Personal Property Claims: Don't Leave Money on the Table

Contents Claims Are Where Homeowners Lose the Most

When property damage hits, most homeowners focus on the structural damage — the walls, floors, and roof. That makes sense. But Coverage C (Personal Property) often represents a significant portion of the total claim, and it's the area where homeowners most frequently leave money on the table.

Your personal belongings — everything from furniture and electronics to clothing, kitchenware, and decorations — are covered under your policy. But only if you document and claim them.

Structure vs. Contents: What's the Difference?

Understanding the distinction matters because they're covered under different parts of your policy:

Structure (Coverage A) includes anything permanently attached to the home: cabinets, countertops, built-in shelving, flooring, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, and built-in appliances (like a dishwasher or built-in microwave).

Contents (Coverage C) includes everything that would fall out if you flipped the house upside down: furniture, freestanding appliances (toaster, coffee maker, stand mixer), clothing, electronics, bedding, tools, decorations, and personal items.

The line between structure and contents can be blurry. When in doubt, claim it — your adjuster can help categorize it properly.

The Room-by-Room Approach

The most effective way to build a contents claim is to go room by room and document everything that was damaged or destroyed. Don't just list the obvious big items. Insurance adjusters see it all the time: homeowners claim the TV and the couch but forget about everything else in the room.

Kitchen

• •Small appliances (toaster, blender, coffee maker, mixer, air fryer)
• •Dishes, glasses, silverware, cookware
• •Food in the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry
• •Cleaning supplies under the sink
• •Dish towels, oven mitts, cutting boards

Bedrooms

• •Mattresses, pillows, bedding, sheets
• •Clothing in closets and dressers
• •Electronics (alarm clocks, chargers, speakers)
• •Books, personal items, jewelry
• •Shoes and accessories

Bathrooms

• •Toiletries, medications, first aid supplies
• •Towels, bath mats, shower curtains
• •Hair dryers, electric razors, styling tools

Living Areas

• •Furniture, electronics, media collections
• •Curtains, throw pillows, rugs, lamps
• •Board games, toys, books
• •Framed photos and artwork

Garage and Storage

• •Tools (hand tools and power tools)
• •Lawn and garden equipment
• •Holiday decorations
• •Sporting goods
• •Stored clothing and seasonal items

Commonly Overlooked Items

• •Holiday decorations — can be worth hundreds or thousands
• •Garage storage — tools, equipment, seasonal items
• •Cleaning supplies — vacuum, mop, broom, chemicals
• •Children's toys and baby gear
• •Pet supplies — beds, crates, toys, food
• •Linens — towels, sheets, blankets, tablecloths

RCV vs. ACV: Know Your Policy

Your contents coverage is either Replacement Cost Value (RCV) or Actual Cash Value (ACV):

• •RCV pays to replace items at today's prices. You typically receive an initial depreciated payment, then recover the remaining depreciation after purchasing replacements.
• •ACV pays the depreciated value of items based on age and condition. A 5-year-old laptop worth $1,200 new might only pay out $300 under ACV.

Check your policy — this distinction can mean thousands of dollars in difference on your claim.

How ADVOIQ Can Help

We help homeowners build thorough, room-by-room contents inventories that capture everything — not just the obvious items. With construction and claims experience, we know what carriers look for and where they commonly undervalue personal property.

If you're not sure whether your contents claim is complete, our free consultation can help.