Inventorying your house

[RosieTR]

I listen to Marketplace Money podcast frequently on my drive to work, and a couple months ago they had a show featuring some of the folks from Joplin MO who lost everything in the tornado. Among other lessons, the show's host reiterated that it's really a good idea to have an inventory of your house in a case like this, and one of the tornado victims had done this. She was definitely very glad she had, and said how much easier the whole process had been with her insurance co compared to if she hadn't. So when DH and I were discussing our goals for 2013, I mentioned inventorying as a goal. The goal was by the end of Feb, which isn't looking likely :|( Part of my problem getting into doing this is psychological, though. It feels a little overwhelming anyway, but then on some level I start to think of all the people who *have* lost all their stuff, in Joplin, from Sandy, and from wildfires. If I look logically to what could cause the complete destruction of my house, fire is tops (not wildfire for me personally but anyone can have a house fire) followed by probably tornado. Because there are mountains nearby I can't rule out earthquake, although if an earthquake leveled our house, our whole community would be so screwed I doubt I'd be terribly worried about my house and stuff compared to concern over friends and family. I know on an intellectual level the chances are remote even for a simple house fire so it's really a win-win: either I know what all I have and never need it, or the house is destroyed and I'm glad I have documents for the insurance co. On an emotional level, however, it's a barrier to doing the inventory because I'll start thinking like this: "I should start on the kitchen. Dishes don't burn in a fire, but the cabinets do, so all the dishes fall to the ground and break. Wonder if those people whose dishes I saw in just such a manner had done an inventory?" and on and on, for example. Which is why I'm not further along. Anyone done this? Anyone had these issues? Anyone think of a better way to think of this or how to make this maybe a better process?

[ToomuchStuff]

I helped a couple of friends do an inventory AFTER a fire (total house lost). A complete, and always current inventory, is truly next to impossible, except for those simple life/minimalist types. What does work well is using digital camera's (video and still) and multi media forms (cd/dvd/sdhc/usb/online cloud backup). The discs should be kept in multiple locations (safety deposit box, maybe work or parents, fireproof safe at home) and cloud access, could be handled from anywhere (out of town when something happens).

I had a friend who went down to Joplin after the tornado (job moving them down there), and some others that did fundraising for them (they have done other disasters as well). It always makes one take a second look at what we do.

[Dhiana]

Having moved waaay too many times, we do have a fairly decent inventory of a sort. The quickest way is to simply go through your home with video. Which can be stored at a third location.
A written inventory can be made up easily going room by room listing descriptions, quantities, serial #s, etc. Storing this list anywhere from google docs, dropbox, iCloud, etc. I think Apple App store has a specific app for this if you want ideas on putting an inventory together.
We even have receipts for some of the pricier items. Our stuff isn't very valuable at all, thrift store items, Ikea items, etc. but it's the replacement value that makes things suddenly seem valuable. It adds up a lot faster than you'd expect.
Have Fun inventorying :)

[Float On]

Usually once a year, I'll walk around with my camera and do a video inventory. Its so much easier to talk about things and where they came from or how much we spent on them than it is to try and sit down and write out a list. I do this in the house, yard, studio, and cars/trucks. When I'm done I move the video to a memory stick and drop it off at the safe deposit box and remove last years so I can erase it and use it again.

[cdttmm]

Usually once a year, I'll walk around with my camera and do a video inventory. Its so much easier to talk about things and where they came from or how much we spent on them than it is to try and sit down and write out a list. I do this in the house, yard, studio, and cars/trucks. When I'm done I move the video to a memory stick and drop it off at the safe deposit box and remove last years so I can erase it and use it again.

This is a great idea -- thanks, Float On!

[goldensmom]

We video inventory as well. Lesson learned from a fire long ago that occurred in the fall....the next summer when we went to get the tent and several other sports items, we realized they had been lost in the fall fire and had not been part of the loss report.

[Life_is_Simple]

I did this last year. One thing that helped is this three-part video on you-tube: Part I (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpxWl17wJIQ) .

I also signed up for Dropbox.com, and uploaded pictures and videos of stuff.

One of the tips from the video is to take photos of serial/model numbers in the back of an item. If you can photograph the silver serial number plate for major appliances, laptops, printers, and make a goal to do 10 of your highest priced items, that is a big start.

Note: Here is the thread I did last year on the same topic: Here (http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?5873-Home-Inventory&highlight=inventory)

[Fawn]

I would think that the easiest way to do this would be to walk around the house with a video camera and talk about the items, especially if there are happy memories associated with the items (rather than thinking about how the item might get destroyed in the future) and as mentioned above, back up and store the video in separate locations away from home.

I do the written list, but I am a minimalist and get all giddy with excitement when I figure out a way to live without an item that has been in the house for awhile. Taking the item off the list is part of the fun. :|(

[Zoebird]

It's great to do as part of a decluttering or reorganization process -- or when switching seasonal clothing.

As a minimalist, it is easier. my boxes in the US are itemized, and everything in the household is itemized -- for both insurance purposes and to just understand what we have/use. And, I keep the lists handy -- so that I can have a look when I need to.