Start with the right question
A room-level description such as everything was ruined is difficult to verify. An itemized inventory helps identify what is actually damaged, what can be inspected, and which values are estimates. Complete it safely and preserve uncertainty where the condition is not yet known.
Work through the checks
Identify each item
Record a description, model where relevant, approximate age, and location. Use a stable item number that connects photographs and receipts. Avoid grouping unlike items under one unexplained replacement amount.
Describe observed damage
Record what can be seen and who observed it. Distinguish cosmetic damage, functional problems, and a professional conclusion that repair is not feasible. Do not diagnose hidden damage from a photograph alone.
Gather value support
Keep purchase records, repair quotes, and comparable replacement information with dates. Note differences in age, features, or condition. A new premium model may not be a like-for-like comparison.
Track changes and disposal
Record repairs, salvage, replacements, and any instruction to retain an item for inspection. Keep receipts and photographs before changes where appropriate. Do not discard material that a relevant reviewer needs to inspect.
A record you can use
- Item number and description
- Pre-event condition
- Observed damage
- Repair or replacement support
- Inspection or disposition
Keep this record locally. Use document references rather than publishing account numbers or other people's personal details. An empty field means the information is still missing; it should not be filled with an AI guess.
Worked example
A fictional inventory lists a five-year-old desk, a damaged monitor, and an unopened box. The desk has a repair quote, the monitor has an inspection pending, and the box remains unassessed. The record does not assign a total-loss replacement price to every item before checking its condition.
This example is fictional and illustrates the method, not a real case result.
Limits and next steps
Do not enter an unsafe area or handle hazardous property to gather evidence. Insurance valuation and legal recoverability depend on terms and facts. This worksheet does not calculate depreciation or entitlement.
Give the itemized file to the appropriate insurer or adviser and ask what further documentation is needed. Keep the original inventory and a dated update history.