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How to Choose and Use Home Inventory Software

By Shelley Elmblad, About.com

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Do You Need Home Inventory Software?

Home Inventory Software for Insurance, Moving, Net Worth, Estate Planning

Document Valuable Personal Items with Home Inventory Software

Meredith Heuer / Getty Images
Home inventory software adds conveniences and flexible reporting that cannot be duplicated with a hand-written inventory. Use the navigation links at the bottom of the page to learn more about why you should use home inventory software and how to choose it, then check out home inventory software reviews.

Better Organization
In home inventory software, you can categorize items in one room. For example, in the master bedroom, you might inventory furniture, jewelry and antiques. You would have your master bedroom inventoried on a sheet of paper, but home inventory software lets you run a report on all jewelry, furniture or antiques in your entire household as well as reporting on the contents of a room.

Establish Resale Value
Redecorating and replacing systems such as central air conditioning adds to the value of your home. Making permanent changes also adds to the cost basis of your home, reducing capital gains taxes when you sell - if you have documented proof of these expenses.

Moving Checklist
Take inventory while you pack, then check itmes off as you unpack the boxes to ensure that the movers delivered everything you own.

Substantiate Insurance Claims or Tax Losses
Your home inventory software should store digital images of paper documents like receipts and warranties, and photos of your belongings. This information can be used for insurance claims or to claim income tax losses should you suffer a loss.

Overinsured or Underinsured?
Assign a value to items entered into home inventory software you get a total value of all belongings when you finish taking inventory. Use this total to determine how much home owner's insurance you need to cover your belongings.

Net Worth
Having your belongings cataloged gives you a more accurate assessment of your net worth.

Next: Security of Home Inventory Information

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