08/31/2026
A house fire doesn't have to completely destroy your belongings for them to become part of the insurance claim.
Smoke, soot, heat and firefighting water can affect clothing, furniture, electronics, photographs, mattresses, household goods and personal belongings throughout the home — sometimes far beyond the area where the actual fire occurred.
Then the questions begin:
What should be cleaned and what should be replaced?
Should you allow a contents company to pack everything out?
What happens if you don't have receipts?
How does the insurance company calculate depreciation?
And should you throw away badly damaged belongings?
We put together a comprehensive guide explaining the personal property side of a house fire insurance claim, including contents inventories, pack-outs, smoke damage, cleaning vs. replacement, ACV vs. RCV, and some of the mistakes to avoid after a fire.
If you or someone you know has experienced a house fire, this is worth reading before belongings start leaving the property.
👉 Read the full guide: www.vipadjusting.com/vip-blog/2026/personal-property-after-house-fire-insurance-claim