SEATTLE, Wash. – Ensuring the right coverage is in place is the first step in protecting your family and your home – creating a home inventory list is the next step. Making a thorough list of your personal property before something happens will make things that much easier in the event you end up needing to file a claim.

Several of our insurance partners recently shared some great resources and helpful tips for how to start the home inventory process. Mutual of Enumclaw created the video below. In this 2-minute clip, the carrier shares what items and information to include in your inventory list, as well as the importance of taking photos and/or video of your belongings. The Insurance Information Institute offers free online home inventory software and an app for this exact process. The program is designed to make creating and updating your home inventory list quick and easy.

Safeco Insurance also recently shared news of the release of its 'Home Inventory App'. The app is available for free download for all iPhone and iPad users – and you don’t have to be a Safeco client. With the app you can take photos of your belongings, add details - including purchase price, and put each item into a specific category.

Whether it’s one of these apps or another, having a detailed home inventory list, with photos, from the start will help make the entire claims process easier in the end.