An inventory is a written list of the things you've put into storage, ideally with a description, a replacement value and a photo of each item, and a note of which box or corner it's in. It's the record that backs up an insurance value, supports a claim and helps you find things. (In business, "inventory" also means stock held for sale.)
At Wigwam
We don't list what you store. Clause 2(a) says we "do not have and will not be deemed to have knowledge of the Goods", and under clause 1(b) you "are deemed to have knowledge of the Goods in the Unit". So, day to day, the inventory of your unit is the one you make. We don't ask for one when you book or take our cover; it's for you, and for any claim.
The one time we might list what's in a unit is when enforcing the agreement. Clause 5(c) makes you responsible for costs we incur "in collecting late or unpaid Storage Fees, or in enforcing this Agreement in any way, including but not limited to postal, telephone, unit inventory, debt collection" and related costs. That would happen, for example, under our lien if fees go unpaid, and the cost of it falls to you. It's our record for enforcement, not a substitute for yours.
Why keep your own
Your full replacement value should add up from it. If you claim under our cover, clause 48 requires you to give "such information and evidence as may reasonably be required", and a dated list with photos is that evidence. Our guide to storing antique furniture during a renovation suggests "a simple inventory of what's in the unit, even if it's just a phone-photo record taken as you packed". If you're storing a let flat's furniture, its letting inventory is a good starting point; add a replacement value to each item. Keep evidence of value with it where you can, such as receipts, photos and bank or card statements; the policy decides what evidence it accepts. If two people's things share a unit, note whose each item is. Number your boxes to match the list, and update it whenever you add or take things out.
Related terms: Full replacement value · Declared value · Claim · Lien
Related questions: How should I label boxes for moving and storage? · How do I calculate a full replacement value?