Home Inventory Software

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  1. Posts : 6,618
    W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
       #1

    Home Inventory Software


    I need to create an inventory of what I have, for my renters insurance. I Googled and got a lot of returns, and I imagine that there are quite a lot of them that are good, but I really want the best available, so long as it isn't too expensive.

    Since creating an inventory isn't something that I want to do more than once, I'm asking for help determining the right program up front...ideas?
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  2. Posts : 9,537
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #2

    Might want to give this excel free software a peek...
    Free Home Inventory Spreadsheet Template for Excel
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  3. Posts : 6,618
    W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks, but at a quick glance, I believe that I want something more sophisticated than that. Obviously, I don't know exactly what that would be, otherwise I wouldn't have needed to ask this question, but one program that I just found may serve as an example:

    HomeManage 2011 2011 - TopTenREVIEWS

    This comparison chart gives some idea of the options that some programs have:

    Home Inventory Software Review 2011 | Asset Inventory Management Software | Home Inventory Manager - TopTenREVIEWS

    But I know from past experience, that the best is not usually easy to determine from such articles and charts, because of the biases involved, and the financial interests of the authors.

    It took me quite a while to find what I consider the best movie management software, and I did that through advice on this forum, so am hoping that I can repeat that experience once more.
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  4. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #4

    As you are not sure what you actually need might I suggest that you contact your insurer and see if they have a preferred format or application to use, Some may even supply this free

    My brother has just gone through a similar exercise after a flood and the insurer supplied all the documentation to be completed (in Excel fortmat BTW [good call Dennis ]).
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  5. Posts : 6,618
    W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
    Thread Starter
       #5

    While that sounds like a logical approach, I'm somewhat reluctant to go that way, because I feel that the insurance company has less interest in the best choice than I do. From past experience with other insurance, I have found that they tend to find any way that they can to wiggle out of paying as they should.

    I did have a brief discussion with them when I first took the policy, but all that they suggested were of the broadest guidelines. While documentation is obviously important, ease of use is equally important to me. For instance, the software that I linked above speaks about being able to attach snapshots. I'm not sure exactly how they accomplish that, but I would hope that it would be in a fashion that facilitates maintaining databases, and specifies the photo for each item separately. It also provides for barcode scanning, which I think would be good, as well as providing a backup system. I suspect that there would be other features that would be important, but I'm not yet sure.
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  6. Posts : 7,878
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #6

    I keep an excel spreadsheet, that lists the item, serial number, date purchased, price paid and terms of warranty. Then, I scan in the receipts and save them as a PDF...which are sorted by room in my house. Then, I go around the house with my video camera and take a video inventory of the most important things that I own. I've been told by the insurance companies that the videos are great because it lends proof to the items actually existing in your home.

    I would think it best to not have a piece of software with a possible obscure file format. In the event of a disaster, or loss of property, the last thing you want is an inability to get to your asset list because you don't happen to have a copy of the software since your computer might have been stolen and the insurance company doesn't have the software either.

    Staying with something like Excel spreadsheets is a solid move as it's pretty much ubiquitous in business.
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  7. Posts : 6,618
    W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I don't think that the program's format is all that important, because I can always put a copy of the software in the safety deposit box, along with the databases I create. I would also make hard copies of the inventory for easy access, just in case computer access was a problem. However, I'm not as concerned about theft, as I am about fire, or possibly some kind of natural disaster damage, since I'm with the computer almost 24/7. Still it is worth looking into the format that it uses, just in case.

    What I really want is a program that puts everything together, so that it isn't necessary to create several large databases, and have to sort through them to collate the data. I do not profess to be any kind of expert with Excel, but I have the impression that it would not be able to link multiple databases together, or possibly work with barcodes.

    EDIT: I thought that I would mention that I found this in regards to file formats on their website:

    Use our new, integrated report designer to create and edit your own reports. Easily create reports with graphs, images, totals and more. Save and print the report, or export to one of many different formats, including PDF, HTML, Excel, RTF, XML, text and many more.
    Last edited by seekermeister; 29 Oct 2011 at 19:13.
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  8. Posts : 9,537
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #8

    Seeker,
    Check with a place with Best Buy or large box house and see how/what program they use for inventory.
    They use multiple databases that link together.

    Just a thought!
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  9. Posts : 6,618
    W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
    Thread Starter
       #9

    The Howling Wolves said:
    Seeker,
    Check with a place with Best Buy or large box house and see how/what program they use for inventory.
    They use multiple databases that link together.

    Just a thought!
    Best Buy I understand, but what do you mean by "large box house"? In any case, generally business software is a lot more expensive than something designed for the home user.
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  10. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #10

    Which version of office do you have access to? if you have access to access 2007 or 2010 have a look here ...

    Home inventory - Templates - Office.com
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