Home contents insurance covers your belongings against theft, fire, storm and accidental damage. But when you need to make a claim, your insurer will ask for a detailed list of what was lost, when you bought it and what it was worth. Without a record, this is stressful and easy to get wrong.

A room-by-room contents inventory solves this. Walk through your home and record everything — lounge room furniture, kitchen appliances, bedroom electronics, wardrobe items, garage tools. For each item, note the purchase date, price, brand, model and serial number. Attach a receipt photo if you have one.

• Faster claims — hand your insurer a complete list with values and proof of purchase.
• Accurate coverage — know whether your policy limit covers what you own when it is time to renew.
• No forgotten items — it is easy to overlook smaller purchases. An inventory catches everything.

PlanWithHome lets you build a complete contents inventory organised by room. For each item you can store the purchase date, price, brand, model, serial number, receipt and photos. Your policy details — provider, policy number, coverage amount and renewal date — sit alongside your inventory so everything is connected.

When you need to make a claim or update your policy, you can export an itemised report with all the details your insurer needs. You can also track renewal dates so you never accidentally let your coverage lapse.

Your data is private and secure. PlanWithHome does not share your inventory or policy information with anyone.

Some items are easy to overlook when building your inventory:

• Kitchen appliances — coffee machines, air fryers, mixers, blenders
• Wardrobe items — watches, handbags, jewellery, designer clothing
• Garage and shed — tools, gardening equipment, bikes, camping gear
• Electronics — laptops, tablets, phones, gaming consoles, headphones
• Spare rooms — guest furniture, stored items, hobby equipment

One of the most valuable things you can do with a home inventory is compare your total contents value against your insurance coverage. Many Australian households are underinsured without realising it — their policy limit has not kept up with new purchases or rising replacement costs.

With PlanWithHome, you can see the total value of your contents at a glance. If it is approaching or exceeding your policy limit, you know to discuss higher coverage with your insurer at renewal time. If it is well under the limit, you may be paying for coverage you do not need.

Aim to update your inventory once a year around renewal time. It takes a few minutes if you have been adding new purchases as you go, and it ensures your coverage matches what you actually own.