How to Make a Personal Property (Contents) List After a Loss

After a major loss, your insurance company will ask you to list every personal item that was damaged or destroyed. Everything. The contents of every room, every drawer, every closet. This task is overwhelming. Most people cannot remember what was in their junk drawer, let alone their entire home.

This guide gives you proven techniques for building a thorough inventory. The more complete your list, the more you get paid. Items you forget to list are items you never recover money for. Take your time. Work in sessions. Use every resource available.

Understanding What You Are Building

Your personal property inventory (sometimes called a “contents list” or “Schedule of Loss”) needs these elements for each item:

• Description (brand, model, color, size)
• Room or location where it was kept
• Approximate age or purchase date
• Original purchase price (if known)
• Replacement cost (what it costs to buy the same or comparable item today)
• Condition before the loss
• Quantity

You do not need receipts for every item. The insurer may ask for proof of ownership on high-value items, but for most household goods, your sworn statement is sufficient. For a detailed explanation of how contents claims work, see our contents claims guide.

Method 1: The Room-by-Room Walkthrough

This is the foundation technique. Close your eyes and mentally walk through each room of your home. Start at the front door and move through every space.

For each room, mentally stand in the doorway and scan:

• Floor to ceiling on the left wall
• Floor to ceiling on the far wall
• Floor to ceiling on the right wall
• The center of the room (furniture, rugs, lighting)
• The ceiling (fans, light fixtures)
• The floor (rugs, floor coverings)

Then open every storage space mentally:

• Each closet, shelf by shelf
• Each dresser drawer, top to bottom
• Each cabinet
• Under the bed
• Behind furniture
• On top of shelves and cabinets

Method 2: The “Day in the Life” Approach

Walk through a typical day and list every item you touch or use:

• Morning: Alarm clock, phone charger, bedside lamp, slippers, robe, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, razor, towels, bath mat, hair dryer, makeup, mirror, clothing from your closet and drawers...
• Breakfast: Coffee maker, mugs, plates, silverware, toaster, cereal bowls, food in the pantry, spices, cooking utensils, pots and pans...
• Work from home: Computer, monitor, desk, chair, printer, office supplies, reference books, file cabinet contents...
• Evening: TV, remote, streaming device, couch pillows, blankets, books, games, hobby supplies...

Then walk through less frequent activities: holidays (decorations, serving platters, guest bedding), home maintenance (tools, supplies), hobbies (sports equipment, art supplies, musical instruments), and seasonal changes (winter coats, summer gear).

Method 3: The Drawer-by-Drawer Method

People forget what is inside closed storage. This method forces you to mentally open every drawer, cabinet, and container in each room:

Kitchen example:

• Junk drawer: scissors, tape, batteries, flashlight, pens, notepads, coupons, keys
• Silverware drawer: full set of flatware, serving spoons, specialty utensils
• Upper cabinets: plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, food storage containers, spices
• Lower cabinets: pots, pans, baking sheets, mixing bowls, small appliances
• Under the sink: cleaning supplies, trash bags, dish soap, sponges
• Pantry: every food item, storage containers, paper goods

Apply this to every room. The bathroom medicine cabinet. The bedroom nightstand. The hall closet. The garage shelving. People consistently undercount by 40 to 60 percent when they skip storage spaces.

Method 4: Digital Records Mining

Your purchase history is documented in places you might not think of:

• Amazon order history: Go to Your Orders and scroll back years. Every item you purchased that was in your home belongs on the list.
• Credit card and bank statements: Request 3 to 5 years of statements. Each purchase at a furniture store, electronics store, clothing store, or home improvement store represents items in your home.
• Email receipts:Search your email for “receipt,” “order confirmation,” “shipping confirmation.”
• Store loyalty programs: Target Circle, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, and similar programs track your purchases.
• PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay: Check transaction histories for purchases.
• Wedding or gift registries: If you registered for gifts, that list represents items in your home.

Commonly Forgotten Categories

These categories are missed on nearly every contents claim:

• Cleaning supplies under every sink
• Light bulbs, batteries, and hardware supplies
• Food in the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry (perishables count)
• Medicine cabinet contents and first aid supplies
• Seasonal decorations (holiday, Halloween, birthday supplies)
• Garage and shed contents (tools, garden supplies, sports equipment)
• Attic and crawl space storage (holiday items, keepsakes, archived files)
• Wall hangings, artwork, mirrors, and window treatments (curtains, blinds)
• Plants (indoor and potted outdoor plants have value)
• Children’s items (toys accumulate faster than parents realize)
• Pet supplies (beds, crates, food, toys, grooming tools)
• Craft and hobby supplies
• Books, magazines, and media collections
• Linens: sheets, towels, blankets, tablecloths, napkins

Finding Replacement Costs

For each item, you need the current replacement cost: what it would cost to buy the same or comparable item new today. Tips for finding prices:

• Search the item on the retailer where you would buy it today
• If the exact item is discontinued, find the current equivalent model
• Use the mid-range price, not the cheapest available option
• Include tax in your replacement cost (you will pay tax when you replace it)
• For clothing, price at the store where you actually shop, not Walmart

Your policy entitles you to replace items of “like kind and quality.” That means if you owned a $1,200 sofa, the replacement is a comparable $1,200 sofa at today’s prices, not a $400 budget model. For more on how valuation works, see our ACV vs. RCV guide.

High-Value and Specialty Items

Certain items require special attention:

• Jewelry and watches: May be subject to special limits (often $1,500 to $2,500 per item) unless separately scheduled on your policy.
• Electronics: Document brand, model number, screen size, storage capacity. Replacement cost is the current equivalent, not what you paid years ago.
• Collections: Coins, stamps, wine, art, and similar collections often have sub-limits. Document each piece individually.
• Antiques and irreplaceable items: These may be valued at actual cash value even on a replacement cost policy because an exact replacement does not exist.

Organizing Your Inventory

Use a spreadsheet with these columns:

1. Room/Location
2. Item Description
3. Brand/Model (if applicable)
4. Quantity
5. Age (years)
6. Original Cost
7. Replacement Cost
8. Condition (excellent, good, fair)
9. Notes (receipts available, photos, etc.)

Your insurer may provide their own form. You can use their form, but keep your own spreadsheet as backup. Their form may limit the detail you can include.

After You Submit: What Happens Next

Once you submit your inventory, the insurer will review it and may:

• Accept some items and dispute others
• Ask for proof of ownership on specific items (this is where photos and receipts help)
• Apply depreciation to calculate ACV payments
• Issue a partial payment while reviewing the full list

You can supplement your inventory later if you remember additional items. Most insurers allow supplements for a reasonable period after the initial submission. Do not rush to submit an incomplete list. Take the time to be thorough.

For guidance on what to do immediately after a loss, including protecting your belongings, see our first 72 hours guide.

Your contents claim may be the largest check you ever receive. The difference between a thorough inventory and a rushed one can be tens of thousands of dollars. Use every technique in this guide. Work in sessions. Mine your digital records. Open every mental drawer. The time you invest here pays dollar-for-dollar in your settlement.