Making a contents claim list after a fire
If your home has burned and you didn't have an inventory, you're not alone: most people don't. Rebuilding the list from memory is one of the hardest parts of recovery. These steps make it less overwhelming. We can't inventory a home that's already gone, but the method below works.
1. Ask what your insurer will advance first
Before you start a full list, ask your adjuster whether an advance on contents is available without an itemised list. In California, after a declared emergency and a total loss, SB 495 requires insurers (from January 2026) to advance 60 percent of contents limits, up to $350,000, without a detailed inventory (SB 495 announcement). Other states and insurers have their own rules, so ask.
2. Rebuild room by room from memory
Draw a rough floor plan. For each room, close your eyes and walk it clockwise: walls, furniture, what was on shelves, what was in each drawer and closet. Write everything down, however small. Do one room per sitting.
3. Mine your own photos and videos
Scroll your phone camera roll, cloud backups and social media for photos taken at home: birthdays, holidays, pets, listing photos from when you moved in. Backgrounds show furniture, TVs, art and shelves you'll have forgotten. Screenshot and note the room.
4. Pull purchase records
- Online order history (Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Wayfair and so on), often years deep.
- Card and bank statements.
- Email receipts: search your inbox for "order confirmation" or "receipt".
- Store loyalty accounts and warranty registrations.
5. Price each item at today's replacement cost
Look up a comparable new item and note the price and source. Be reasonable: a similar quality item, not the most expensive one.
6. Get help
Your state department of insurance has free consumer help lines. Nonprofits like United Policyholders publish detailed contents claim guides. Lean on friends and family to walk rooms with you from memory; they remember different things.
If your home is still standing
If you're reading this after a near miss, or before fire season, the single most useful thing you can do this week is a 15 minute video walkthrough of your home, stored off-site. See the filming guide.
General information, not insurance or legal advice.
Skip the spreadsheet work. Film one 10 to 20 minute walkthrough of your home with your phone. Within 48 hours you get a room-by-room inventory spreadsheet and PDF with item, brand/model where visible, quantity, an estimated replacement cost range and the video frame each item came from. $39 per home.