Home Inventory After a Burglary or Water Damage: How to Document Your Belongings

Why a home inventory matters in a claim

After a loss, it is usually not enough to tell your insurer that, say, "several electronics and pieces of furniture" are missing or damaged. The insurer needs specifics: which items were present, when they were bought, which model it was, how much it cost then and what a comparable item costs today.

This is exactly where an inventory list helps. It acts as a memory aid and, together with photos, invoices, serial numbers and other documents, can make ownership and the value of your belongings plausible.

Without prior documentation it is often hard, after a burglary, to remember every stolen item. Besides obvious losses such as a TV, laptop or jewellery, tools, small appliances, clothing or collectibles may also be gone. Water damage creates a similar problem: damaged items are sometimes disposed of quickly for hygiene or safety reasons before they have been documented well.

A complete list does not automatically guarantee that every stated amount will be reimbursed. It does, however, improve how well a claim can be followed and can reduce follow-up questions and delays in settlement.

What belongs in a good inventory

When documenting your belongings, do not limit yourself to particularly expensive items. Many smaller entries can add up to a significant value. Think of clothing, kitchen equipment, books, tools or the contents of a home office.

For each item, the following information is useful where possible:

• a clear name for the item,
• manufacturer and model,
• category and storage location,
• date of purchase or approximate year,
• purchase price,
• estimated current replacement value,
• serial or device number,
• condition and distinctive features,
• one or more photos,
• receipt, invoice or proof of payment,
• supporting documents such as warranty papers or certificates.

For electronics, photograph connectors, type plates and serial numbers. For jewellery, artwork, antiques or collections, dimensions, material, weight, maker's marks, certificates and any existing valuations can also be relevant.

A good inventory is also organised by room or category. That makes it easier to maintain and faster to review after a loss. Possible categories include living room, kitchen, bedroom, basement, garage, electronics, jewellery, tools and sports equipment.

Not only single items

With a larger collection you do not always have to describe every ordinary item separately. Books, dishes or basic clothing can be sensibly grouped depending on scale. Valuable single items, on the other hand, should always be recorded separately, with photos and details.

For sets, note how many parts belong to them. Instead of just "camera", a more precise description is useful: camera body, two lenses, flash, charger, memory cards and carrying bag.

Domowik keeps such a list on your phone — with photos, values, purchase dates and serial numbers, locally and without an account. See it on Google Play →

Document your belongings before anything happens

The best time to create a home inventory is not after the loss, but before. The easiest way is to work room by room. Start with valuable and easily stolen items and then add the rest of the contents.

Step 1: Walk through your home

First photograph each room in an overview shot. Then open cupboards and drawers and take further overview pictures. These images do not automatically prove the value of each item, but they can show what was in the household at a given point in time.

Step 2: Record valuable items individually

Photograph high-value electronics, jewellery, watches, bicycles, tools, musical instruments, artwork and collections separately. Add manufacturer, model, serial number, date of purchase and price.

Step 3: Match up proof of purchase

Keep invoices, order confirmations and warranty papers. Digital invoices from online shops, bank statements, card statements or emails with an order confirmation can also help later.

Step 4: Update the list regularly

Add new purchases promptly. Review the whole list at least once a year, as well as after major purchases, a move or a renovation.

Domowik can serve as a digital tool for keeping such a list up to date. Items are saved with photos, value, purchase date and serial number. The data stays offline in the storage of your Android phone; an account or cloud connection is not required.

Photos as evidence — how to take them

Photos are especially useful when they make the item clearly identifiable. Blurry pictures with several things overlapping have less evidential value than clear individual shots.

For valuable items, the following sequence works well:

• an overall shot,
• a shot from a second angle,
• a close-up of distinctive features,
• a photo of the type plate or serial number,
• where there is damage, a close-up and an overview of the affected area.

Make sure there is enough light and a calm background. The photo should show not just the packaging, but the actual item where possible. For bicycles, also document the frame number, brand, model and any special components.

For jewellery and small valuables, a size comparison — for example next to a ruler — helps. Photograph certificates or valuations separately and clearly assign them to the relevant item.

After water damage, both the damaged item and its position in the room should be visible. Photograph water levels, wet walls, swollen furniture, damaged flooring and affected appliances. Overview shots show the context, while detail images capture the specific damage.

A photo's metadata can give additional hints about the date it was taken. Do not rely on it exclusively, however, as metadata can be changed or removed when sending. Invoices, lists and several matching photos together make for better documentation.

Reporting a claim: after a burglary

After a burglary, your own safety and securing possible evidence come first. Do not enter your home if you cannot rule out that someone is still inside. When in doubt, call the police immediately.

1. Notify the police

A break-in should be reported to the police as soon as possible. Until the scene has been examined, change as little as possible or follow the officers' instructions. Do not unnecessarily touch damaged doors, windows, drawers or items the intruder may have touched. Note the reference or case number — your insurer often needs it too.

2. Protect your home from further damage

Once the police release the scene, you can take necessary securing measures, such as temporarily closing a damaged door or window. Where possible, agree larger repairs with your insurer in advance and keep invoices for emergency measures.

3. Create a list of stolen items

List stolen and damaged items as precisely as possible. Use your prepared home inventory and add: exact name, manufacturer and model, serial number, date of purchase, purchase price, replacement value, and any photos and proof.

