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Policyholders
Reconstructing Your Past: A Guide to Contents Documentation for Insurance Claims
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Parker Public Adjusting
Jan 11, 2025
10 Min Read
Parker Public Adjusting provides superior claim dispute resolution and management for Minnesota's commercial and private property owners. We help with contents - items that furnish your home or business - when they are included in water, fire, and other claims as well. Here's our guide to help us help you get started with a contents claim.
This guide is part of our commitment to helping property owners navigate the insurance claim process. While we strive to provide comprehensive information, every claim is unique. Contact us for personalized assistance with your specific situation.
Parker Public Adjusting provides superior claim dispute resolution and management for Minnesota's commercial and private property owners. We help with contents - items that furnish your home or business - when they are included in water, fire, and other claims as well.
Here's our guide to help us help you get started with a contents claim.
What are "Contents" in Property Insurance Claims?
Many types of business and homeowners policies include coverages specifically for contents, or the items you or your business owns, that are not part of the structure.
Since most people don't think to do a yearly inventory of everything they own, figuring out what was damaged, if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced, and how much it will cost, are daunting tasks that often require specialists.
This part of a property claim can be especially daunting for people displaced from their homes by water damage, or businesses shut down or temporarily moved for fire claims.
Why Proper Contents Documentation Matters
Insurance carriers often rely on third-party vendors and automated systems that can significantly undervalue your belongings. Here's what's at stake:
Generic Descriptions Lead to Undervaluation
When vendors or adjusters use simple descriptions, automated pricing systems default to the lowest possible value:
"Ceramic plate" valued at $2-3, when it's actually:
Fiestaware Scarlet dinner plate ($23)
Le Creuset stoneware serving platter ($70)
Wedgwood Renaissance Gold china ($45 per plate)
"Wood table" valued at $150-200, missing details like:
Stickley Mission oak dining table ($3,800)
Restoration Hardware salvaged wood console ($2,495)
Custom-built cherry executive desk ($4,200)
"Area rug" valued at $80-100, rather than specifying:
Hand-knotted Persian Tabriz wool rug ($3,000)
Pottery Barn wool and jute blend ($899)
Custom-sized Moroccan Berber ($1,500)
Inappropriate Cleaning vs. Replacement
Many items are sent for cleaning when they should be replaced:
Electronics & Precision Equipment
Professional camera lenses with internal smoke damage
Computer equipment exposed to high humidity
Musical instruments with smoke residue in mechanisms
Smart home devices with water exposure
Audio equipment with heat damage
Textiles & Soft Goods
Smoke-damaged upholstery that's been "deodorized" but remains contaminated
Water-damaged mattresses that have been dried but risk mold
Designer clothing sent to standard dry cleaners who can't restore them properly
Leather goods with smoke damage that affects integrity
Documentation Gaps That Cost You
Common oversights that lead to reduced settlements:
Disposal Issues
Items thrown away during emergency cleanup without documentation
Damaged goods removed by restoration companies before proper inventory
Homeowners discarding items not realizing they need documentation
Missing Details
Model numbers partially recorded leading to base model replacements
Serial numbers not captured for warranty items
Purchase dates omitted affecting depreciation calculations
Brands not specified defaulting to lowest-cost alternatives
What Counts as "Contents" in an Insurance Claim?
Contents refers to your personal property - the items that would fall out if you turned your property upside down. This includes:
Furniture and decor
Electronics and appliances
Clothing and accessories
Kitchen items and dishware
Tools and equipment
Sporting goods and hobby items
Books, media, and collectibles
Business equipment and inventory (for commercial claims)
Building Your Documentation Strategy
Start with what's easiest to prove and work your way through these key sources:
Digital Footprints
Your digital life holds more evidence than you might think:
Browse your email for purchase confirmations
Check online shopping accounts (Amazon, Target, Walmart)
Scan your cloud photo storage
Review social media photos
Search past credit card statements
Look through home listing photos
Traditional Paper Trails
Don't forget about physical records:
Gather any saved receipts
Check product warranties
Review insurance riders
Find appraisal documents
Collect maintenance records
Look through gift registries
Business-Specific Records
For commercial claims, gather:
Inventory systems data
Supplier invoices
Asset schedules
Equipment leases
Financial statements
Purchase orders
Tips for Success
Work room by room in your mind
Start with big items first
Include storage areas and seasonal items
Document brands and models when possible
Note special features or customizations
Include ages and conditions
Take photos of damage when possible
Keep all damaged items until adjuster inspection
Save all communication with insurance company
Track cleaning and restoration attempts
Special Considerations for Business Contents
Commercial claims face additional challenges:
Inventory Management
Seasonal stock not properly valued
Work in progress not accounted for
Raw materials undervalued
Specialized Equipment
Custom modifications not documented
Software and licensing costs overlooked
Calibration and certification requirements missed
Business Records
Digital asset recovery costs
Specialized storage systems
Filing and organization systems
Remember
Creating a contents inventory takes time, but every item you document helps support your claim. Don't hesitate to ask for help - our team is here to guide you through the process.
Need assistance with your contents claim?
Contact our experienced team.
This guide is part of our commitment to helping property owners navigate the insurance claim process. While we strive to provide comprehensive information, every claim is unique. Contact us for personalized assistance with your specific situation.
Parker Public Adjusting provides superior claim dispute resolution and management for Minnesota's commercial and private property owners. We help with contents - items that furnish your home or business - when they are included in water, fire, and other claims as well.
