Contents Cleaning · What To Do Now
How Do I Inventory Damaged Belongings for Insurance?
The contents portion of a claim is where people leave the most money on the table. A thorough, documented inventory is what gets you fairly paid for what you lost.
Call (660) 216-6521 — 24/7Do This First
Work through these in order — the first few minutes decide how much damage spreads.
- 1
Photograph and video everything before anything is thrown away or moved.
- 2
List damaged items with description, brand/model, age, and rough value.
- 3
Keep receipts and product boxes/manuals if you have them.
- 4
Don’t discard damaged items until they’re documented (and your adjuster okays it).
- 5
Save a copy of the inventory separately (email it to yourself).
Careful
What to Avoid
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Don't throw items away before documenting — no proof, no reimbursement.
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Don't rely on memory later — document now, while it’s fresh.
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Don't undervalue items; note age and replacement cost.
When to Call a Pro
Binnacle documents contents as part of the loss — a detailed, photographed inventory during pack-out — so your claim reflects the real value of what was damaged. You file the claim; we give you the evidence.
Common Questions
How Do I Inventory Damaged Belongings for Insurance?
Do I have to inventory everything myself?
You can, but a restoration company doing a pack-out creates a detailed inventory as part of the process — which is more thorough and supports your claim.
Can I throw damaged items away before the adjuster sees them?
Document them thoroughly first (photos/video/list) and check with your adjuster. Discarding undocumented items can reduce what you’re paid.
More Contents Cleaning Guides
Don't wait it out — water and damage spread.
Talk to a real person now. We're here 24/7 and document everything for your claim.
Call (660) 216-6521