Renters: why you need a home inventory, and how to make one in an afternoon

Updated October 20, 2026

If you rent, it's easy to assume your landlord's insurance would cover your things after a fire or a break-in. It won't. Only a renters policy protects your own possessions^[1]. And if you ever make a claim, you'll need to show what you owned.

Why an inventory matters for renters

• To choose your coverage. Many homeowners and renters underestimate the value of what they own, and an inventory shows whether your policy limits would replace it^[2].
• To make a claim easier. An inventory helps you prove the value of what you owned, which could speed up a claim^[3]. Without one, an insurer may estimate the value of what was lost, often leading to underpayment^[2].
• To spot items with limits. A standard renters policy caps payments for some items, such as jewelry, firearms and electronics^[4]. An inventory shows you which of yours might be over the limit.

What renters insurance usually covers

• Your belongings and your liability. Most policies cover personal property and liability^[1].
• Things away from home. Many policies cover belongings stolen from your car or damaged while you're out, such as a laptop taken from a coffee shop^[5].
• Somewhere to stay. Some policies pay for hotel stays and meals if a covered loss makes your home unlivable^[5].
• How it pays. Actual cash value pays what your things were worth at the time of the loss, minus depreciation and your deductible. Replacement cost pays what it costs to buy them new^[1]. There's more in replacement cost vs. actual cash value.
• A damage waiver isn't renters insurance. If your landlord charges for a property damage liability waiver, it typically won't cover any of your belongings^[5].

How to make one in an afternoon

1. Go room by room with your phone, filming or photographing everything, and open closets and drawers as you go.
2. Note the make, model and serial number of electronics and appliances, and roughly what you paid^[2].
3. Don't forget what's in a storage unit, under the bed, and in your car.
4. Gather receipts for bigger purchases. Online order histories help too.
5. Store a copy outside your home, such as in the cloud or a safe-deposit box^[2].
6. Keep it up to date as you buy and replace things^[6]. Moving is a convenient time, while you're packing or unpacking^[4].

How ii360 helps

Record a short video of each room, and ii360 lists the items it sees, each with a photo from your video and an estimated replacement cost. Your inventory is stored online, so it moves with you, and you can download a PDF report whenever you need one. The Free plan includes three room videos, with every feature.