InventoryByHand

The Free Home Inventory Template

Every field an insurer asks for, room by room, in a template you can print and fill in by hand or copy into the app. Free, no account, no sign-up.

For each item, write the same short field set, in line with guidance from the Insurance Information Institute and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, checked October 2026: brand, make, and model; the room; serial and model number; purchase date; purchase price; replacement cost today; age and condition; and proof of ownership — a receipt photo, a warranty paper, or a bank statement line. Add a photo of the item in place.

Work in the order below, room by room. Photograph each room wide first, then each wall and corner, then each larger item in place, and open every drawer, closet, and cabinet. Photograph serial plates rather than copying numbers by hand where you can.

For jewelry, watches, art, and collectibles, keep any appraisal with the entry. Many policies limit what they pay for these kinds of items unless they are listed separately — check your policy and ask your insurer about listing valuable pieces separately.

Home inventory — room by room

One row per belonging. Photograph each item where it stands, then photograph the whole room. File the finished copy somewhere other than this house.

Living room

Sofa, chairs, and coffee and side tables · Television: brand, model, and serial plate photo · Sound system, speakers, and streaming boxes · Lamps, rugs, curtains, and mirrors · Books, games, and media collections · Art, clocks, and decorative pieces · Fireplace tools and any heating equipment in the room

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Kitchen

Refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and microwave — plates photographed · Small appliances: mixer, blender, coffee maker, toaster, and more · Cookware, knives, and bakeware sets · Dishes, glassware, and serving pieces · Countertop items and pantry stock of value · Bar stools and kitchen table and chairs · Any wine, spirits, or specialty food of real value

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Main bedroom

Bed frame, mattress, and bedding sets · Dressers, nightstands, and wardrobes · Clothing and shoes, by rough group and value · Jewelry and watches — each piece, with appraisal papers if you have them · Television and electronics in the room · Lamps, rugs, curtains, and mirrors · Safes and lockboxes, with contents noted separately

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Bedroom 2

Bed, mattress, and bedding · Dresser, desk, and chair · Clothing and shoes · Electronics: television, computer, console, and games · Books, instruments, and sports gear · Lamps, rugs, and curtains · Closet contents, photographed inside

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Bathroom

Vanity, mirror, and lighting · Hair tools, grooming appliances, and heated items · Towels, linens, and storage pieces of value · Medicines and toiletries are not inventoried item by item — note only durable equipment · Shower and bath fixtures of special value · Jewelry or watches kept in the bathroom, moved to the main list

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Home office

Computer, monitors, keyboard, and mouse — serial plates photographed · Printer, scanner, and external drives · Desk, chair, filing cabinet, and shelving · Books and reference sets of value · Cameras, lenses, and accessories · Phone, tablet, and chargers of value · Paper records: file the location of policy papers, appraisals, and warranties

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Dining room

Table, chairs, and sideboard or hutch · China, crystal, silverware, and serving pieces · Table linens and placemats of value · Art, mirrors, and light fixtures · Wine storage and contents of value · Any heirloom or antique piece, with appraisal if you have one

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Laundry

Washer and dryer — plates photographed · Iron, ironing board, and steamer · Drying rack, baskets, and storage · Cleaning equipment of value, including vacuum cleaners kept here · Spare linens and seasonal clothing stored here

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Garage

Tools, by chest and by larger item, with plates on powered tools · Bikes, with frame numbers photographed where present · Sports gear: golf, fishing, camping, and winter equipment · Lawn and garden equipment, including mowers and trimmers · Car care equipment, spare parts, and tires of value · Workbench, shelving, and storage cabinets · Seasonal and holiday goods stored here

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Attic & storage

Stored furniture, boxed by contents · Seasonal clothing and holiday goods · Luggage and travel gear · Childhood and keepsake boxes, noted by box rather than piece by piece · Spare appliances and electronics in storage · Books and records in storage · Anything in a rented storage unit, noted with the unit address

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Kids' rooms

Bed, mattress, and bedding · Dresser, desk, and chair · Clothing and shoes · Toys and games of real value, especially electronics and sets · Instruments and sports gear · Books and school equipment of value · Electronics: tablet, console, computer, and accessories

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Outside & shed

Patio furniture, grill, and outdoor heater · Garden tools and power equipment · Shed contents, shelf by shelf · Play equipment and trampolines · Bikes and outdoor sports gear kept outside · Hot tub, pool equipment, and covers · Yard art, lighting, and planters of value

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Bought	Paid $	Worth today $	Proof

Room sweep photos: ☐ whole room ☐ each corner ☐ serial plates close up

Proof-of-Loss Worksheet

Claimant name: ________________________________________

Property address: ________________________________________

Policy number: ________________________________________

Date of loss: ________________________________________

Cause of loss: ________________________________________

Insurer / adjuster name: ________________________________________

Claim number: ________________________________________

Per-item table — column headers: Item | Brand / make / model | Room | Serial / model number | Purchase date | Purchase price | Replacement cost today | Age and condition | Proof of ownership | Photo reference

Item total — purchase price: ________________________________________

Item total — replacement cost today: ________________________________________

Notes and estimates: mark every estimated figure as estimated, and say how you arrived at it.

Signature and date: ________________________________________

Item	Brand / make	Model	Serial	Age	Paid $	Replacement today $	Proof attached

Print this worksheet and keep one copy outside the house with your inventory file. When your insurer sends its own form, copy your figures onto that form — the fields match, and your insurer's form is the one that counts for your claim.

The InventoryByHand App — $44, one time

The free template above proves the fields. The app does the walking for you: room-by-room on your phone, photos attached to every item, a claim-ready report in one tap — and everything saved in a file you own. No subscription. No item cap.

How to use it

Print two copies — one to write on, one clean for the file.
Walk room by room with your phone: item photo, serial-plate photo, then the whole room.
Write what you paid and what it would cost today — they are different numbers, and the claim uses the second.
Keep the finished copy out of the house: email it to yourself, or store it with family or in cloud storage.