It would surprise you to grasp how many homes have all of the latest in technological gadgetry, yet have not managed to insure the contents of their home against the event of either a robbery or damage.
Note from where you purchased each item and its make and model, if pertinent.
Take footage of and / or videotape the things, too.
If you purchased anything new in the year, say a new TV or video recorder, then the cost of this new purchase won't be included in the renewal notice you simply sent off to the insurance company.
A very good tip here isn't to move your possession into one room and then itemise them, but to go from room to room doing this.
You can then keep a copy of the video with the inventory.
It is also really useful to know if the Credit card you used to buy an item includes any sort of automated guaranty against damage or loss.
By the same token, some outlets offer extended guaranties on their goods at the point of purchase.
Check to see what you have and what it covers.
You may not need to adjust your home insurance policy if your property is covered some place else.
So , if you have dear private property in your home, you must prepare to have these independently valued - ideally by an insurance authorized valuer - and a copy of the valuation invoice should be kept with the insurance policy.
The value of the other items in your home can either be considered by the price it cost to get them ; or, better, by taking a trip down to the local shops and seeing how much every one of the items would cost you to buy - as this is the amount you will be paid if the item is lost / damaged.
Remember that time stands still for no person.
As such, you must read your home contents insurance and / or home buildings insurance renewal notices extraordinarily rigorously to make certain that they reflect, as accurately as possible your life today and not your life of yester-year.
Damage in this example can be the reason for a natural event,eg a bad hurricane or flooding, or a due to a boiler bursting.
You must also read your policy rigorously, as some home contents insurance policies cover items which are lost outside of the home - for instance, if you are transporting them in the vehicle.