Insurance Companies Demand the List–Even When You’ve Lost Everything

There’s an argument raging in California.

In the wake of the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles last year, a fierce debate has emerged: Should survivors have to itemize every single lost belonging — drawer by drawer, room by room — in order to receive the full payout from their insurance company?

California’s insurance commissioner says no. Survivors say no. Many insurance companies? Still saying yes.

The nation’s largest insurers, including State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and Travelers, have refused to waive the detailed contents inventory requirement. They’re standing firm in demanding what survivors call “The List” — a painstaking log of every lost item and its value — before releasing full contents coverage.

This might sound like a California issue. But if you’re a property owner in Ohio or surrounding states, pay attention. Because that same burden still falls squarely on you.

The Burden Doesn’t End With the Fire

After a fire, flood, or other disaster, your insurer likely requires you to produce a complete inventory of your damaged or destroyed belongings in order to get the payout you’re entitled to. That means remembering and documenting hundreds — sometimes thousands — of items, often with little more than memory to rely on.

Rebuilding a contents inventory after a fire or disaster is an overwhelming task:

Most people don’t have photos, receipts, or detailed records of every item they owned — yet that’s exactly what insurance companies demand.
You’re expected to remember everything from electronics to silverware, price each item accurately, and then defend that valuation under scrutiny.
Building the list is time-consuming, emotionally draining, and often retraumatizing — especially when you’re already dealing with loss, displacement, and disruption to your daily life.

The result? Many people walk away with less than they deserve.
Not because they didn’t have the coverage — but because the process to prove their losses was simply too much.

Where a Public Adjuster Steps In

That’s why working with a licensed public insurance adjuster can make all the difference.

At Cleveland Public Adjusters, we take the contents inventory off your plate:

We document every item.
We apply accurate, research-based valuations.
We negotiate with your insurer to make sure your claim reflects what you actually lost — not what’s easiest to approve.

You’ve already lost enough. You shouldn’t have to fight to prove it.

Don’t Leave Money on the Table

If you have experienced a property disaster, let Cleveland Public Adjusters step in. We’ll take care of the entire claim, including the contents inventory, and make sure you’re made whole.