Why contents need their own plan
When water hits a house, most people think about the floor and the walls. The furniture, boxes, closets, books and photographs are in the same water, and they are often more personal and harder to replace than drywall. At the same time, they are in the way. You cannot dry a floor with a sofa on it or clean a wall behind a wall of boxes.
Pack-out is the organized removal of belongings from the affected area, with an inventory, so they can be protected, cleaned and dried and so the building can be worked on properly.
What pack-out involves
Walkthrough. We look at what is in the wet area and what is at risk if the work spreads. We discuss what matters most to you.
Inventory. Each item or box is listed with a description and a condition note, and often photographed. This gives you a record for your insurer and for your own use.
Protection and moving. Furniture and boxes that are safe are moved to a dry room in the house, or packed and taken away to a clean, dry place. Large items stay and are covered or blocked up on foil or plastic tabs, so the legs do not stain the floor.
Sorting. Items are grouped by condition and treatment: dry and fine, wet and recoverable, wet and not recoverable, and contaminated.
Cleaning and drying. Recoverable items are cleaned and dried. Methods depend on the material.
Storage and return. After the building is dry and ready, items are returned, with the inventory checked.
What can usually be saved in contents pack-out
- Solid wood furniture that was wet for a short time can generally be dried and cleaned.
- Hard goods such as glass, ceramics, metal and plastic can be cleaned and sanitized.
- Clothing and textiles can often be washed or dry cleaned, depending on the water.
- Some electronics can be recovered if they were not powered while wet. They should not be turned on until checked by a technician.
- Books and papers can be dried by several methods, and the sooner the better.
What is harder to save in contents pack-out
- Upholstered furniture and mattresses that sat in contaminated water.
- Particleboard and veneer furniture that swelled.
- Cardboard boxes and their contents if soaked for long.
- Anything soaked in sewage. Porous items are generally not salvageable.
- Items with a long period of moisture, which may have mold.
We will not promise something can be saved if the evidence suggests otherwise. We explain the options, including what can be tried and what cannot.
Documents, books and photographs in contents pack-out
Wet paper is one of the most urgent items. As paper stays wet, it swells, inks run, pages stick together and mold grows. A few things help:
- Do not peel pages apart or separate stuck photos by force.
- If you cannot dry them within a day or two, freezing buys time. Place documents in a freezer in a bag. A freeze-dry process can then be used.
- Keep photos wet rather than letting them dry stuck, until you can rinse gently in clean water.
- Air-drying works for some items. Place papers flat on clean towels, in a room with moving air and low humidity.
- Vacuum freeze drying is a professional technique for large quantities and valuable items, which sublimates the ice out of the paper. We can arrange this with a specialist.
For irreplaceable items such as family photographs, certificates, deeds and rare books, we recommend talking to us before you try to dry them.
Electronics and appliances in contents pack-out
Do not turn on anything that was wet, because power can short it out. Unplug it, wipe the exterior and have a technician examine it. Small items sometimes recover when dried with silica gel or a desiccant. Large appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines, may need a service call.
Insurance and documentation in contents pack-out
Contents claims depend on an itemized list. Insurers typically want a description, age, condition and value. Our inventory records what was affected, and the photographs show the condition. Keep receipts if you have them, and photograph anything you cannot move. If an item is declared a total loss, keep it until your adjuster approves disposal, unless it is a safety or contamination issue.
Off-site or on-site in contents pack-out
Sometimes belongings can stay in the house. If the damage is limited to one room, we may move items to another room and return them. If the whole house is affected or mold or sewage is involved, off-site storage and cleaning may be better. We discuss the options, including the cost.
What affects the cost of contents pack-out
Contents work is priced by the amount of material, the time to pack, the specialty cleaning methods and any storage time. A single room of furniture is a modest job, and a whole house is considerable. Specialty document drying is priced separately. See pricing.
Questions about contents pack-out
Can I move things myself?
Yes, for light items and dry areas. For wet or heavy items, let us do it, so they are not damaged or documented incorrectly.
Will you throw things away?
Not without your approval. We list what we believe is a loss and let you and your insurer decide.
How long do you store items?
It depends on the job. We discuss the timeline.