Fire and smoke claims: the inventory is the claim

After the structure, the fight in a fire claim is contents — and contents are won with an inventory. A room-by-room list of everything lost, with age and replacement cost, is the single most important document you'll produce.

Build the inventory from what you already have

Photos from before the fire — holiday pictures, real estate listing photos, insurance walkthrough videos — are worth more than any list built from memory. Do not throw anything away until the carrier's adjuster has seen it or released it in writing; disposal is how items leave the claim.

Smoke and odor extend beyond the burn

Smoke and odor damage commonly extends far beyond the burn area, and carriers' estimates often stop at repainting. Textiles, ductwork, electronics, and anything porous can be legitimately claimed if a restoration professional documents contamination. Get that testing before you accept a structure-only number.

Track living expenses from night one

Additional living expense (ALE) coverage, if your policy includes it, keeps your family housed while repairs run. Track every cost from the first night — hotel, meals, laundry, storage. ALE limits and duration vary by policy; check your declarations page.

Examinations under oath

Total-loss and large fire claims are the ones where carriers most commonly invoke examinations under oath and cause-and-origin investigations. That's normal process, not an accusation, but it's also the point where the size of the claim may justify professional representation. Check your state's fee cap first.

What the registry can tell you

Browse licensed public adjusters who list fire and smoke claims on their profile. Each profile shows the license number, status, and the date the regulator's record was last pulled. Use the settlement gap calculator to see whether the gap between the carrier's number and your contractor's estimate justifies a fee.

Sources

• ALE coverage: standard homeowners policy form (HO-3); limits vary by carrier and policy
• Examination under oath: standard policy condition; check your "Duties After Loss" section

Related

• Commercial and business interruption claims
• Flood claims: a different policy, different rules
• Hail claims: the invisible-damage dispute