Glossary

Contents inventory

An itemized list of belongings that were damaged, destroyed or stolen, with quantity, description, age and cost, used to support a personal property claim.

Also called: personal property inventory, contents list, inventory of damaged personal property

A contents inventory is the itemized list you give the insurer to claim for damaged or stolen belongings under Coverage C. The standard ISO homeowners form calls for an inventory of damaged personal property showing quantity, description, actual cash value and amount of loss, with bills, receipts and related documents attached. Adjusters usually also want brand and model, age, where and when it was bought, and what you paid.

List by room, one line per item. For example: "Living room, 55-inch TV, bought 2021, $600" (hypothetical). The insurer then pays either replacement cost or actual cash value depending on your policy and may withhold depreciation until you replace the item. Special limits apply to categories such as jewelry, firearms, cash and collectibles, so list those separately.

Memory fails after a fire. Photos or video of each room taken before a loss are the best proof, and bank and card statements, emails, and online order histories can rebuild purchase details. Padding the list is a mistake, since the policy's fraud provision can void the entire claim. The best time to build the inventory is before anything happens: see how to make a home inventory, and for the claim itself, filing a personal property claim.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

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Related terms

Personal property (Coverage C) Coverage for the movable things you own, such as furniture, clothing, electronics and tools, whether they are at home or elsewhere in the world. Actual cash value What an insurer pays for damaged property: the cost to repair or replace it today, minus a deduction for age and wear, so less than a new-for-old payment. Replacement cost What it would cost to repair or rebuild with materials of like kind and quality at today's prices, with no deduction for age or wear. Proof of loss A signed, sworn statement of what happened and what you are claiming, which most policies require within a set number of days. Special limits of liability Low dollar caps on categories such as cash, jewelry, firearms, silverware and business property that apply no matter how high your belongings limit is.

Related guides

Documenting damage: photos, video and receipts How to photograph, film and log home damage so an adjuster can verify it: what to capture before cleanup, what the HO-3 asks you to keep, and a claim file. How to make a home inventory for insurance How to build a home inventory insurers will accept: what to record per item, how to shoot the video, where to store it, and which valuables need a closer look. Policy conditions: your duties under a homeowners policy What a standard HO-3 requires of you after a loss, and what the insurer owes back: notice, proof of loss, suit deadlines, fraud and cancellation. How much personal property coverage do you need? Your contents limit is usually a percentage of your dwelling limit, which is only a guess. Price what you own room by room and compare, with a worked example. What the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires taught homeowners Insured losses, claims paid, moratorium and living-expense rules, and practical coverage checks after the Palisades and Eaton fires, with CDI and Aon figures. Padding a claim: the penalties and the policy fraud clause Where a generous claim ends and padding begins, what the policy's fraud clause and state law can do, and how to claim all you are owed honestly.

Related insurers

Travelers Publicly traded insurer founded in 1864 that sells home insurance mainly through independent agents in most states; the 7th-largest U.S. home insurer.

Related tools

Home inventory builder Build a room-by-room list of belongings and replacement costs, compare the total with your personal property limit, and flag items over the standard limits.