Practical guide
Keep appliance
details together.
The next repair often starts with a model number. Put the information you already have in one record, then add the rest as you find it.
Updated October 19, 2026
Start with a photo and the identification label
- Create an item in the room where the appliance belongs. Use a name you would search for, such as “Laundry room washer.”
- Add a clear photo. Check any name or category suggested by photo recognition before saving.
- Copy the brand, model number, and serial number from the manufacturer’s label or your purchase documents. The model identifies the product; the serial identifies the individual unit.
- Add a note about the label’s location so you can check it again if needed.
Labels can be hard to reach. Check the manual or purchase documents if you cannot read one safely. Keep an unknown field blank until you can verify it.
Illustrative item record
- Name
- Laundry room washer
- Room
- Laundry
- Model
- Copy the exact number from the label
- Serial
- Copy the individual unit’s number
- Notes
- Label inside the door. Installed after the move.
Keep purchase records with the appliance
Record the purchase date and price if you know them. Add the retailer and any useful service history in notes. Preserve the original receipt and warranty documents somewhere you can access separately.
HomeTally Premium adds receipt scanning and photo or PDF attachments. Check scanned details against the original. Premium also lets you record a warranty expiration date so it stays with the item.
A saved expiration date is a reminder. Warranty eligibility, exclusions, and required documents still come from the manufacturer or retailer’s terms.
Start free, add documentation with Premium
Free includes photos, model and serial numbers, notes, search, and manual entry for up to twelve items in two rooms. Receipt attachments and warranty tracking require Premium. You can add useful identification details before subscribing.
Check that you can find it
After saving a record, search for an item name you remember, such as “washer” or “refrigerator.” Open the result to read the saved model number and other details you would give a repair service. Clear item names help you find the record when you need those details.
If you have two similar appliances, distinguish them in the name and record each serial number separately.