How to inventory a record or book collection for home insurance

To get a record or book collection paid out after a loss, you'll need to show what it contained: an item-by-item list, photos taken before the loss, receipts and a supported value. Check how your policy limits collectibles too. What I Already Own builds the list by scanning barcodes; the rest is up to you.

Official sources checked on September 29, 2026, numbered and dated at the bottom of the page.

What an insurer asks for, in five steps

1. 1Read your policyFind the personal property coverage, any special limits for collectibles, and how claims are paid. If your collection could exceed a limit, ask your insurer how to cover it, and keep the answer in writing.
2. 2Make the listOne item per line: title, artist or author, edition, barcode, condition. For a collection, the exact edition is what carries the value: note a record's label and catalog number, a book's publisher and year.
3. 3Take photosA wide shot of each shelf or crate, then the rare pieces one by one, front and back. Photos taken before a loss are the ones you'll be asked for.
4. 4Keep the paperworkReceipts, order emails, marketplace statements, certificates, appraisals. For an inherited item, the estate paperwork.
5. 5Keep a copy elsewhereAn inventory that burns with the house is no use: keep a copy away from home, by email or in online storage, and update it after big purchases.

What official sources say, in the United States

• The National Association of Insurance Commissioners suggests going room by room, writing down and photographing or filming everything, collectibles included. ¹
• The Insurance Information Institute lists what to note for each item, such as where you bought it, the make and model and what you paid, and says to keep receipts, purchase contracts and appraisals with the list. ²
• Store a copy away from home: the III mentions an external drive or online storage, the Texas Department of Insurance cloud storage or email, and says to update it whenever you make big purchases. ^{2 3}
• Collections may need coverage separate from a standard homeowners policy. The Texas Department of Insurance gives the example of a coin limit that might be $500, and advises regular appraisals. ^{2 4}
• According to the NAIC, how long you have to report a claim varies by state. ¹

These rules are summarized from official pages as of the date shown. They don't replace your policy or contract, or advice from your insurer, a lawyer or another professional.

How What I Already Own fills it in as you scan

1. 1Scan each record and book: title, artist or author, label or publisher, catalog number, year and barcode fill in from the catalog, down to the exact edition.
2. 2On each item, add the condition, the purchase price and date, and in the notes where the receipt is filed.
3. 3In Settings, “Printable inventory (PDF)” produces a numbered, dated list in your name, with the item count and the total of the purchase prices you entered. Your print dialog saves it as a PDF.
4. 4“Export my collection (CSV)” gives every column: barcodes, condition, purchase and sale prices and dates, notes and shelves. Add the template's Photo and Value columns in your spreadsheet.
5. 5Every item you scan joins the list: print the inventory again when the collection changes, and keep the previous version.

What the app doesn't do

• It doesn't estimate what your items are worth. The inventory shows only the purchase prices you entered, and states plainly that it is neither an appraisal nor an insurance valuation.
• It doesn't keep your evidence: a photo you take of a sleeve becomes its cover in the app, but neither the inventory nor the CSV includes it. Keep receipts and photos separately.
• It checks nothing: the inventory repeats what you entered. It is your own statement, not proof of ownership.
• An old record or a book without a barcode can't be scanned: search for it by title, or enter it by hand.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to tell my insurer about my record collection?

It depends on the policy. Many cap collectibles, and a state regulator notes that collections may need separate coverage. Ask your insurer whether your records or books fall under a special limit, and keep the answer in writing.

What proof should I keep for a collection?

An item-by-item list, photos taken before any loss, receipts or order records and, for rare pieces, a written, dated appraisal. Keep a copy away from home.

How do I find out what my collection is worth for insurance?

From a professional appraiser or a specialist record or book dealer, or from recent sales of identical editions, noting the source and the date. What I Already Own doesn't show market values today: its inventory shows only your purchase prices.

Is the app's inventory enough for my insurer?

It's a dated, detailed list, not an appraisal: it repeats what you entered. Add your photos, your receipts and, for the most valuable items, an appraisal. Your insurer decides what it accepts.