Here is what to shoot, what to say, where to keep the file, and how to turn the footage into an itemized list.
How do you make a home inventory video?
Start at the front door and film one room at a time with your phone. Show each wall, then open closets, cabinets and drawers. Say what you see, including brands and models, and hold close on serial plates and valuables. Save a copy away from home, then turn the video into an itemized list.
A shot list to follow (guidance, not an insurer rule):
| Room or area | Wide shot | Open and film inside | Close-ups to hold for 2 to 3 seconds | Say out loud |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry and living room | all four walls, ceiling fixtures | coat closet, media cabinet | TV and speaker model plates, art, rugs | “Living room, October 2026. Sofa bought 2021...” |
| Kitchen | all four walls, counters | cabinets, drawers, pantry, under sink | fridge and range model plates, stand mixer, knife set | “Kitchen, October 2026. Fridge is a [brand] French door, bought 2022...” |
| Each bedroom and closet | walls, bed, dressers | closet, dresser drawers, under the bed | jewelry, watches, shoes, coats | brand and rough age of the big pieces |
| Bathrooms | vanity and storage | cabinets and drawers | hair tools, electric toothbrushes | anything worth more than a few dollars |
| Home office | desk wall and shelves | desk drawers, filing cabinet | computer and monitor model plates, camera gear | “Serial number here” on each plate |
| Garage or shed | every wall and the ceiling racks | tool chests, bins | power tools, lawn equipment, bikes, sporting goods | brand and model of each tool |
| Basement, attic and storage bins | each wall | open each bin | holiday decor, keepsakes, spare electronics | what is in each bin |
| Outdoor and patio | furniture and grill | deck box | grill model plate, outdoor furniture | what stays outside all year |
What should you say while you film?
Say the room name and the date when you start. For each bigger item, say the brand, model and rough age, where you bought it, and roughly what you paid if you know. Say “serial number here” when you hold on a plate, and mention anything stored out of sight.
The University of Minnesota Extension says to verbally describe the contents room by room; the California Department of Insurance guide says to video every drawer and comment about each item.
Which rooms and spots do people forget to film?
The places you do not walk through every day: the garage or shed, the attic, basement storage, closets, the inside of drawers and cabinets, off-site storage units, and the patio. These hold tools, bikes, sporting goods and boxed things that add up fast and are hard to remember later.
- Garage and shed (the Texas Department of Insurance names tools, lawn equipment and sporting goods)
- Attic, basement and under-bed bins
- Inside every drawer, cabinet and closet
- Off-site storage units
- Patio furniture and grills
Is a video or a photo inventory better for insurance?
Use both. A video is fast and shows that things were in your home and what shape they were in, but it is hard to search and hard to price. Still photos of serial plates and receipts, plus a written list with values, are what you hand over. Film first, then build the list.
The Nebraska Extension calls a video of a room an extra layer of protection, and Texas says to ask your agent what documentation is needed to make a claim. See the photos a claim needs and a photo home inventory.
How do you turn a home inventory video into an itemized list?
Watch the video back one room at a time and write one line per item: what it is, brand and model, whether a serial number shows, what proof you have, and what you paid or a fair estimate. Pause on every close-up. The list is what makes values and proof easy to share later.
| Video time | Room | Item | Brand and model | Serial seen on video? | Proof you have | What you paid (or estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02:10 | Kitchen | Refrigerator | Example brand, French door | Yes | Order email | $1,900 |
| 02:45 | Kitchen | Stand mixer | Example brand, 5 quart | No | Card statement | $380 |
| 03:05 | Kitchen | Microwave | Example brand, over the range | Yes | Manual in drawer | $300 (estimate) |
| 03:30 | Kitchen | Knife block set | Example brand, 12 piece | No | Photo only | $150 (estimate) |
| 04:00 | Kitchen | Coffee maker | Example brand, drip | No | Order email | $90 |
| 04:20 | Kitchen | Dishes and glassware | Mixed | No | Photo only | $250 (estimate) |
Values are illustrative, not what an insurer would pay.
Where should you store a home inventory video?
Keep at least one copy away from the house: in cloud storage, emailed to yourself or a relative, or with a family member. Name each file by room and date so you can find it fast. A video that lives only on a phone in the house can be lost with the house.
Texas suggests a family member, cloud storage or email; California says to email it to someone offsite.
How often should you update your home inventory video?
Update it after big purchases, gifts, a remodel or a move, and once a year on a date you will remember, such as your policy renewal month. You do not need to refilm the whole house each time; film the new things and the rooms that changed, and add them to your list.
Texas says to update it whenever you make big purchases.
Building the list in Vorby
Vorby builds items from photos, so walk the same route again and photograph each shelf, drawer and closet. With multi-item detection, one photo of a drawer, shelf or pile becomes one entry per item with name, brand and model filled in when visible. Estimated values (with a confidence level) roll up into totals; they are estimates, not appraisals.
Attach receipts as photos or PDFs, or forward order emails to create items with price and date. Then export your list as CSV or Excel, or share a read-only link that needs no account. See also other ways to document what you own and what to log after a flood.
The video proves the room. The list proves the value. Photograph each shelf in Vorby and the list builds as you go.
Get Vorby on the App Store · Start your inventory
Vorby runs on iPhone, iPad and the web, with a Free plan and a 14-day free trial of paid plans.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a home inventory video take?
It depends on the size of your home and how much you keep in storage. Work one room at a time, film the main rooms first while you have energy, and leave the garage, attic and storage bins for a second session.
Should I narrate my home inventory video?
Yes. The University of Minnesota Extension and the California Department of Insurance both suggest describing items as you film. Say the room and date, then the brand, model and rough age of each bigger item, and what you paid if you know. Your voice adds the details a camera cannot show.
Will my insurance company accept a video inventory?
Policies and insurers differ, so ask. The Texas Department of Insurance says to ask your agent what documentation is needed to make a claim. A video helps show what you owned and its condition, but a written list with values and proof is much easier for you and an adjuster to work from.
Do I need to film inside drawers and closets?
Yes. The Texas Department of Insurance says to open closets and drawers, and the California Department of Insurance says to video every drawer. Small things like kitchen tools, chargers, linens and jewelry add up quickly, and they are the easiest things to forget when you rebuild a list from memory.
