What Is a Contents Packout, and Do You Need One?
A contents packout is when a restoration crew inventories, photographs, packs and removes the belongings from a damaged home, then cleans what can be saved and stores it until your house is repaired. You usually need one after a fire, serious smoke, or major water damage, and it's often paid for under the personal property part of your homeowners policy. Always confirm with your adjuster first.
When a fire, flood or storm hits, most people focus on the building itself: the roof, the walls, the floors. But your couch, your clothes, your kids' things and your grandmother's dishes are often damaged too, and they can't stay in a home that's about to be torn open for repairs. That's where a packout comes in.
It's also why you shouldn't give up on your things too early. On one job the crews I work with handled, a tree came down on a multi-unit apartment building. The residents were sure they had lost everything. After the packout and cleaning, about 80% of their belongings came back clean.
What happens during a packout
Every company works a little differently, but a professional packout usually follows these steps:
- Walk-through. The crew lead walks the home with you (and sometimes your adjuster) to see what's damaged and what needs to come out.
- Inventory. Every item, or every box with its contents, is listed room by room and photographed. This inventory becomes the record for your insurance claim, so ask for a copy.
- Packing. Items are wrapped and boxed by room, and each box is labeled so it can come back to the right place.
- Moving out. Everything goes by truck to a secure warehouse or storage facility.
- Cleaning. Items that can be saved are cleaned with methods suited to the damage: hand cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning for hard items, special laundering for clothes and fabrics, and deodorizing for smoke odor.
- Storage. Your clean belongings stay in storage while your home is repaired.
- Pack-back. When the house is ready, everything is delivered back and, ideally, unpacked into the right rooms.
- Walk-throughSee what's damaged
- InventoryList and photograph
- PackBoxed and labeled
- Move outTrucked to storage
- CleanSmoke, soot, odor
- StoreDuring repairs
- Pack-backHome again
When you need a packout (and when you don't)
A packout makes sense when your belongings are damaged, at risk of more damage, or simply in the way of repairs.
Usually yes
- Fire or heavy smoke. Soot is acidic. Left on surfaces, it can keep staining and corroding things for days or weeks, so getting items out and cleaned quickly matters.
- Major water damage. Mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours in wet materials. Wet furniture, rugs and boxes need to come out so the house can dry.
- Big repairs. If floors, walls or ceilings are being replaced, the rooms have to be empty anyway.
Maybe not
- A small leak that affected one room. Moving things to another room may be enough.
- Light smoke in one area with no repair work planned. On-site cleaning may be cheaper and faster.
A good restoration company will tell you honestly which of these you're in, even when the answer is "you don't need us." But it's your home and your belongings, so the decision is yours. Ask for a professional opinion, ask why, and then decide what's right for your family.
Who pays for it
In a standard homeowners policy, your belongings are covered under the personal property section, often called Coverage C. When a loss is covered, the cost of packing, cleaning and storing your things is often paid from that coverage, because cleaning an item is usually cheaper for the insurer than replacing it.
A few things to know:
- Talk to your adjuster before work starts. Ask them to confirm the packout is covered and whether they need anything from you first.
- Your coverage has a limit. Packout, cleaning and storage costs may count against the same personal property limit as items you replace. Ask how it's handled on your policy.
- You can usually choose the company. Your insurer may recommend one, but in many cases you're allowed to pick your own. Ask your adjuster.
- Living expenses are separate. Hotel or rental costs while you're out of the house usually fall under "additional living expenses" or "loss of use," not the packout.
What gets saved and what doesn't
| Usually cleans up well | Often can't be saved |
|---|---|
| Dishes, glass, metal, hard plastics | Food, medicine and cosmetics exposed to smoke or water |
| Most clothing and linens | Mattresses and pillows soaked by dirty water |
| Solid wood furniture with light smoke | Particleboard furniture that got wet and swelled |
| Many electronics, after inspection | Items that melted or charred |
| Many rugs, with professional cleaning | Anything with mold growth deep inside |
Items that can't be saved should be listed and photographed as a loss for your claim. Don't throw anything away until your adjuster says it's OK. Damaged items are part of the proof for your claim.
How long it takes
Packing up an average home usually takes a crew one to several days, depending on the size of the house and how much is in it. Storage lasts as long as the repairs do, which can be a few weeks for water damage or many months after a major fire. Cleaning happens while your things are in storage, so it doesn't add to the wait.
What to keep with you
Once your things are packed, getting a single item back takes time. Before the crew starts, set aside what you'll need for the next few weeks:
- Medications and medical devices
- Wallets, IDs, passports and checkbooks
- Phones, laptops and chargers
- Important papers: insurance policy, mortgage, birth certificates
- A week or two of clothes for each person
- School items and work gear
- Pet food and supplies
- Anything small and very valuable, like jewelry
Questions to ask the packout company
- Will I get a copy of the full inventory and photos?
- Where will my belongings be stored, and is the facility secure and climate-controlled?
- How do you clean smoke-damaged or wet items?
- Do you bill my insurance company directly?
- How do I get something back if I need it before the pack-back?
- Will you unpack and put things back where they were?
The bottom line
A packout protects your belongings from further damage, gets them out of the way of repairs, and creates a detailed record for your insurance claim. If your home has fire, smoke or major water damage, ask your adjuster about a packout early. The sooner things come out, the more can usually be saved.
This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Policies and state rules differ. Check your own policy and talk to your adjuster before making decisions.