After a fire or a large water loss, the structure is only half the claim. The other half is everything that was inside it, and the document that governs that half is the contents inventory. It decides what gets cleaned, what gets replaced, and what your carrier evaluates for the personal property portion of your settlement. Our earlier post on contents packouts covers the overall process; this one goes inside the inventory itself.
What gets recorded, and when
The inventory starts before anything moves. Each room is photographed as found, then item by item: a photograph, a written description including brand and model where visible, the condition observed, and a tag that ties the item to a room and a box or pallet number. Furniture is tagged individually. Boxed items are listed by box with enough detail that a specific item can be located later. The record is built on site, not reconstructed from memory afterward, because memory after a loss is unreliable and adjusters know it.
Three lists come out of one inventory
- Restorable. Items that can be cleaned and returned. Solid furniture, most hard goods, many textiles, framed art with intact glass. These go to the cleaning facility.
- Specialty processing. Items that need a particular vendor or method: electronics that were exposed to soot or humidity, documents and photographs that were wet, fine art, musical instruments, rugs and draperies that need textile cleaning, firearms, and anything with high value that warrants a specialist’s evaluation before a decision.
- Non-salvageable. Items that cannot be restored or would cost more to restore than to replace. These are photographed in place, described with the same care as restorable items, and held or disposed of according to what your adjuster requires. This list becomes the replacement portion of the contents claim, so its thoroughness matters more than any other.
The sorting is done by trained technicians using industry guidance on what each material can survive. Smoke-affected items are judged partly by residue type, since dry smoke, wet smoke and protein residue clean differently. Water-affected items are judged partly by the water category and how long they were wet.
How contents are valued
Valuation is your carrier’s decision, but the inventory is what they value from. In broad terms:
- Personal property coverage is usually a percentage of the dwelling limit and may be paid at actual cash value, meaning replacement cost minus depreciation, with the difference released if you replace the item and can show it.
- Certain categories carry sublimits: jewelry, firearms, cash, collectibles, business equipment. High-value items are often scheduled separately on the policy.
- Receipts, photographs from before the loss, and manuals or serial numbers all help. So does a description specific enough for the adjuster to price: “solid oak dining table, six chairs, approximately 72 inches, moderate wear” prices differently than “table and chairs.”
What specialty processing involves
Wet documents and photographs are often frozen quickly to arrest damage and then dried under vacuum. Electronics are inspected for corrosion and soot; some are cleaned and tested, some are declared total losses to avoid the fire risk of a compromised appliance. Textiles go to cleaners equipped for smoke odor. Fine art and antiques go to conservators. The decision to send an item to a specialist is made against its value and your wishes; we ask before spending restoration dollars on items you would rather replace.
Your part
Walk the inventory with us. Point out anything of high monetary or sentimental value, anything you need back early, and anything you would rather not spend money restoring. Remove cash, jewelry, medications, firearms and documents yourself before packing begins. Later, review the non-salvageable list carefully; it is easier to add an item you remember while the room is still fresh in mind than months afterward.
Fire & Water Restoration Plus provides packouts and contents management as part of our fire and water restoration work in Wylie and the surrounding counties. To talk through a loss, call 972-455-8252.