When small crises happen, you�re ready. You keep jumper cables in the trunk and clean tissues in your purse. But as prepared as you are for life�s misadventures, a more serious emergency — a house fire or flood, a burglary — could leave you tangled in red tape and sitting on hold with your insurer for ages.

Spare yourself the frustration: Complete an inventory of everything in your home. Download this worksheet to help you start recording the contents of any room in your house. Or use one of the room-specific worksheets on the following pages.

To make sure your home is covered in case of an emergency, learn step-by-step tips on creating a home inventory.