Contents, defined in a general manner, are the items inside the building (residential or commercial) that are not a fixed part of the structure. These are the things that leave or arrive when the occupants move in or out. Contents are the items found in any home or business. In other words, everyone has contents. It is the monetary value of these items that necessitates insurance. Whenever someone wishes to know "how much should I insure my contents for?" the answer is not so simple. The value of the property itself, the value of the items, and the location of the property all has an effect on the final quote of an insurance premium.

The first step to knowing how much to insure the contents for is to make a list of the items to be insured. Most people are somewhat surprised at just how much their accumulated possessions are worth, as they list what they have collected over the course of years or decades. Never trust such an important list to memory. Take a pen and a pad of paper and go from room to room, list all the items to be insured. If possible, take a camera to photograph these items. Keep the list somewhere secure, like a fire-proof cabinet or a safe.

This list will be the basis of the insurance policy, so be certain to get every insurable item. These generally include such things as furniture, especially living room sets, dining room sets, and bedroom sets; any easily removed lighting fixtures such as lamps; and generally any furniture like couches, chairs, tables, desks, and the like that are not fixed to the structure in some manner. Even if the items do not seem expensive on their own, list them anyway, because these amounts can add up quickly. Also, if the items are somehow lost, it will take quite a sum to replace them. Include any electronics, like DVD players, televisions, computers, game consoles, and other portable but expensive items on the list. Remember to add in DVDs, CDs, games, and software. If there are any serial numbers, take note of those as well, and take pictures of everything. If the receipts still exist, keep those as well.

All this information makes it much easier to answer the question: "How much should I insure my contents for?"