Preparing your inventory, room by room

Unless you are an extreme minimalist and have taken on a challenge like the 100 item challenge, trying to name everything within your possession may seem nearly impossible. Typical Canadians own a lot of “stuff.” This can make the task of preparing an inventory seem really daunting—and with good reason...it's no small project! That said, whenever one is faced with a particularly large undertaking like this one, the best approach is to chunk it into smaller tasks. We have found that the most natural way to do this for the task of preparing an inventory is to go room by room.

Study. If you have a home office or library, there is a good chance you have a significant amount of electronic equipment there. Additionally, you will likely have valuable documents and work stored there as well. These are worth

recording.

Kitchen. While the kitchen may not be the first room in the house to occur to you as being a store of valuables that you should make note of and possibly insure, you might be surprised at the actual monetary value of everything you have in there. Small appliances such as food processors, mixers, blenders, coffee makers, as well as larger appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, and oven ranges should all be accounted for. Additionally, you should make note of significant pieces of cookware—these can be pricier than your appliances sometimes!

Bedroom. In addition to the furniture and fixtures in your bedroom, this is where items that are typically on your person will be found when they are not in use. Expensive pieces of clothing should be noted, as should jewelry. Additionally, if there are electronics in your bedroom, be sure to record those as well.

Storage areas. These include, but may not be limited to: closets, attics, and basements. Sports equipment, such as golf clubs, definitely needs to be recorded and insured. Other valuables that you typically find in these spaces include antiques that may have been passed down along the family, as well as collectibles (such as china, crystal, and figurines) that are not being displayed. You may have a musical instrument here that is not in use. On top of these more commonly recorded and insured items, be on the lookout for items that you are particularly attached to, regardless of whether they are typically considered valuable. Certain toys or even textiles may be difficult to replace should something happen to them. Make note of these possessions that you want to protect against disaster.

Shed. Don't forget your outdoor equipment! Power tools are one of the most targeted categories of items for theft, as are bicycles. These are prime candidates for protection against theft and damage via insurance.

Remember to have both hard and soft copies of your inventory handy, and to leave copies with a friend or family member as well.