Your belongings matter as much as your building.
Professional contents pack-out, detailed inventory, expert cleaning, and climate-controlled storage — for water, fire, mold, and storm damaged properties.
All damage types
Coverage
Xactimate contents
Documentation
Climate-controlled
Storage
Ultrasonic + ozone
Cleaning
ACV + RCV claims
Insurance
24/7 Emergency
Availability
When water floods a home, fire sweeps through a kitchen, or mold contaminates a living space, the structure is only half the story. Everything inside — furniture, clothing, electronics, documents, family photographs, collectibles, and irreplaceable personal items — needs to be removed, inventoried, cleaned, and stored while the structure is being restored. This is pack-out and contents restoration, and it is one of the most critical and misunderstood phases of the recovery process.
First Response Restoration provides complete pack-out services for all damage types — water and flood damage, fire and smoke damage, mold contamination, and storm damage. Our crews photograph and inventory every item before it leaves your property, using Xactimate contents documentation that your insurance adjuster will accept. Salvageable items go to our climate-controlled storage facility for professional cleaning. Unsalvageable items are documented for insurance replacement claims.
Proper contents handling protects you in two ways: it preserves items that can be saved (often more than homeowners expect), and it creates an auditable record of every item for your insurance settlement. Many homeowners are surprised to find that their contents claim — properly documented — can equal or exceed their structural damage claim.
What pack-out actually involves — and why it matters
Pack-out is the process of carefully removing, documenting, and storing contents from a damaged property to allow restoration work to proceed and to protect those items from further damage. It is not simply loading a truck — it is a systematic, documented process that directly affects your insurance settlement. Every item that leaves your property should be photographed, logged with a description and pre-loss condition assessment, and assigned to either the "restore" or "replace" category. This documentation becomes the basis for your contents claim under your homeowner's or commercial property policy.
Contents cleaning methods: matching the treatment to the damage
Different damage types require different cleaning approaches. Fire and smoke contamination requires removal of soot and volatile organic compounds from porous and non-porous materials. Water damage requires drying and disinfection to prevent mold growth. Mold contamination requires HEPA cleaning and antimicrobial treatment. Our contents specialists assess each item and apply the appropriate method.
When pack-out is required or strongly recommended
Real jobs. Real results.
Our pack-out, contents restoration & storage process — step by step
Pre-pack photography & condition assessment
Before any item is moved, our team photographs the entire space and every affected item in its current position and condition. This establishes pre-removal condition documentation that protects against any claim disputes.
Detailed inventory & categorization
Every item is logged into our Xactimate contents database with description, quantity, brand/model where visible, and condition assessment. Items are categorized as "restore," "clean," or "replace" based on damage extent and restoration viability.
Careful pack-out with protective materials
Items are packed using appropriate protective materials. Fragile items are individually wrapped. Electronics are documented and packed separately. High-value items are flagged for special handling.
Transport to climate-controlled facility
All contents are transported in enclosed vehicles to our climate-controlled storage facility. Chain of custody is maintained throughout with signed manifests.
Professional cleaning & restoration
Restorable items receive appropriate cleaning treatment — ultrasonic, ozone, HEPA cleaning, dry cleaning, or freeze-drying as required. Odor elimination is performed on all applicable items.
Climate-controlled storage during restoration
Contents remain in secure, climate-controlled storage for the duration of structural restoration. Access is available to homeowners by appointment for retrieval of essential items.
Return, placement & insurance closeout
Once structural restoration is complete, contents are returned and placed back in the home. Insurance documentation — including the complete inventory, condition reports, and cleaning records — is submitted as part of your final claim package.
Contents claims: where most homeowners leave money on the table
Contents claims are consistently underpaid because most homeowners don't know how to properly document their losses, and many restoration companies don't provide contents documentation at all. Our Xactimate contents inventory captures every item at current replacement cost value (RCV) or actual cash value (ACV) depending on your policy — ensuring you receive every dollar your policy provides.
Pack-out services across Houston, South Texas, and nationwide
Our pack-out capability supports both our Houston and Rio Grande Valley locations, and we deploy pack-out teams as part of our nationwide large-loss response. Houston's recurring flood events mean we have processed thousands of contents jobs across every type of Houston-area property — from River Oaks estates to Meyerland mid-century homes to commercial and multi-family properties in the Energy Corridor. Our climate-controlled storage facility can accommodate simultaneous contents from multiple large-loss jobs, and our contents team operates independently from the structural restoration crew so both phases can proceed in parallel.
Frequently asked questions
Will my insurance cover pack-out and contents restoration?
Yes — pack-out and contents cleaning are covered expenses under virtually all homeowner's and commercial property policies when the damage event is a covered peril. Contents coverage is typically a percentage of your dwelling coverage (often 50-70%). We document everything using Xactimate contents, the same system your insurance carrier uses, ensuring your claim is accepted without dispute. We handle the contents claim simultaneously with the structural claim.
Can furniture and upholstery be saved after water or fire damage?
Often yes, if treated quickly. Upholstered furniture affected by Category 1 clean water and dried within 24-48 hours can frequently be saved. Fire-damaged furniture with smoke contamination can often be restored through ozone treatment and professional cleaning if the structural integrity is intact. Category 3 contaminated water (sewage, floodwater) generally requires replacement of upholstered items. We assess each piece individually and make restore vs. replace recommendations based on actual condition and cost-effectiveness.
What happens to irreplaceable items like family photos and documents?
Wet documents and photographs should be handled immediately — freeze-drying within 24-48 hours offers the best chance of recovery. Do not attempt to separate wet photographs or dry them with heat. Our team is trained in document and media recovery protocols. We also photograph all documents and media before any cleaning attempt, creating a digital record regardless of physical recovery outcome. For truly irreplaceable items, we take extra precautions and clearly document any pre-existing condition issues.
How long will my contents be in storage?
Storage duration depends on the scope of structural restoration. Most residential restoration projects are completed within 2-4 weeks, after which contents are returned and placed. Larger structural projects may require 6-12 weeks of storage. We provide secure access to stored contents by appointment for retrieval of essential items (medication, important documents, work equipment) during the storage period. Storage is included in the pack-out claim — it is not an additional out-of-pocket expense.
Do you do pack-out for commercial properties?
Yes — commercial pack-out is a specific competency, not just residential scaled up. Commercial properties involve office equipment, inventory, trade fixtures, and business records that require specific documentation for both commercial property claims and business interruption claims. We work with property managers, business owners, and their insurance adjusters to ensure both the physical contents and the business income aspects of the loss are fully documented.
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