The police and your insurer may require different forms or details. So pay attention to each party's deadlines and instructions. Additionally report stolen bank cards, ID documents and phones to the relevant places and have cards and SIM cards blocked.

4. Inform your insurer promptly

When you report the claim, describe what happened factually and completely. Submit the available information first and ask which further documents are needed. Missing documents can often be provided later.

Reporting a claim: after water damage

With escaping water, every minute counts. First the source must be stopped and further spread prevented — without putting anyone at risk.

1. Stop the water and avoid hazards

If it is safe, turn off the main valve or the affected water supply. Where water is near electrical installations, do not enter the area and call for professional help. In a rented home, also inform the landlord, property manager or caretaker. A burst pipe may require an emergency service.

2. Photograph the cause and extent

Document the affected room before cleaning up. Photograph or film: the suspected point of escape, water on floors and walls, damaged furniture and items, swollen floors or cabinets, soaked textiles, visible water levels and all immediate measures taken. Note the date, time and likely sequence of events. Also record when the water was turned off and who was informed.

3. Limit consequential damage

Move undamaged items out of the danger area, remove standing water and, where suitable, provide ventilation. Soaked electrical appliances must not simply be switched on again. Only dispose of severely damaged items immediately if they pose a health hazard or storing them is not reasonable. Photograph them extensively beforehand and, where possible, agree the next steps with your insurer.

4. Clarify who is responsible

Not every water incident concerns the same insurance. Damage to movable household contents may fall under home contents insurance. Damage to the building itself or to permanently installed components often concerns building insurance. Damage to someone else's property may — depending on the cause — be a matter for personal liability insurance. Which insurance actually pays depends on the cause and the scope of the contract, and rules can differ by country and provider.

Document your belongings before anything happens

Domowik saves photos, values, purchase dates and serial numbers for each item — locally and without an account. A PDF report gathers everything for your insurer.

Download Domowik on Google Play

Scan with your phone

Which evidence to attach

An invoice is particularly good, but not the only proof — often the overall picture from several documents is what counts: receipts, order confirmations, bank statements, warranty cards, photos and videos from your home, packaging with serial numbers. If you no longer have proof of purchase, describe the item as precisely as possible (manufacturer, model, year, price) and look for older photos showing it in your home.

The full list of accepted evidence, how to prove ownership without a receipt and exactly what an insurer wants to see are covered in a separate guide: how to prepare documentation for your insurer. Here we focus on what to do immediately after a burglary or water damage.

Record the value before an item is gone

After a loss, what matters is the amount needed to replace an item — not just what it once cost. So for valuable items it is worth noting two figures in advance: the purchase price (ideally with an invoice) and an estimated replacement value (what a new equivalent costs today). If the item is stolen or destroyed, you already have a reference point.

The difference between purchase price, actual cash value and replacement value — and how to avoid underinsurance — is explained in detail in the guide on documentation for your insurer.

Keep a copy outside your home

A home inventory is of little help if it is destroyed or stolen together with your belongings. So keep at least one up-to-date copy outside your home or separate from the primary device. Possible storage locations are:

• an encrypted USB drive in another safe place,
• an external hard drive outside the household,
• a safe deposit box,
• a printed list held by a trusted person,
• a securely stored, encrypted digital backup.

If you deliberately do not want to use the cloud, you can regularly export the data to an encrypted drive. In Domowik the information stays local on your phone by default. A generated PDF report of your home inventory can be saved separately and used in a claim as a structured basis for your insurer. More on the copying process itself can be found in the guide on backing up before switching phones.

After each backup, check that the file actually opens. Encryption protects sensitive information, but the password must be stored safely and separately. Without the password, an encrypted backup may not be recoverable.

Record your first 15 items today

Domowik keeps your home inventory locally on your phone — with photos, values and purchase dates, no account and no cloud.

Download Domowik on Google Play

Scan with your phone

Checklist: what to have ready

• an up-to-date home inventory by room or category,
• name, manufacturer and model of valuable items,
• serial and device numbers,
• date and price of purchase,
• a realistic replacement value,
• overview photos of all rooms,
• detail photos of valuable items,
• photos of type plates and serial numbers,
• invoices, receipts and order confirmations,
• warranty papers and manuals,
• certificates and valuations,
• a copy of your insurance policy,
• policy number and your insurer's contact details,
• phone numbers to block cards and SIM cards,
• a safe copy of the list outside your home,
• a regular date to update the data.

Common mistakes when documenting belongings

The most common mistake is waiting until a loss occurs to document things. Under stress, it is hard to remember every item and its exact version.

A pure collection of photos without descriptions is also problematic. A picture may show a TV, but not necessarily the model, date of purchase or value. Photos should therefore be linked to concrete entries in the inventory. Other typical mistakes are:

• recording only very expensive items,
• not documenting serial numbers,
• not updating the list after new purchases,
• equating purchase price with replacement value,
• keeping all copies exclusively in your home,
• disposing of damaged items before documenting them,
• starting repairs without agreeing with the insurer,
• stating inaccurate or inflated values,
• losing passwords for encrypted backups,
• using only a single phone as a storage location.

A home inventory does not have to be perfect to help. Incomplete but regularly updated documentation is clearly better than none. What matters is that the details are understandable, verifiable and available when a loss occurs.