After a house fire, damage to your belongings can become one of the largest and most complicated parts of an insurance claim. Learn how personal property is documented, inventoried, cleaned or replaced, what happens during a contents pack-out, how ACV and RCV affect your settlement, and what you should know before damaged belongings are removed from your home.

Fire damage is rarely limited to what actually burned. Heat, smoke, soot, firefighting water, hidden moisture and combustion residues can affect areas throughout a home—even rooms the flames never reached. This comprehensive guide explains what property owners should look for after a fire, how different types of damage are evaluated, and why understanding the full extent of the loss is an important first step in navigating a fire insurance claim.