How do I inventory my belongings after a total loss?

We use systematic room-by-room methods, starting with the rooms you remember best and working through every space including closets, cabinets, attics, garages, and outdoor areas. We also review photos, purchase records, and credit card statements to help reconstruct your inventory. Most people recover 40–60% more items with professional inventory assistance.

What's the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?

Replacement cost pays what it costs to buy a new equivalent item today. Actual cash value deducts depreciation for age and wear. A 5-year-old laptop that costs $1,500 to replace might receive only $500 under ACV. If your policy provides RCV coverage, you're entitled to the full replacement cost, but you may need to actually purchase replacements to collect the depreciation holdback.

What if I don't have receipts for my belongings?

Most people don't keep receipts for every purchase. We help reconstruct ownership evidence using bank and credit card statements, Amazon/online purchase histories, photos (including social media), home videos, warranty registrations, and witness statements. Insurance companies cannot deny a claim solely because you don't have a receipt.

Are there limits on jewelry and electronics?

Most policies impose per-item or per-category limits on certain valuables — typically $1,500–$2,500 for jewelry, $5,000 for electronics, and similar caps for firearms, silverware, and collectibles. If your items exceed these sublimits, scheduled endorsements or floaters may provide additional coverage. We identify these limits and maximize recovery within your policy structure.

Can I claim items that were partially damaged?

Yes. Items don't have to be completely destroyed to be claimed. Smoke-damaged clothing, water-stained furniture, electronics exposed to humidity, and items contaminated by soot or mold may be claimed for cleaning, restoration, or replacement depending on the extent of damage. We assess each item's condition and claim the appropriate remedy.

Contents & Personal Property Insurance Claims

Your personal belongings — furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances, valuables, and everyday household items — often represent tens of thousands of dollars in value. When they're damaged or destroyed, Corbitt Public Adjusting ensures your inventory is complete and your settlement reflects true replacement cost.

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Understanding Contents & Personal Property Claims

After a fire, flood, storm, or other covered loss, property owners face one of the most overwhelming tasks in the insurance process: documenting every damaged or destroyed item they own. The average American household contains between $50,000 and $150,000 worth of personal property — yet most people have never inventoried their belongings and can't recall even a fraction of what they owned after a traumatic loss.

Insurance companies know this. They benefit from incomplete inventories because every item a policyholder forgets to claim is money the insurer doesn't have to pay. Adjusters provide generic inventory forms, set tight deadlines, and apply "actual cash value" depreciation that can reduce payouts by 40–60% on items that were in good working condition before the loss. The result: most property owners receive far less for their contents than their policy actually provides.

Contents claims also involve complex valuation disputes. Replacement cost versus actual cash value, matching-set provisions, coverage for high-value items like jewelry and art, and the treatment of sentimental items all create opportunities for insurers to reduce payouts. Without expert guidance, policyholders routinely accept settlements that leave them unable to replace what they lost.

Common Contents Claim Challenges

Incomplete Inventories

Most people can't remember everything they owned. We use systematic room-by-room inventory methods, photo analysis, purchase records, and category-based memory prompts to build comprehensive lists.

Depreciation Disputes

Insurers aggressively depreciate items using ACV calculations, sometimes reducing payouts by 50% or more. If your policy provides replacement cost coverage, we fight for full replacement value on every item.

High-Value Items

Jewelry, art, collectibles, electronics, and specialty equipment are often subject to per-item limits or require scheduled endorsements. We identify coverage gaps and maximize recovery within your policy.

Proof of Ownership

Insurers may require proof you owned an item. We help reconstruct ownership evidence through bank/credit card records, online purchase histories, photos, social media posts, and witness statements.

How We Maximize Contents Claims

Conduct systematic room-by-room personal property inventories using proven memory-recovery techniques
Research current replacement costs for every item using retail pricing databases
Challenge excessive depreciation and fight for replacement cost settlement where your policy provides it
Identify and claim items most policyholders overlook: garage tools, holiday decorations, pantry items, cleaning supplies, outdoor furniture
Navigate per-item and per-category limits for jewelry, electronics, and other high-value categories
Reconstruct proof of ownership using purchase records, photos, and financial statements

Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value

Understanding the difference between Replacement Cost Value (RCV) and Actual Cash Value (ACV) is critical to your contents claim. RCV pays what it costs to replace an item with a new equivalent. ACV deducts depreciation based on the item's age and condition — a 5-year-old television worth $1,200 new might receive only $400 under ACV. Most modern homeowner's policies provide replacement cost coverage, but insurers initially pay ACV and require you to actually replace items before releasing the depreciation holdback. We manage this process to ensure you recover the full replacement cost.

Residential Contents Claims

For homeowners and families, contents claims represent not just financial value but the physical fabric of daily life — clothing, furniture, kitchen equipment, children's belongings, hobby items, tools, and thousands of small items that are difficult to remember after a loss. We work patiently with families to reconstruct complete inventories, category by category, room by room, to ensure nothing is missed.

Commercial Contents & Equipment Claims

Businesses face parallel challenges with Business Personal Property (BPP) coverage: inventorying damaged equipment, furniture, fixtures, inventory, and supplies. Commercial contents claims can involve hundreds of thousands of dollars in specialized equipment, point-of-sale systems, computer hardware, restaurant equipment, medical devices, and inventory that must be properly documented and valued at current replacement cost.

Frequently Asked Questions About Contents & Personal Property Claims

Related Services

Fire Damage Claims

Contents destroyed by fire and smoke.

Water Damage Claims

Water-damaged personal property recovery.

Loss of Use Claims

Displacement benefits during repairs.

Residential Claims

Full homeowner claim representation.

Commercial Claims

Business equipment and inventory claims.

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Don't Settle for Less Than You Deserve

If your home or business has suffered damage, our team is here to guide you through every step of the insurance claims process. No matter the extent of the loss or the complexity involved, we work diligently on your behalf to secure a fair, timely, and fully supported resolution. From start to finish, we manage the entire claims process for you—ensuring you receive the full compensation your policy provides.

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