In Episode 16, I discussed the importance of keeping a detailed inventory of your shop to assist you in purchasing the correct amount of insurance, and also to provide you with a record of your losses if the unthinkable happens and you need to make a claim. Now, you could simply use some paper and a pencil to make your inventory. This method can be inconvenient, however, if you lose your hand-written inventory, need multiple copies of your inventory, want an electronic copy of your inventory, etc.
We are fortunate that independent software developers all over the world are working hard to provide us with software tools to make this task less daunting. I just completed an exhaustive (i.e. 30 minute) search of the internet for applicable software applications, and I have listed links to a subset of my findings below. I have not tried all of these programs personally, and I am not advocating any specific software application. I did limit selections, however, to affordable programs that received positive feedback from users online. One of the applications listed below is freeware and the others offer inexpensive shareware licenses ($20-$30). Any one of these programs should make documenting your shop a painless process. If none of these strike your fancy, an internet search will turn up hundreds more.
- My Personal Inventory
- Everything I Own
- Home Manager
- Bifrost Inventory Management
- Home Inventory Deluxe
- Home Inventory Plus
Going off on a major tangent….
While I was searching for good home inventory programs on the internet, I was continuously amazed at some of the things people have written software to track or manage. If any of you are interested in the unexplained, you might want to check out these handy programs.
[...] Keeping a Shop Inventory - Modern Woodshop [...]
This is great advice! We are all guilty (or have been at one point in time) of having lots of tools or anything else in abundance that adds up to significant value, but never considering the threat of it being taken away from theft or a fire.
You briefly mentioned doing the inventory to ensure you are properly insured. Again, great suggestion. It is important though to also to ask your agent specifically about insuring your tools after you have figured out their total value. Even if your personal possessions coverage of the policy seems high enough, you may have to schedule the tools separately, increase the limit, or add a rider to the insurance policy.
Best of luck!
Bobbi Jo
http://www.anywherevault.com
Another you might be interested is specifically written for woodworking shop inventory and projects. It is pretty cool - does tool inventory and so much more.
Check out ShopFileR at 60software.com
Here is a quote from their intro piece:
“Software to organize the “e-” stuff in your Workshop
You provide the information - ShopFileR will help organize it”
“ShopFileR helps you organize all of your workshop links and favorites, pdf manuals, project and tool information and pictures. It is designed to help bring order to the electronic data in your shop and reduce your file clutter and let you file and find things quickly and easily. It lives on your PC desktop and your information is stored on your PC, not on somebody’s Internet server.”
Presently offered at reduced price of $35.00.
I have no financial interest, etc.
Jay Highland
Red Rabbit Woodworks
Bayfield, CO
[...] Keeping a Shop Inventory - Modern Woodshop [...]
Hey great tip something I really need to do before I open my doors. insurance is a major concern for me because I’m thinking about opening my shop up on Saturdays for small monthly fee and letting a few area woodworker work on projects without the investment of all the tools. I’m still working out the details, but I’m hoping this will help offset some of the expense of rent and utility’s so that I can do the Monday thru Friday full time woodworker. Thanks for the advice and I really enjoy the your podcast
http://sleepydogwoodworking.blogspot.com/
Joey