Guides

Contents inventory after a fire or total loss

After a total loss, insurers ask for a list of everything you owned: item, quantity, age and replacement cost. Survivors describe spreadsheets with thousands of rows. It is exhausting, and the items people forget are money left unpaid.

A faster way to build the list

1. Start with photos and videos. Phone backups, social media, holiday photos and real estate listings show rooms. Each one jogs memory and proves ownership.
2. Go room by room, then drawer by drawer. Use prompts for commonly forgotten items: spices, cleaning supplies, hangers, phone chargers, holiday decorations, garage tools.
3. Pull purchase history. Online order histories, store loyalty accounts and card statements fill in brands, models and prices.
4. Use replacement cost for a new comparable item, not what you paid years ago. Note the age; the insurer will apply depreciation for the first payment.
5. Submit in batches. You do not need a perfect list before sending the first part.

State rules can help

Some states require insurers to advance part of the contents limit without a full inventory after a declared disaster total loss, including California and Colorado. Ask your insurer and your state insurance department what applies.

Lineitemly turns room photos into an itemized list with AI, suggests forgotten items room by room, applies depreciation, and exports the spreadsheet insurers ask for.