Pack-outs · Insurance guide
How a Contents Pack-Out Works With Your Insurance Claim
How a contents pack-out fits into a homeowners insurance claim, who is involved and what to ask. Your policy decides coverage.
- Photo inventory of everything we pack, ready to share with your adjuster
- Climate-controlled storage with 24/7 security cameras
- Pack-out hours: 8:30am–8pm
Already have a claim? Submit a pack-out claim
What is an insurance pack-out?
An insurance pack-out is a contents pack-out done as part of a homeowners claim: the belongings in a damaged home are packed, documented, stored and later returned so repairs can happen.
Claims usually have two sides. The structure is the house itself: walls, floors, roof. The contents are your belongings: furniture, clothing, dishes, electronics. A pack-out is part of the contents side.
Who pays for a pack-out?
Pack-outs are often handled under the contents (personal property) part of a homeowners policy, subject to its terms, limits and deductible. Renters may have contents coverage through renters insurance. Your adjuster makes the decision, so ask before work starts.
With Giga Moving, homeowners get pricing explained in the estimate before any work starts. For restoration partners, we usually bill the restoration company directly at agreed rates.
Step by step: a pack-out during a claim
Report the claim
Call your insurance company and note your claim number and adjuster.
Document the damage
If it is safe, photograph the rooms before anything is moved.
Scope the job
The restoration or mitigation company assesses the home and what needs to come out.
Confirm with your adjuster
Ask how the contents work should be handled and documented.
Pack-out and inventory
The crew packs room by room and builds a photo inventory that is shared with you and the adjuster.
Storage, then pack-back
Contents are stored until repairs are done, then delivered back and set up room by room.
The inventory: why it matters and what it includes
The inventory is your record of what left the house and in what condition. It helps you, your adjuster and your restoration company work from the same information.
Giga Moving's inventory includes photos of rooms and packed boxes, organized by room and shared digitally with you and the adjuster. Every box is labeled by room.
Questions to ask any pack-out company
- How will my inventory be delivered, and who gets a copy?
- Where will my belongings be stored, and under what conditions?
- Who handles cleaning, and what goes to specialists?
- How is billing handled: to me, or to the restoration company?
- Will one person coordinate the job from pack-out to pack-back?
- Is the pack-back and room setup included?
Our answers: inventory shared digitally with you and your adjuster; climate-controlled storage monitored by 24/7 security cameras; textiles go to a cleaning specialist; one coordinator; pack-back and reset included.
Documents to keep
- Claim number and adjuster contact details.
- Any signed scope or authorization for the contents work.
- The pack-out inventory and photos.
- Estimates and invoices.
- Storage details and the pack-back date.
Pack-out glossary
Pack-out: packing, documenting and removing belongings from a damaged home so repairs can happen.
Pack-back: returning the belongings and setting the rooms up again after repairs.
Contents: your personal belongings, as opposed to the structure of the house.
Adjuster: the person who evaluates the claim for the insurance company.
Mitigation: the first work to stop further damage, such as removing water and drying the home.
Restoration: cleaning and repairing the home after mitigation.
Non-salvageable: items that can't be cleaned or repaired, as decided during the claim.
Insurance pack-out questions
Does homeowners insurance cover a pack-out?
Often, as part of the contents (personal property) portion of a claim, subject to your policy's terms, limits and deductible. Your insurance company makes the decision, so confirm with your adjuster before work starts.
Do I need my adjuster's approval before a pack-out?
It is a good idea. Ask your adjuster how they want the contents work handled and documented before the pack-out begins.
What should a pack-out inventory include?
Photos of each room and the packed boxes, with boxes labeled by room, shared with you and your adjuster. Giga Moving shares its photo inventory digitally.
What happens to items that can't be saved?
Your restoration company and adjuster decide what can be saved. Keep the inventory and any notes they give you for your claim.
Is storage during repairs covered?
It depends on your policy. Ask your adjuster whether storage is part of your contents claim and for how long.
Does Giga Moving work with insurance adjusters?
Yes. We share our photo inventory with your adjuster and coordinate with your restoration company. Coverage decisions belong to your insurance company.
How does Giga bill for a pack-out?
For homeowners, we explain pricing in your estimate before any work starts. For restoration partners, we usually bill the restoration company directly at agreed rates.
What's the difference between a pack-out and a pack-back?
A pack-out removes belongings from the damaged home. A pack-back returns them and sets the rooms up again once repairs are done.
More pack-out answers on our packout services page and our FAQ page.
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