DIY InventoryAn inventory is only as good as its photos. Months later, someone will look at them to decide whether a mark was there at the start. These habits make photos that hold up.
Light first
- Use daylight where you can: open curtains and blinds.
- Switch room lights on as well, and avoid shooting straight into a bright window.
- Turn the flash off for walls and glossy surfaces; it creates glare that hides scratches.
Wide, then close
For every item, take one photo that shows the whole thing in its place, then close-ups of any wear or damage. The wide shot proves where the mark is; the close-up proves what it is.
Angles that reveal damage
- Floors and worktops: crouch low and shoot along the surface so scratches and stains catch the light.
- Walls: stand square-on, a few steps back, so marks and paint finish show.
- Ceilings: include the corners, where damp and cracks show first.
- Mirrors and glass: stand to one side to keep your reflection out.
- Appliances: the front, then open it and photograph the inside.
Date and time on every photo
A photo’s date can be lost when it’s copied or sent. The safest record has the date and time written into the image itself, at the moment it’s taken. DIY Inventory does this automatically for every photo.
How many photos?
At least one of every item and at least eight in every room is a good rule. More is fine; missing items is not.
See what to photograph in each room in our room-by-room checklists.
Updated 22 October 2026