Making a home inventory list can help you and your family in the event of a disaster. Knowing just what’s in your home can help you decide how much homeowner’s insurance you need to protect your belongings.

All too often homeowners will purchase an insurance policy that does not adequately insure themselves or their belongings, or in the aftermath of a disaster they realize they have never performed a home inventory.

You should create a home inventory list so that you can protect yourself now and document all of your possessions. A home inventory will give you an accurate recording of your assets for insurance purposes and will give you a good idea of how much homeowner’s insurance you need to ensure proper coverage.

When creating a home inventory list, it is important that you document everything and not just big ticket items. In fact, the household items you use on a daily basis may be more valuable than you think. Having to replace your furniture, silverware, clothing, dishes, bed linens, books, CDs, DVDs, can be extremely expensive and would probably cost more to replace than electronics or jewelry.

You should make sure to not only write down every item you want insured but also to document where the item is in your home. It’s a good idea to include serial numbers and model numbers for items that include them. You can supplement this list of items with a video recording or with photographs. If you do choose to take photographs, make sure that you open drawers and take pictures of the contents inside. Once you have completed the list, you may want to give a copy of the sheet to your insurance agent.

It is important to note that home inventory lists, once created, should be updated regularly. As the value of your possessions change, so should your insurance policy. If, for example, you obtain a significant amount of new, expensive items, you will want to increase the amount of your coverage.

Accidents happen all the time, so it’s important that you protect yourself and your family’s future. Knowing just what you have in your home will allow you to determine how much homeowner’s insurance you should purchase as well as make it easier to file a claim should you need to.  A licensed homeowners insurance agent can offer Florida homeowners guidance in creating this important document.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.