos for Insurance

When photographing items for insurance purposes:

• Capture serial numbers and model numbers
• Show brand names and logos
• Take close-ups of valuable items
• Include receipts in photos if possible
• Show items from multiple angles

Storagely lets you attach up to 3 photos per item, so use this feature for expensive belongings.

Backing Up Your Storagely Inventory

Your inventory is useless if it's destroyed along with your belongings. Here's how to back it up:

• Weekly Automatic Reminders: Storagely reminds you to back up
• Encrypted Export: Export your inventory as an encrypted file
• Store Off-Site: Save to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) or email it to yourself
• Multiple Locations: Keep copies in 2-3 different places

The backup process takes about 30 seconds. Set a recurring reminder on your calendar to do it monthly.

Updating Your Inventory

A home inventory is only useful if it's current. With Storagely:

• Add new purchases immediately after buying them
• Delete or archive items when you sell or donate them
• Review your inventory once a year (set a calendar reminder)
• Update photos if you make major changes to a room

Sharing With Your Insurance Agent

When filing a claim, you can export your Storagely inventory and share it with your insurance company. The photos provide proof of ownership and condition, making the claims process much faster.

Some users even share their inventory with their insurance agent during policy setup to ensure they have adequate coverage for their belongings.

Start Small, But Start Today

You don't need to inventory your entire home this weekend. Start with:

• Your most valuable room (home office, master bedroom)
• Your 20 most expensive items
• Items that would be hardest to replace or remember

Then build the habit of adding items as you organize or buy new things. In a few months, you'll have a complete inventory without even realizing you were building one.

Hopefully you'll never need it for an insurance claim. But if you do, you'll be glad you have it.