How to document your belongings for an insurance claim
The homeowner with the better documentation almost always gets the better payout. Your inventory is the evidence that makes a lowball offer impossible to defend. Here is how to build one that holds up.
What to record for every item
For each item, capture as much of this as you can:
- Item name and description (brand, model, size where it matters)
- Age or approximate purchase date
- Condition before the loss
- Replacement cost today (what it costs to buy new now, not what you paid)
- Proof: a photo, a receipt, a manual, or an online listing of the same or a similar item
Go room by room
Working one room at a time keeps you from missing things. Open every closet, cabinet, and drawer. People consistently forget the small, high-frequency items that add up fast: kitchenware, tools, linens, cleaning supplies, toiletries, clothing, and the contents of the garage and attic.
Let AI build your inventory from a photo
Snap a picture of a room or a pile, and ClaimFair identifies the items and estimates replacement cost, so you are not typing hundreds of lines by hand. Reading your policy is free.
Start my inventory free →Prove ownership and value
You do not need a receipt for everything, but the more proof, the stronger the claim. Good sources include photos and videos taken around your home (even old birthday or holiday photos that happen to show your belongings), bank and credit-card statements, email order confirmations, and current online prices for the same item to support replacement cost.
Handle high-value items carefully
Jewelry, watches, electronics, firearms, art, and collectibles often have sublimits, which are caps lower than your overall coverage. Itemize these separately and value them precisely, because this is where carriers most often apply a low special limit you may not know about.
Common mistakes that get claims lowballed
- Listing what you paid years ago instead of today's replacement cost
- Rounding whole rooms into a single line instead of itemizing
- Forgetting living expenses while displaced (Loss of Use)
- Accepting the adjuster's contents valuation without your own list to compare
Frequently asked questions
Do I need receipts for everything?
No. Receipts help, but photos, statements, manuals, and current online prices for the same item are all valid support. Document what you can and estimate the rest reasonably.
How detailed should a home inventory be?
Item by item is best. A detailed, itemized list with ages, conditions, and replacement costs is far harder to discount than a few lump-sum room totals.
General information, not legal advice. ClaimFair is a software tool and referral service, not a public adjuster or law firm. Your policy and your state's law control your specific claim.