Lots of tools in the garage? Tips for getting organised!

Have a lot of tools in your garage/workshop and want to organise it sometime? Good idea! It's quite a chore but there are plenty of good reasons to do it sometime. Clearing out all the tools properly is of course very nice when you are doing odd jobs but can also be very handy if something happens and you need proof for the insurance.

We hereby give some reasons to tidy up your tools properly and take stock/register them at the same time. But first, of course, it is important to decide how to set up your workshop.

Setting up the workshop

What do you use as a workbench, where do you store your tools, which layout works for you, do you put screws in separate trays or in storage boxes, do you need dust extraction? Many questions that can be answered differently for everyone. If we look at tools, clothes and small materials, storing all items in handy lockers is recommended. Your things are so well organised, protected from dirt and many lockers can be locked so they are also protected from theft. Think about cabinets with multiple compartments and columns so you always have an overview and everything is up for grabs. Or a locker cupboard for storing clothes and accessories as offered by various online shops.

Do you want a buy locker? Then take a look at Manutan's website.

Reasons to inventory your garage

1. Damage caused by storm or rain, for example: most private home insurance policies cover damage caused by storm. This applies to the home and its contents. So suppose a big storm blows over your garage and damages your tools, it is obviously useful to be able to prove to the insurance company what tools you have. Setting up a garage inventory can help keep track of items and make insurance claims if a natural disaster causes damage to your property.
2. Theft: Even in case of theft, it is useful to know which items are missing. If you include serial and model numbers in the inventory, you can increase the chances of the stolen items being found again by the police. This can also help for claiming the theft from insurance.
3. Business: are you not just hobbying but dealing with a business inventory? Then it seems superfluous to us to say that taking an inventory is indispensable. This is even mandatory if you include the inventory in your accounts. Also, this again comes in handy if you want to take out business inventory insurance.
4. Saving money: sometimes you have so much stuff that you no longer know what you have. By organising everything, you often find out that you have more than you thought and avoid duplicate purchases. So you can save money by having a good overview of what you have in your closet.

Ways to take inventory

If you decide to inventory your garage, you need to decide how you are going to do it. Our advice would be to record it digitally, for instance using Excel. You can easily make a list with additional info such as serial numbers, purchase price, numbers and year of purchase.

Taking photos of tools and appliances can come in handy in the long run. So we definitely recommend taking photos of your belongings, of expensive appliances, for example, you can take close up photos. Photos can help with insurance claims, especially if you make a claim due to a natural disaster or theft. Additionally, if you have your car parked in the same garage, delve into the car insurance.

Saving purchase receipts is also advisable. You can make them digital by taking a picture of them or scanning them in, but keeping them in a folder (in a safe place) is of course also possible!

Once you have your garage organised and documented in an inventory list, it is important to keep track of all the work as well. For example, do this once a year if not much changes or once a quarter if you have a lot of tools. Also take a look at Autoweek for more tips on setting up your workplace.