Welcome back to week two of our Technical Tip series on contents and packouts. We’re joined by David Gavilanes of Blue Kangaroo Packoutz. 

In week one’s episode, we covered the fundamentals of the materials and supplies you should have on hand as well as labeling once you’ve packed out the contents. This week we’re focusing on how your teams should prioritize contents during the site assessment to help prevent delays, minimize secondary damage, and avoid costly mistakes. 

The first step to any assessment starts with making clear distinctions between what is salvageable and what is considered to be a total loss. Starting with clarity upfront allows your team to create an efficient plan, whether it’s an immediate packout and restoration or disposing of the total loss contents. 

Next, you prioritize understanding the loss itself. Where in the structure did the loss occur? An example that David gave is, if a fire starts in the kitchen, that space is known as the “event” zone, which often has greater loss because they are closest to the source. As you move outward, the likelihood is that items are more salvageable. Having this zone-based mentality helps your team quickly evaluate where their efforts should be focused. 

Assessment is only part of the process. David shares something that is critical: the homeowner’s immediate needs are the priority. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach, because after the initial inspection and evaluation, you shift depending on the type of loss, severity, and the situation surrounding the customer. 

Success in contents and packouts isn’t about rushing through the process; it’s about slowing down at the start, properly assessing, and building a structured plan. That’s how you prevent mistakes, reduce costly delays, and have better project outcomes. 

Next week, we’re tackling the dos and don’ts of contents and packouts.

See you then!