When a room has to be dried, cleaned or rebuilt, everything in it is in the way and at risk. A contents packout is the organized removal of your belongings from the affected area to a secure facility for the duration of the work, along with the inventory and cleaning that goes with it. It is one of the most misunderstood parts of a restoration, and one of the most important for your peace of mind and your claim.
Why belongings are moved out
- They are in the way of the work. Drying equipment, demolition and reconstruction cannot happen around a furnished room.
- They are absorbing the problem. Upholstery, mattresses, books and clothing absorb smoke odor and moisture the longer they stay in the affected space.
- They are at risk from the work itself. Dust from demolition and drywall finishing settles on everything left in the house.
How a packout works
- Inventory. Every item is photographed, described and tagged with a room and box number before it leaves the house. This inventory is yours and your adjuster’s; it becomes the basis for the contents portion of the claim, both for items that are restored and for items that are declared unsalvageable.
- Sorting. Items are separated into those that can be cleaned and restored, those that need specialty processing (electronics, documents, artwork, textiles), and those that are not salvageable and are documented for the claim.
- Packing. Fragile items are wrapped individually. Furniture is padded and blanket-wrapped. Boxes are labeled to match the inventory.
- Cleaning and deodorization. Smoke-affected contents are cleaned by method appropriate to the material; soft goods may go to a specialty textile cleaner. Water-affected items are dried and treated.
- Storage. Contents are held in secure, climate-controlled storage until the structure is complete.
- Pack-back. Items are returned and placed according to the inventory. You walk the house with our team and sign off.
What you should do before a packout
Remove anything irreplaceable or sensitive yourself: cash, jewelry, medications, firearms, passports and legal documents. Tell the crew about anything fragile or of high sentimental value so it receives special handling. If you need certain items during the project, such as work clothes or a child’s school materials, say so before packing so they are set aside.
Contents and your insurance claim
Homeowner policies typically cover contents (personal property) separately from the dwelling, often at a percentage of the dwelling limit. Contents may be paid at actual cash value with recoverable depreciation, and some categories such as jewelry or collectibles carry sublimits. The packout inventory, with photographs and condition notes, is what the adjuster uses to evaluate contents. Coverage and valuation are the carrier’s decisions, and a thorough inventory makes that evaluation accurate.
Not every loss needs a full packout
A Class 1 water loss confined to one corner of a room may only require moving furniture to the dry side and blocking it off the wet carpet. The scope of the packout matches the scope of the loss; we will tell you which is appropriate when we assess the property.
Fire & Water Restoration Plus provides packouts and contents management as part of our fire and water restoration work across Wylie and the surrounding counties. To learn more, call 972-455-8252.