Prepare Kansas: Recording a Household Inventory

by Nora Rhoades, Family and Youth Development Agent 


There’s a saying among those who respond to disasters: all disasters are local. Whether it’s a tornado that ravages a large swath of the community or a fire that sweeps through a home, it’s often local citizens who are the first to respond and the last to leave. The event is a disaster to the people involved.

The effects of a disaster can be eased however, by preparing in advance. Taking inventory of what you have and recording it is a good place to start.

"In the middle of a crisis when there’s so much on your mind, it’s hard to remember every detail,” said Nora Rhoades, Family and Youth Development Extension Agent. “An accurate inventory is a necessity, whether you’re a homeowner or a renter.”

To prepare a household inventory:

• Make an itemized list of the contents of your home, including the basement, attic, and garage. If you rent storage space away from the home, include its contents. Include items that might be in school lockers, such as sports equipment.

• Take photos or video recordings of every wall in each room, plus storage areas, including close-ups of unique or expensive items. Take photos of open closets. Photos or video to accompany your itemized list will be useful.

• Date photos. If videotaping, verbally describe the contents as you move around the room.

• Be specific and accurate in describing your furnishings and equipment. For furniture, include the color, wood type, and size. For appliances, record the manufacturer, model, serial number and size. Product manuals may be helpful. Include the original cost and the date purchased if possible.

• Save photos or videos on a flash drive or other media storage device. One format can be found at www.extension.org/pages/11274/household-inventory, which includes an interactive form downloadable to your computer. After downloading, print it out and hand write the inventory information, or fill it out and save it to your computer. Back it up with external memory, and keep that copy in a safe place, away from your residence. 

• Consider creating the inventory in a software program that is stored online, so it can be accessed from any computer. For example, “Know Your Stuff” is the Insurance Information Institute’s free online home inventory software, at www.knowyourstuff.org.

• Keep a working document (paper or electronic) of your household inventory in the home file plus store another copy away from the insured dwelling, such as in a safety deposit box, with a trusted person, or stored online.

• Add newly acquired items to your inventory and include a new photo or video. Update the inventory when items are discarded.  

A free, personal home inventory workbook can be obtained at your local Post Rock District Office.

Connect to the Prepare Kansas Blog and gain additional resources through the Post Rock Extension District’s Facebook Page. You can also email Nora Rhoades at nrhoades@ksu.edu.