Picture this: a burst pipe floods your living room, or a fire damages half your home. In the chaos, your insurer asks for a list of everything you lost – with receipts, photos, and values. Could you pull that together? Most people can’t.

And it’s not just disasters. Moves, renovations, and even selling your home are far easier when you know exactly what you own and where it’s stored. Yet, year after year, I meet families who wish they’d kept track sooner. Being away from home during a holiday or vacation is another situation where a home inventory proves invaluable, especially if something happens while you’re gone.