Here's our guide to help us help you get started with a contents claim.
What are "Contents" in Property Insurance Claims?
Many types of business and homeowners policies include coverages specifically for contents, or the items you or your business owns, that are not part of the structure.
Since most people don't think to do a yearly inventory of everything they own, figuring out what was damaged, if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced, and how much it will cost, are daunting tasks that often require specialists.
This part of a property claim can be especially daunting for people displaced from their homes by water damage, or businesses shut down or temporarily moved for fire claims.
Why Proper Contents Documentation Matters
Insurance carriers often rely on third-party vendors and automated systems that can significantly undervalue your belongings. Here's what's at stake:
Generic Descriptions Lead to Undervaluation
When vendors or adjusters use simple descriptions, automated pricing systems default to the lowest possible value:
"Ceramic plate" valued at $2-3, when it's actually:
Fiestaware Scarlet dinner plate ($23)
Le Creuset stoneware serving platter ($70)
Wedgwood Renaissance Gold china ($45 per plate)
"Wood table" valued at $150-200, missing details like:
Stickley Mission oak dining table ($3,800)
Restoration Hardware salvaged wood console ($2,495)
Custom-built cherry executive desk ($4,200)
"Area rug" valued at $80-100, rather than specifying:
Hand-knotted Persian Tabriz wool rug ($3,000)
Pottery Barn wool and jute blend ($899)
Custom-sized Moroccan Berber ($1,500)
Inappropriate Cleaning vs. Replacement
Many items are sent for cleaning when they should be replaced:
Electronics & Precision Equipment
Professional camera lenses with internal smoke damage
Computer equipment exposed to high humidity
Musical instruments with smoke residue in mechanisms
Smart home devices with water exposure
Audio equipment with heat damage
Textiles & Soft Goods
Smoke-damaged upholstery that's been "deodorized" but remains contaminated
Water-damaged mattresses that have been dried but risk mold
Designer clothing sent to standard dry cleaners who can't restore them properly
Leather goods with smoke damage that affects integrity
Documentation Gaps That Cost You
Common oversights that lead to reduced settlements:
Disposal Issues
Items thrown away during emergency cleanup without documentation
Damaged goods removed by restoration companies before proper inventory
Homeowners discarding items not realizing they need documentation
Missing Details
Model numbers partially recorded leading to base model replacements
Serial numbers not captured for warranty items
Purchase dates omitted affecting depreciation calculations
Brands not specified defaulting to lowest-cost alternatives
What Counts as "Contents" in an Insurance Claim?
Contents refers to your personal property - the items that would fall out if you turned your property upside down. This includes:
Furniture and decor
Electronics and appliances
Clothing and accessories
Kitchen items and dishware
Tools and equipment
Sporting goods and hobby items
Books, media, and collectibles
Business equipment and inventory (for commercial claims)
Building Your Documentation Strategy
Start with what's easiest to prove and work your way through these key sources:
Digital Footprints
Your digital life holds more evidence than you might think:
Browse your email for purchase confirmations
Check online shopping accounts (Amazon, Target, Walmart)
Scan your cloud photo storage
Review social media photos
Search past credit card statements
Look through home listing photos
Traditional Paper Trails
Don't forget about physical records:
Gather any saved receipts
Check product warranties
Review insurance riders
Find appraisal documents
Collect maintenance records
Look through gift registries
Business-Specific Records
For commercial claims, gather:
Inventory systems data
Supplier invoices
Asset schedules
Equipment leases
Financial statements
Purchase orders
Tips for Success
Work room by room in your mind
Start with big items first
Include storage areas and seasonal items
Document brands and models when possible
Note special features or customizations
Include ages and conditions
Take photos of damage when possible
Keep all damaged items until adjuster inspection
Save all communication with insurance company
Track cleaning and restoration attempts
Special Considerations for Business Contents
Commercial claims face additional challenges:
Inventory Management
Seasonal stock not properly valued
Work in progress not accounted for
Raw materials undervalued
Specialized Equipment
Custom modifications not documented
Software and licensing costs overlooked
Calibration and certification requirements missed
Business Records
Digital asset recovery costs
Specialized storage systems
Filing and organization systems
Remember
Creating a contents inventory takes time, but every item you document helps support your claim. Don't hesitate to ask for help - our team is here to guide you through the process.
Need assistance with your contents claim?
Contact our experienced team.
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Parker Public Adjusting
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Learn More
You probably have no idea what’s in your insurance policy, or how property claims even work...
Property policies contain:
✗ Deadlines (yes, that’s plural)
✗ Exclusions
✗ Limitations
If you don’t review your policy at every renewal—how do you know what your current policy covers? How does the claims process work? What happens if you have a dispute with your insurance company?
We can help.
We are the only type of adjusters licensed to work directly for policyholders, like you.
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Years of Expertise
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Get a second (or first) opinion
Property claims have deadlines for reporting, filing, and settling claims. Request a complimentary claim review today, and get your questions answered to see if we can help.
![](https://framerusercontent.com/images/drSr9aa92VYMg17yN1TfIJXjDt8.jpg)
Get a second (or first) opinion
Property claims have deadlines for reporting, filing, and settling claims. Request a complimentary claim review today, and get your questions answered to see if we can help.
![](https://framerusercontent.com/images/drSr9aa92VYMg17yN1TfIJXjDt8.jpg)
Get a second (or first) opinion
Property claims have deadlines for reporting, filing, and settling claims. Request a complimentary claim review today, and get your questions answered to see if we can help.