When a room is damaged, people often remember the large items and forget the contents of shelves, closets and drawers. A room-by-room inventory gives you a better record for conversations with a cleaner, restorer or insurer.
Only enter a fire- or flood-damaged space when it is permitted and safe. Do not handle contaminated or unstable materials simply to complete a spreadsheet.
Start with a room overview
Take a wide photo showing the whole room, then photograph groups of items before moving them. A short video narrated with room names can help you remember what was where. Keep the original files and save a backup outside the damaged home if possible.
Record details you know, not guesses
For each item, note the description, brand or model when visible, approximate purchase date if known, condition and what happened to it. Keep receipts, order confirmations or bank records if available; do not invent a purchase price. Photograph serial numbers only when safe and accessible.
Track the disposition of each item
Label items retained for assessment, taken for off-site cleaning, discarded for safety or replaced. Ask a contents vendor for a written inventory with pickup and return records. If an item must be discarded immediately, photograph it first where possible and note why.
- Room and item description.
- Photograph reference or file name.
- Whether it was cleaned, stored, discarded or returned.
- Company and date responsible for any pickup.
Ask the insurer before disposal
Insurers may request inspection or particular documentation. Check your policy and adjuster’s instructions before disposing of claim-related items unless safety orders require removal. The Red Cross also recommends retaining receipts related to the loss. An inventory is a record of damage, not a guarantee of reimbursement.