Detached Garage

  • Updated on Oct 15, 2024
  • Published on Sep 30, 2024
  • 6 minute(s) read

Storage & Garage Inventory Guide for Homeowners

As mentioned in our previous article about attached garages, these areas are often filled with a variety of items ranging from seasonal decorations to spare building materials. Much like a Garage Sale, that more or less makes it impossible to inventory in a single article (or two). That said, during an insurance Claim or construction project, documenting the contents of these spaces is still crucial to ensure all belongings are properly accounted for.

This particular article is very similar to our guide on attached garages because inventories between the 2 types of spaces can be relatively similar. We decided to separate them into two places simply because the structure itself is covered differently from an insurance standpoint depending on whether or not it is attached to the primary home.

That said, for this article, we are going to focus on a few things that are in virtually every garage - Storage Containers and things related to Vehicles. We are also going to look through some Holiday Decoration lists because it’s the most logical place to store them. Of course we are well aware there are a slew of other things typically found in our garages - like tools, sporting goods, home goods and toys - but we are going to cover those elsewhere in their stand-alone sections. Hope that all makes sense (again)… let’s get organized.

Types of Storage & Garage Areas

Attached Garage: A garage that is directly connected to the main house, often used for parking vehicles, storing tools, and housing various household items. Inventories are relatively similar but keep in mind this type of structure is covered under your Primary Dwelling bucket.

Detached Garage: The focus of this article, detached garages are separate structures, usually located close to the main house, that serves as a versatile storage spaces for vehicles, tools, and other equipment.

Shed: A smaller, standalone secondary structure typically used for storing garden tools, outdoor equipment, and seasonal items. Sheds are perfect for overflow storage when garage space is limited and those items aside from tools and garden equipment are also loosely covered here.

Basement Storage: A storage area located in the basement, often used for items that aren’t needed frequently, such as holiday decorations, spare building materials, and archived documents.

Storage & Organization

  • Adjustable Shelving units

  • Bike hooks

  • Ceiling storage racks

  • Clear storage bins

  • Drawer organizers

  • Garage cabinets

  • Heavy-duty storage shelves

  • Labeled bins

  • Overhead storage

  • Pegboard

  • Plastic storage totes

  • Rolling tool chest

  • Storage lockers

  • Tool racks

  • Wall-mounted hooks

  • Workbench with storage

  • Yard tool organizer

  • Wire shelving units

  • Wooden crates

  • Zip-top storage bags

Furniture

  • Folding workbench

  • Garden bench

  • Metal shelving unit

  • Rolling work table

  • Shop Stool

  • Storage bench

  • Tool cabinet

  • Utility table

  • Wall-mounted workbench

  • Workshop stool

Vehicle Parts

  • Air filters

  • All-season tires

  • Brake pads

  • Car battery charger

  • Car jacks

  • Car ramps

  • Coolant

  • Engine oil

  • Floor mats

  • Headlights

  • Hubcaps

  • Jumper cables

  • Oil filter

  • Snow chains

  • Spare tire

  • Tire inflator

  • Tire repair kit

  • Trailer hitch

  • Transmission fluid

  • Windshield wipers

  • Windshield washer fluid

Holiday Decorations

  • Artificial Christmas tree

  • Blow-up decorations

  • Christmas lights

  • Christmas ornaments

  • Easter decorations

  • Fall wreaths

  • Gift boxes

  • Halloween costumes

  • Halloween decorations

  • Hanukkah menorah

  • Holiday banners

  • Holiday inflatables

  • Holiday serving ware

  • Holiday tablecloths

  • LED holiday lights

  • Light-up reindeer

  • Nativity set

  • New Year’s decorations

  • Outdoor light displays

  • Plastic pumpkins

  • Santa figurines

  • Seasonal garlands

  • Snowman decorations

  • Stockings

  • String lights

  • Thanksgiving decor

  • Tree topper

  • Tree skirt

  • Tinsel

  • Valentine’s Day decor

  • Wreath storage box

  • Wrapping paper

  • Yard signs

Spare Materials

  • Acoustic Ceiling tiles

  • Adhesive Caulk

  • Asphalt Shingles

  • Baseboards

  • Brackets

  • Brick Pavers

  • Cabinet Hardware

  • Caulk

  • Cement bags

  • Ceramic tiles

  • Closet rods

  • Deck boards

  • Door Hinges

  • Door Knobs

  • Drywall sheets

  • Electrical wire

  • Extra Carpet

  • Extra Laminate Flooring

  • Fasteners

  • Flashing tape

  • Floor tiles

  • Garage floor paint

  • Grout

  • Hardwood Planks

  • Insulation rolls

  • Laminate sheets

  • Light fixtures

  • Lumber

  • Metal Roofing panels

  • Nails

  • Outlet covers

  • Paint cans

  • Paint rollers

  • Patio pavers

  • Plywood sheets

  • Power cords

  • PVC pipes

  • Roofing nails

  • Roofing shingles

  • Sandpaper

  • Screws

  • Shelf brackets

  • Siding panels

  • Silicone Sealant

  • Spare bricks

  • Spray paint

  • Stain

  • Stair treads

  • Stone tiles

  • Trim pieces

  • Vinyl Flooring

  • Wall anchors

  • Wall paneling

  • Wallpaper rolls

  • Weather stripping

  • Window Caulking

  • Wood stain

  • Wood glue

Wrap-Up

Similar to our previous article on attached garages, these pages provide a partial approach to documenting the items in your garage or storage areas, understanding that there is inevitably way more stuff in most garages. As mentioned earlier, items like sporting goods and tools are covered elsewhere but this should get you started. As always, a thorough inventory is essential in a claims process and will give you peace of mind moving forward.