Why a damage inventory matters
After a water loss, most people remember the big things, such as a soaked sofa or a ruined floor, and forget the small ones. A week later, when an adjuster asks what was in the hall closet or the garage, the details are gone. A written inventory made while the damage is fresh solves that problem. It lets you give an insurer a complete, organized picture, and it protects you from leaving out items you would have claimed if you had remembered them.
The inventory also helps your restoration company. When we pack out belongings or decide what can be dried, a list that names each item, its location and its condition makes the work faster and more accurate. And it helps you decide what to do first, because seeing everything in one place makes it easier to separate what is urgent, such as electronics and paper, from what can wait.
How to use the builder
Start with the room or area where the damage is. For each item, add its name, a category, its condition and a quantity, then, if you know it, an approximate replacement value. A note field is there for details such as the brand, the age or where the water reached. Every entry is added to the table, and the totals update as you go.
Work room by room. It is easier to remember and easier to check. Photograph each item or group of items as you list them, since the photographs and the list support each other. If you have a receipt, a serial number or a model number, put it in the note.
You do not have to finish in one sitting. The list is saved in your browser on this device, so you can close the page and come back. When you are done, you can print the list, copy it as plain text to paste into an email, or download it as a spreadsheet file.
What counts as a good inventory
The best inventories are specific. Instead of writing "kitchen stuff," write "dishwasher, brand and model, wet at the base" and "four wooden dining chairs, legs wet." Use one row for each distinct item or group. Group identical items when it makes sense, such as "bath towels, six," but separate anything with a different value or condition.
Condition matters. Note whether an item is wet, damp or visibly damaged, or whether you cannot tell yet. Some things that look fine can be damaged inside, such as electronics and appliances, and a note that says you are unsure is more honest than a guess. Do not throw anything away until you have documented it, unless it is unsafe to keep.
Estimated values should be your best realistic figure for what it would cost to replace the item today. You do not need to be exact. Many insurers ask for replacement cost or actual cash value, depending on the policy, and an adjuster will have their own views. The number you give is a starting point, not a final one.
What to protect first
While you build the list, some items deserve quick attention, because they are time-sensitive or hard to replace. Paper documents, photographs and books are damaged quickly by moisture, and they are among the first things we pack out. Electronics that have been wet should not be turned on. Textiles, such as clothing, bedding and rugs, can often be saved if they are dried or cleaned promptly, and they develop odors and mold if left damp.
Furniture on a wet floor can be raised on blocks or foil to prevent staining and rust, and valuables should be moved to a dry room. If you are unsure how to handle something delicate, such as an antique or a piece of art, ask before moving it. Our page on contents pack-out and document drying explains how we inventory, pack and store belongings while a house is being dried.
How this fits with the rest of a claim
An inventory is one part of a larger set of records. A complete file for an insurer usually includes photographs and video of the damage, a description of how and when the loss happened, moisture readings and a drying log, a written scope of work, receipts for emergency expenses, and an inventory of damaged contents. We keep the first four from our own work, and we give you copies. The inventory is yours to build, and this tool is meant to make that easier.
We cannot decide what an insurer will cover, and we cannot promise a result. What we can do is help you put together records that are clear and complete, so the facts are in front of the person who reviews the claim. If you are starting from the beginning, our guide to what to do after a water leak covers the order of steps, and our page on moisture mapping explains the readings that go with the inventory.
Privacy and your list
The inventory runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or to anyone else, and there is no account to create. Entries are kept in your browser's local storage on this device, so anyone using the same browser could see them. Use the clear button when you are finished, particularly on a shared computer. If you use a different device or browser, the list will not be there.
Questions
Do I need to list everything?
List what was damaged and anything you are unsure about. You do not need to list undamaged items, but if you are filing a claim, a note about what was in the room can help.
Can I add photos?
Not in this tool, to keep it private and simple. Take photographs separately, and note in the list when you have them.
Will an insurer accept this list?
Many insurers have their own forms, but a clear, itemized list is almost always useful. You can paste it into their form or attach it to your claim.
What if I lose the list?
It is saved in your browser, but browsers can clear data. Download a copy as a file when you are finished, and keep it with your other claim records.