If you own your home, you have homeowners insurance. There were about 364,500 residential fires in 2011, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. That's nearly 1,000 residential fires a day.

Make Your Inventory. Choose your checklist. The first step in making a home inventory is getting your hands on a comprehensive checklist — one from your own insurance company is best.

If you drive a car, you have auto insurance. If you own your home, you have homeowners insurance. There were about 364,500 residential fires in 2011, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Name one thing nearly all Americans have but hope they’ll never need? Insurance. If you drive a car, you have auto insurance. If you own your home, you have homeowners insurance. If you rent ...