A Quiet Pre-Storm Step That Protects Your Entire Claim
Florida is no stranger to storms. In 2025 alone, we’re facing one of the most active hurricane seasons in history. But while most homeowners rush to buy water, plywood, and batteries, there’s one critical step many overlook:
📝 Creating a home inventory.
If your home suffers a hurricane, fire, pipe burst, or theft, your insurance claim won’t just depend on the damage to the structure—it’ll depend on what you can prove you owned.
Unfortunately, when homeowners can’t recall or validate their lost belongings, insurers have the advantage.
That’s why we strongly recommend building a detailed home inventory now—before the chaos starts.
What Is a Home Inventory (and Why It Matters for Insurance)?
A home inventory is a detailed list—ideally with photos and descriptions—of everything you own that has value: electronics, furniture, appliances, clothing, tools, jewelry, and collectibles.
In the event of a claim, it serves three essential functions:
- Proof of Ownership: You’ll have documentation of what you owned and what was lost.
- Faster Claims: No guesswork, fewer delays, and better itemization.
- Better Payouts: You’ll reduce disputes, especially for higher-value items or unique property.
💡 Important: Most homeowners think they’ll remember what they lost. But under stress—or months later when adjusters ask for detail—it’s common to forget entire rooms or categories of belongings.
What Should You Include?
Here’s what your inventory should document:
- Photos or video of each room, showing items clearly
- Descriptions of major or valuable belongings
- Receipts, model numbers, or serial numbers when available
- Estimated purchase date and cost, especially for items over $250
- Any upgrades or customizations (like built-ins, remodeled bathrooms, or collections)
Focus on high-value and frequently disputed items first:
- TVs, laptops, gaming systems
- Furniture, rugs, and mattresses
- Jewelry and watches
- Kitchen appliances and tools
- Outdoor equipment and grills
- Tools and power equipment
- Designer clothing, shoes, or handbags
How to Create One (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
You don’t need a fancy app or spreadsheet to start—just use your phone. Here’s the easiest method:
- Walk slowly through each room and record a video
- Open drawers, closets, and cabinets
- Narrate as you go: “Samsung TV, bought 2022, 65-inch, $900”
- Save your video to Google Drive, Dropbox, or email it to yourself
- Bonus: Upload it to our secure vault for safekeeping (details below)
Set a reminder to update it once a year—or anytime you make a major purchase.
Want to Get More Organized? Try These Free Tools
If you’d prefer a structured approach, here are a few recommended home inventory apps:
- Encircle: Used by insurance professionals. Offers photo-based documentation and cloud backup.
- Sortly: User-friendly interface with tagging and inventory folders.
- HomeZada: Helps track belongings and home maintenance together.
- Google Sheets or Excel: For DIYers who prefer a simple list
Just make sure your records are off-site or cloud-based—you don’t want to lose them with the damage.
How It Impacts Your Insurance Claim
Insurers expect documentation. Without it, your claim may be:
- Underpaid: Adjusters may apply maximum depreciation or “standard” pricing
- Delayed: Adjusters may request more details before processing
- Disputed: Insurers may ask for receipts you don’t have, or deny altogether
A simple inventory gives you leverage. It makes the claim adjuster’s job easier and shows that you’re organized and credible.
If a hurricane hits Florida this year, adjusters will be overwhelmed. Homeowners with clear records get faster payouts.
🆓 Free Claim Readiness Review + Secure Inventory Vault
At Property Owner Advocates, we believe preparation is power. That’s why we offer Florida homeowners a Free Claim Readiness Review, which includes:
- ✅ A pre-storm insurance policy review
- ✅ A visual property inspection and condition report
- ✅ Access to our Secure Document Vault to store your home inventory
- ✅ Priority claim response after a storm or loss
No pressure. No obligation. Just smart preparation.
Are You Ready for Storm Season?
Don’t wait until your TV is underwater or your belongings are ashes. The forecast for 2025 is serious—but your claim doesn’t have to be a disaster.
📥 Let us help you get ahead of the storm.