Logging destroyed items without a good system in place can definitely create a huge mess in a hurry. This is the part of the job that not only affects the homeowner the most financially, but emotionally as well.

And for the adjuster, this is the part that can make them wish that they were in any other industry besides property loss. The logged destroyed list has to be thorough, detailed and very organized or it will quickly turn into everyone’s worst nightmare.

This is the part of the job where you especially need well skilled and trained staff handling the process. Here are some key steps to make sure your item logging goes smoothly for everyone.

1. Use a hands-free audio recorder to document the destroyed items by the room. As in anything with contents restoration, we always log destroyed by the room. Using a hands-free recording to document your logging is not only efficient but it allows the person logging to give as much detail as they want to the person who is transcribing.
2. Always do a detailed room photo inventory before you touch or move anything. A photo inventory of each room as the items sit in relation to the room will help keep misunderstanding at bay when dealing with a missing item. It also gives the person transcribing your recording something to look at if they need more detail for a description.
3. Whomever starts the log destroyed on any given job finishes it. Never switch out the position of logging destroyed on a job. Whoever starts it finishes it. What is a basket to one person may be a decor to another. You want your logging to be constant throughout the job.
4. Get the destroyed list to the adjuster and homeowner as soon as possible. The longer you take to get the list into the homeowner’s hands, the more they will get stressed out about the situation and the more critical they become. Getting it to them right away so they can deal with it and get it out off of their plate will not only give them something productive to be doing, but it will get the worst part of this experience out of the way as quickly as possible for them.
5. Do not get in the middle of determining values or pricing. Insurance companies have systems in place to help determine pricing when it comes to the value of destroyed items. Let them handle this with the homeowners. Often times, if a homeowner is going to get upset or disagree with their insurance company, it is over pricing. If you aren’t experienced or have the right training when it comes to pricing, you can become the bad guy really quickly.

If you have the right system in place in your contents cleaning company not only will your log destroyed be a breeze, but you will once again have a grateful homeowner - and an adjuster that things you are a rock star!