Insurance adjusters don't work from memory. When a claim involves a 4K television, a stand mixer, and a set of crystal stemware, the settlement depends on documented purchase prices, model numbers, and proof of ownership. A general description of "electronics and kitchen items" isn't a claim — it's a starting point for a negotiation you'll probably lose.
Identification That Holds Up
The combination of MODEL NO., SKU / PART NO., SERIAL NO., and UPC BARCODE creates an identification stack that covers every scenario. Serial number for proof of ownership. Model and SKU for replacement pricing. UPC for items that don't have individual serial numbers but need to be identified at the category level.
ASSET ID is the internal reference — the number you assign to keep your own catalog organized, independent of any manufacturer numbering system. Useful when a house has multiple items from the same brand with similar model numbers.
ALTERNATE ID NO. catches everything else: extended warranty registration numbers, retailer tracking codes, or a previous owner's reference if the item was purchased secondhand.
The Financial Record
PURCHASE DATE, PURCHASE PRICE, and PURCHASED FROM together create the transaction record. For insurance purposes, these three fields are the claim. For resale, they establish the original cost basis. For appliances under warranty, purchase date determines eligibility.
CONDITION — Excellent, Good, Poor, Damaged — tracks degradation over time. An item purchased two years ago at $400 in "Good" condition has a different replacement value than the same item in "Damaged." Condition field updated annually keeps the asset record honest.
Warranty and Manufacturer Access
WARRANTY date and WARRANTY NOTES store what most people keep nowhere: when coverage expires and what it actually covers. Many manufacturer warranties exclude accidental damage; many extended warranties do the opposite. The notes field is where that distinction lives.
Manufacturer website, address, and phone number make support contact immediate — no searching brand websites when a dishwasher fails at 11pm and the model number is the only thing that gets you to the right support queue. The ALTERNATE WEBSITE field handles third-party parts suppliers or extended warranty providers tied to specific items.
Photo support documents condition visually — both at purchase and if damage occurs. A photograph of the television before and after a storm event is evidence, not decoration.