Call 911 if there is an active emergency — fire, ongoing flooding, or a crime in progress. For theft, file a police report as soon as you discover the loss. Most insurers require a police report number for theft claims. For fire or water damage, contact your landlord immediately because the building itself is their responsibility and they need to coordinate repairs and mitigation.

Document everything before cleaning up or making repairs. Photograph all damage from wide angles and close-up. Video the affected areas. Photograph each damaged or destroyed item individually. If water is receding, mark the water line on walls. The more documentation you have, the stronger your claim.

Protect remaining property from further damage. Move undamaged belongings away from water. Cover exposed items if part of the roof or window is breached. Do not discard damaged items until the adjuster has seen them — they need to verify the damage. Keep damaged items in a safe area for inspection.

Contact Your Insurer

Call your insurance company’s claims line as soon as the situation is safe and stable. Most have 24-hour hotlines and mobile apps for initial filing. Provide the date and time of loss, what happened, a preliminary list of damaged or stolen items, and the police or fire report number if applicable. The sooner you report, the sooner the process starts.

Your insurer assigns an adjuster who contacts you within one to three business days. For renters claims, the adjuster may handle everything by phone and photos rather than an in-person visit, especially for smaller claims. Provide all your documentation — photos, videos, receipts, inventory records — promptly.

Creating Your Loss List

The loss list is a detailed inventory of everything that was damaged, destroyed, or stolen. For each item include a description, approximate age, original purchase price if known, and estimated replacement cost. If you have a home inventory with photos and values, this process is straightforward. Without one, you are reconstructing from memory — which is why creating an inventory before you need it is so valuable.

Check old bank and credit card statements for purchase records. Look through your phone photos for images showing items in the background. Check email for online purchase confirmations. Every piece of documentation strengthens your claim and helps ensure you receive full compensation.

The Settlement

If you have a replacement cost policy, the settlement typically comes in two parts. The first payment covers actual cash value — the depreciated value of your items. The second payment covers the difference between ACV and replacement cost once you actually replace the items and submit receipts. You do not have to replace every item, but you only receive the replacement cost supplement for items you actually buy.

If you have an actual cash value policy, you receive one payment based on the depreciated value of your items. This is usually significantly less than replacement cost. If you have ACV coverage, consider upgrading to replacement cost at your next renewal — the premium difference is small and the claims difference is enormous.

When Not to File

If the loss is close to or below your deductible, filing may not make financial sense. A $400 theft claim on a $500 deductible produces no payout. Even if the loss slightly exceeds the deductible, the claim goes on your record and can affect your premium or renewability for three to five years. For losses within a few hundred dollars of your deductible, absorbing the cost yourself is often the better long-term financial decision.

If your home burns down tonight, could you list everything you own from memory? Every piece of furniture, electronic device, piece of clothing, kitchen gadget, tool, book, piece of art, toy, and piece of jewelry? Without prompting, most people recall 20 to 30 percent of possessions. The other 70 to 80 percent is forgotten in the chaos and stress of a major loss.

A home inventory is your documented record of personal property — what you own, what it looks like, what it cost, and what it costs to replace. When you file a claim for stolen or destroyed property, your insurer requires proof. Without an inventory, you rely on memory under the worst circumstances. With one, you have a comprehensive record supporting a complete claim.

If your Coverage C is $150,000 but you can only document $80,000 because you forgot the garage, closets, storage, and kids’ rooms, you leave $70,000 of paid-for coverage unused. A home inventory ensures you actually collect what you are entitled to.

The Room-by-Room Method

Walk through every room, closet, cabinet, drawer, garage, attic, basement, and outdoor area systematically. For each room, take a slow video pan showing contents from multiple angles. Open closets and drawers on camera. Then photograph individual high-value items showing condition, brand, model number, and serial number.

For each item, record description, approximate purchase date, purchase price if known, estimated replacement cost, and identifying information. For high-value items, keep receipts, appraisals, and certificates of authenticity with your records.

Room-by-Room Totals Add Up Fast

The kitchen alone typically holds $5,000 to $15,000 — appliances, small appliances, cookware, dishes, glasses, silverware, storage containers, linens, pantry contents. Bedrooms contain $2,000 to $10,000 per person in clothing alone when you count every shirt, pair of pants, jacket, shoes, and undergarment. Living rooms hold furniture, electronics, books, media, decor, and artwork. Garages and basements are where the biggest gaps hide — tools, sporting equipment, holiday decorations, outdoor furniture, lawn equipment, bicycles, camping gear. These forgotten spaces can represent $5,000 to $20,000.

Digital Tools

Apps like Sortly, Encircle, and the NAIC’s free myHOME Scr.APP.book let you photograph items, add descriptions and values, organize by room, and store in the cloud. Many insurance carriers offer inventory tools in their apps. The specific tool matters less than completing the inventory and storing it somewhere accessible if your home is destroyed — cloud storage, a fireproof safe, or a copy at a trusted person’s home.

Keeping It Updated

Update after every significant purchase. Add new items, remove sold or donated ones. Schedule a comprehensive walkthrough once per year at the same time you review insurance policies. An annual update takes an hour or two and ensures your record remains accurate and complete.