Dallas–Fort Worth — Before You Throw Anything Out
Before You Toss It, Document It.
Some items can't be saved after fire, smoke, or water damage — but if they get thrown out before being documented, they don't get reimbursed either. Photo first, every time. We'll do it for you today.
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If You're Looking at Damaged Items Wondering What's Trash
If you're on this page right now, you're probably:
- holding items that smell like smoke and wondering if they're salvageable
- looking at food, cosmetics, or liquids you assumed had to go
- staring at a soaked couch that already feels like a write-off
- being told by someone to "just throw it out" before any docs are done
- trying to decide what's worth saving and what isn't
- worried about losing reimbursement on items you can't keep
Items thrown out before documentation can't be claimed — and most homeowners lose hundreds to thousands in reimbursement to that single mistake.
You don't need to guess what's salvageable.
You need a contents crew on site today — identifying, photo-documenting, and inventorying every non-salvageable item before it leaves the property.
Quick Answer
If you're trying to figure out what's non-salvageable:
- Don't throw anything out — even obviously ruined items.
- Photo each item where it sits, in context, before moving it.
- Inventory non-salvageable items by category (food, soft goods, electronics, etc.).
- Get the documentation into the carrier as part of the contents scope.
- Dispose of items only after they've been documented and approved.
Non-salvageable doesn't mean non-claimable. Items that can't be saved still need to be on the inventory — that's the only way they get reimbursed.
What Items Are Commonly Non-Salvageable
These categories almost always come back as non-salvageable after fire, smoke, or water — and almost always need documentation before they're tossed:
- 01Food and pantry items (refrigerated, frozen, dry, opened)
- 02Liquids — cosmetics, toiletries, cleaning supplies, bottled goods
- 03Porous materials exposed to smoke (mattresses, upholstery, paper)
- 04Items with prolonged moisture or visible mold growth
- 05Soft goods that can't be effectively cleaned (some textiles)
- 06We document each one before anything leaves the property← This is us
Non-salvageable + documented = claimable. Non-salvageable + tossed = lost.
Who This Page Is For
Homeowners Trying to Decide What Stays
You're not supposed to be the one figuring out what's salvageable. We do this every day across DFW.
- Photo inventory of every non-salvageable item
- Category-tagged for the carrier
- Disposal handled after documentation, not before
Don't toss it yet. We'll be there today to document it the right way.
Adjusters Reviewing Contents Scope
Non-salvageable line items live or die on documentation. We give you photo-tagged, categorized inventory ready to drop into Xactimate.
- Per-item photos with context shots
- Categorized by salvageable / non-salvageable status
- Documentation packet inside 24 hours
Send the loss. We document the non-salvageable side cleanly.
What's Going On With the Loss?
If you haven't started yet and want to avoid mistakes, see the most common homeowner mistakes →
If this was a fire or smoke loss, see how fire & smoke contents cleaning works →
If this was water damage, see what to do after water damage →
If you want to understand how the claim process runs, see how the packout & claim process works →
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "non-salvageable" actually mean?
An item can't be safely or effectively restored to pre-loss condition and should be replaced. It still needs to be documented to be claimable.
Can I throw items away?
Not before they're documented. Toss-then-document is the most common reimbursement-killing mistake on contents claims.
What about food and liquids?
Almost always non-salvageable after a loss — but almost always reimbursable when properly documented and inventoried.
How do you document non-salvageable items?
Per-item photos in context, then a categorized inventory delivered with the contents scope to the carrier.
Do you handle disposal?
Yes — after items have been documented and the carrier has the inventory.
Don't toss it yet.
Send the address — we document today.
We respond within minutes.
Need immediate help? Start a packout request