NEW YORK — To keep a fire, burglary or other disaster from devastating your assets, make a thorough inventory of everything you have in your home this week, so that you can document the value of any possession you lose. There are a number of home inventory forms available for free on the Internet or you can request one from your insurance company.

Start your home inventory by going through every room, drawer and cupboard and carefully list everything of value. Don't forget your attic, basement or garage. And don't overlook things that you're so used to seeing that they fade into the background — carpets, curtains, linens and the like.

Describe every item in detail. Record any identifying information, such as appliance serial numbers. If you ever make an insurance claim, it helps to include the age, brand name, size, model number and other relevant details of just about any valuable object. For tableware, note the manufacturer, pattern and number of place settings.

Also, record the date when you bought an item, the amount that you paid and how much it would cost to replace it. And of course, keep all sales receipts.

You might also photograph the contents of your home, preferably with a digital camera so that no stranger will see it at the processing lab. Better yet, videotape your possessions, zooming in on high-value items such as antiques. A shot inside the closet doors, accompanied by your verbal description, will spare you from having to write down the entire contents.

In addition, get appraisals of art, antiques, jewelry and other valuables. Go to the American Society of Appraisers Web site, www.appraisers.org, to find an appraiser in your area.

Your household inventory, backed up by pictures or video, will help take some of the sting out of any loss by ensuring that you get what you deserve from your insurance company.