Storage & Garage Inventory Guide for Homeowners
Garages and storage areas are - interesting - parts of the home, 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. 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.
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….they seem to fit here. Of course there is a slew of other things typically found in our garages - like tools, sporting goods and toys galore - but we are going to cover those elsewhere in their stand-alone sections. Hope that all makes sense… 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.
Detached Garage: A separate structure, usually located close to the main house, that serves as a versatile storage space for vehicles, tools, and other equipment. Keep in mind the loose items in here are still covered under Personal Property in your insurance policy but damage to the structure itself will be covered in your the Secondary Structures section.
Shed: A smaller, standalone structure typically used for storing garden tools, outdoor equipment, and seasonal items. Sheds are perfect for overflow storage when garage space is limited and are also covered in the Secondary Structures part of your policy.
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
Labeled bins
Overhead storage
Pegboard
Plastic storage totes
Rolling tool chest
Storage lockers
Tool racks
Wall-mounted hooks
Yard tool organizer
Wooden crates
Zip-top storage bags
Furniture
Folding workbench
Garage cabinets
Heavy-duty storage shelves
Metal shelving unit
Rolling work table
Shop stool
Storage bench
Tool cabinet
Utility table
Wall-mounted workbench
Workshop stool
Workbench with storage
Vehicle Parts
Air filters
All-season tires
Brake pads
Car battery charger
Car jacks
Car ramps
Coolant
Engine oil
Floor mats
Headlights
Hubcaps
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
Decorative bows
Decorative candles
Easter decorations
Fall wreaths
Gift bags
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
This article provides 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. Of course, a thorough inventory is essential in a claims process and will give you peace of mind moving forward.