Home Inventory Software

[seekermeister]

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?

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Might want to give this excel free software a peek...
Free Home Inventory Spreadsheet Template for Excel

 

[seekermeister]

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.

 

[Barman58]

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 ]).

 

[seekermeister]

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.

 

[pparks1]

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.

 

[seekermeister]

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.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

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!

 

[seekermeister]

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.

 

[Barman58]

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

 

[The Howling Wolves]

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

Barman,
Good suggestion as I just looked at my templates and saw that there.
You are younger, smarter than this old shabby wolf.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

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.

Box stores like Staples, Sams Club, or Costco(If you have them)
You are not going to buy there program just ask them what they are using to keep track of their merchandise.

 

[seekermeister]

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

Yes, I have 2007. I admit that I never considered using anything in it, so I will have to take a look, but if it isn't much more than a way to display a database on a spread sheet, without other features and integration, I doubt that it will interest me.

EDIT: I just installed the template and gave it a once over, but from what I could see, it is nothing more than a very basic list, without much functionality.

 

[seekermeister]

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.

Box stores like Staples, Sams Club, or Costco(If you have them)
You are not going to buy there program just ask them what they are using to keep track of their merchandise.

I misunderstood your original meaning, because I thought that is what you mean't in the first place, regarding the software that they use, and like I said, that is undoubtedly quite expensive. As far as what they might have in stock, I don't see any reason to think that it would be superior to what is available online.

 

[maxseven]

I think you should begin at least by looking to see if your insurer has a program, and whether it meets your needs. Mine (State Farm) has a program, though honestly I've not looked carefully at it.

But if you like and use what they offer, then you're golden if/when claim time arises--they could hardly argue that you haven't kept proper records.

 

[seekermeister]

Since it so happens that I also have State Farm for insurance, I called my agent regarding a software program, and she didn't know anything about it. She said that she would check, but I would think that if the company had something like that available, that she would know about it without asking...but who know?

 

[maxseven]

I went to the State Farm website, and found only a pdf file there. Then I looked-up the program on my PC--it's called Possessions Matters and when I Google it, I come-up with a State Farm hit that only gets me back to the page with the .pdf file again.

So it appears SF has disavowed the program--maybe they got complaints about it or maybe they just decided they didn't want to take support calls about it. Sorry SM it appears I sent you on a wild goose chase.

I could upload it here I suppose but I dunno you'd want to use something that can't be found anywhere i.e. apparently has no support any more...

 

[LibertyStreet]

A new 2014 version of the HomeManage software mentioned previously has been released. Includes the ability to inventory vehicles, improved reporting and more. Visit:

HomeManage Home Inventory Software

for more information.

Paul Dembowski
Liberty Street Software