Home Insurance Is Not What It Used to Be – Why a Home Inventory Is the Key to Faster, Fairer Claims
Advice You Can Trust | From Your Team at McLean & Dickey
Home insurance has changed dramatically over the past 10 years.
There was a time when filing a claim was fairly straightforward: you made a call, explained what happened, and your insurance provider worked with you to put things right. Today, things are different. The process is more complex, more time-consuming, and at times, beyond frustrating.
That’s not because your insurance provider doesn’t want to help. It’s because the entire landscape has shifted:
- More claims than ever before due to extreme weather and aging infrastructures
- Increased insurance fraud, which has led to stricter claims validation
- Outsourcing of claims processing, meaning more people and far more steps involved
- Advanced digital tools, including AI-driven assessments and documentation requirements.
- How AI and Automation Are Making Claims More Complex—for Now: While digital tools and AI are designed to streamline insurance, they’re still in the early stages—and that means growing pains for homeowners. Today’s claims systems often demand more documentation, rely on automated decisions, and flag unusual patterns for manual review. This can lead to slower responses, less human interaction, and a more rigid experience overall. Until these tools evolve, the best defence is a well-documented, up-to-date home inventory. It’s the clearest way to support your claim and avoid unnecessary delays.
The result? Filing an insurance claim is rarely simple. And we can’t emphasize this enough: having a claim is never fun. But you can make the process easier for yourself and your home insurance provider, by maintaining a documented, up-to-date inventory of your home and belongings. In the event of a claim, policyholders must prove their loss regardless of their coverage limits. This becomes difficult without a documented inventory if items are destroyed (e.g., by fire) or stolen.
At McLean & Dickey, we believe this one step alone can make a big difference in getting your claim settled faster, with less stress and fewer surprises.
McLean & Dickey’s Guide to a Claims-Ready Home Inventory
We’ve put together a practical, homeowner-friendly approach to building your inventory, something you can start this weekend and build over time.
1. Do a Room-by-Room Photo or Video Walkthrough
Use your phone to walk through each room in your home. Narrate as you go, mention make, model, purchase dates, and estimated value. Open drawers, closets, and cabinets, and include key details like electronics, appliances, tools, furniture, and collectibles.
Tip: Make it a habit—redo this walkthrough every few years or after a major purchase or renovation.
2. Create a Simple Log (Spreadsheet or App)
Record each item with the following details:
- What it is
- Where it’s located
- Date purchased
- Estimated value
- Serial or model numbers if available
There are even home inventory apps available that can help you organize and back everything up automatically:
Sortly
Website: https://www.sortly.com
Available on: iOS, Android, and Desktop
Encircle
Website: https://www.encircleapp.com
Available on: iOS, Android, and Desktop
3. Keep Receipts, Manuals, and Appraisals Together
Store these documents in a folder (digital or physical). Take photos of receipts or appraisals and attach them to the corresponding inventory item in your log.
4. Update Regularly
Life changes, and so do the contents of your home. Make it a point to update your inventory after big purchases—like major appliances, expensive items or renovations.
5. Back It Up (Somewhere Safe)
Save a digital copy of your inventory in the cloud—or, if you’re more old school, store it on a USB drive in your bank’s safety deposit box. If your home is ever affected by fire, flood, or theft, you’ll still have access to everything you need to file your claim.
6. Build a Claims Binder
Include:
- A printed copy of your home inventory
- Your current insurance policy
- Emergency contact information for your insurer
- Space to log conversations and actions if a claim ever occurs
Bonus: Some insurers now accept video walkthroughs as part of the claims process, making your inventory even more powerful documentation.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Today’s claims process is under pressure. With much larger volumes, fewer experienced resources, tighter claim reviews, and more third-party involvement, even a simple loss can become stressful. But when you have an inventory on hand, it:
- Removes doubt during claim assessment
- Helps you receive the proper value for your belongings
- Speeds up your settlement process
- Helps you remember everything you lost, especially in a total-loss event like fire or flood
- Restores you to the position you were in immediately prior to the loss—not better, not worse.
It’s also a powerful deterrent against fraudulent or inflated claims, which can help keep premiums stable for everyone.
Let's Make Sure You're Covered
If you haven’t reviewed your home insurance policy in the last few years, now is a great time. At McLean & Dickey, we live and work in the same communities you do, we understand the risks and realities you face as a homeowner, and we’re here to help.
Whether you need guidance on documenting your home, adjusting your coverage, or just want to make sure you’re not underinsured, reach out to our team. We’re happy to walk you through it. We proudly serve customers throughout Orillia, Barrie, Midland and Muskoka Ontario.
