Welcome to a special episode of Ask The Expert. This week, we're joined by Kevin and Annissa Coy to discuss contents restoration, how fire and wildfire losses continue to evolve, and the importance of working with third-party professionals throughout the entire process.

The goal of this episode is simple. Fire losses are changing, and so are the challenges you face as a restorer.

Today's structures contain a variety of synthetic materials, plastics, coatings, furnishings, and other materials. When wildfires move into developed communities and become conflagrations, these materials can introduce additional contamination concerns that require a closer look.

We're discussing what it takes to restore both the structure and its contents, why testing matters, how to determine what you can restore, and what you need to consider before returning a property and its belongings to the homeowner.

Key topics of discussion include:

• When wildfires enter communities, the materials fueling the fire change. This introduces different contaminants and creates additional challenges.
• Even if a structure doesn't catch fire, smoke and particulates can still affect it. Wind, smoke migration, and HVAC systems can carry contaminants into the home.
• Kevin and Annissa share why testing before and after restoration can help you better understand contamination levels and evaluate your work.
• No two fire losses are the same. This means you must understand what materials burned, what contaminants may be present, and how those conditions influence your testing and restoration approach.
• Knowing when to bring in an industrial hygienist (IH) or certified industrial hygienist (CIH) is an important part of the process. These professionals can help evaluate environmental concerns, establish protocols, and provide independent assessments to support your decisions.
• Contents restoration is just as important as restoring the home. Beyond their monetary value, contents often carry emotional and sentimental value for the homeowner. Kevin and Annissa share why you must evaluate contents individually.
• When you're determining whether an item can be restored or should be considered a total loss, there are five factors to consider: sentimental value, restorability, monetary value, adjuster determination, and homeowner preference.
• Structure and contents restoration go hand in hand, but they require separate considerations when it comes to cleaning, documentation, and invoicing.
• Setting clear expectations, documenting initial conditions, and determining what verification may be necessary once the work is complete are crucial in fire and contents restoration.
• The job goes far beyond cleaning and decontamination. You're helping people recover from what may be one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. Understanding the emotional side of a loss is just as important as understanding the technical work.