Renters home inventory checklist
A room-by-room list that makes your personal property limit accurate and claims faster.
Living room: sofa, chairs, tables, rugs, lamps, television, speakers, game consoles, art, and books. Bedroom: bed and mattress, dressers, linens, clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories.
Kitchen: small appliances, cookware, dishes, glassware, utensils, and pantry stock. Bathroom and closets: towels, toiletries, hair tools, luggage, and seasonal items.
Office and hobbies: laptop, monitor, printer, phone, tablet, cameras, instruments, bikes, sports and camping gear, tools. Storage: anything in a cage, locker, or off-site unit.
Record each room on video, note brand and approximate price for anything over $250, and save receipts in cloud storage. Update the inventory once a year or after large purchases.
Coverage lines on a renters quote
| Coverage | What it pays for | Typical choice |
|---|---|---|
| Belongings (personal property) | Your furniture, clothes, electronics, and gear after a covered loss | Match your inventory total; prefer replacement cost |
| Liability | Damages and defense if you injure someone or damage their property | $300,000 is a popular choice |
| Additional living expenses | Hotel, meals, and extra costs while your rental is repaired | Shown as a dollar amount or percentage |
| Guest medical | Small medical bills for visitors, no fault needed | Usually $1,000–$5,000 |
| Optional add-ons | Water/sewer backup, scheduled valuables, identity restoration | Compare across quotes |
Commonly covered causes of loss
- Fire, smoke, and lightning
- Wind and hail
- Theft and burglary
- Vandalism
- Burst or overflowing plumbing and appliances
- Frozen pipes
- Ice, snow, and sleet weight
- Explosion
- Vehicle or aircraft impact
- Falling objects
Commonly not covered
- Flooding
- Earthquakes
- Pest infestations
- Mold from long-term leaks
- Damage your pet does to the rental
- The building structure
More guides
- How to compare renters quotes side by side
- Replacement cost vs. actual cash value
- Renters insurance for students
- Pets and renters liability
- Moving with renters insurance
- Water damage and sewer backup for renters
- Bundling renters with auto
- Renters insurance discounts to ask about
- First apartment insurance checklist