Troy Tiger Explains: Pack Out

Pack out is what happens when Mother Nature decides to remodel your home with fire, floods, or a mold infestation. When damage moves into your home or office building, it's time to move your belongings out!

Pack Out Purpose

Why go through the hassle of moving your belongings?

• Protect Your Stuff – Your couch might have survived the flood, but it won’t survive the mildew army moving in.
• Prevent Further Damage – Waterlogged furniture left too long turns into a petri dish of nightmares.
• Make Restoration Easier – It’s hard to fix a house when there’s a half-burnt dining table in the way.

So, basically, get your good stuff out and safe now, so you’re not dealing with extra damaged stuff later.

How Pack Out Works

• First, you pick a restoration company to be your personal belongings superhero. Example: Voda Cleaning & Restoration.
• They assess the damage and start removing the salvageable items.
• These items get cleaned, restored, and stored in a safe location until your house or office stops looking like a war zone.
• Eventually, your belongings make their triumphant return—hopefully in better shape than before.

Does Property Insurance Cover Pack Out Costs?

Good news! Pack out is usually covered under the "Personal Property Coverage" (Coverage C) of your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy. Bad news? Insurance companies love paperwork more than a paper mill. So expect some back-and-forth nonsense. Oi! Good thing you have a Public Adjuster to help you through the claims process! 

Breakdown of Coverage:

1. Personal Property Coverage (Coverage C)
   • Covers the cost of packing out, storing, and restoring your damaged personal belongings after a covered disaster (fire, flood, mold, etc.).
   • If your stuff gets packed out, cleaned, and stored while repairs are being made to your home, insurance often foots the bill.
2. Additional Living Expenses (ALE) / Loss of Use (Coverage D)
   • If your home is unlivable after a disaster, this covers things like hotel stays, meals, and sometimes the storage of your items during repairs.
   • This might kick in if personal property coverage has limits on storage expenses.
3. Debris Removal Clause (Part of Coverage A or Coverage B)
   • Not directly related to pack out, but if your stuff is unsalvageable, insurance may cover the cost of disposing of it.
   • If it’s a total loss situation (like your house burned down), they’re more likely to cut you a check for replacements instead of paying for storage.

Does Insurance Cover Everything?

• Depends on the Cause of Damage – If it’s fire, water damage (from burst pipes), smoke, or mold (depending on your policy), you’re likely covered.
• Floods & Earthquakes? – Nope, unless you have a separate flood or earthquake policy. Standard insurance hates those.
• Mold? – Maybe. If it’s from a sudden leak, you might be covered. If it’s from “years of neglect,” insurance will hit you with a big fat NOPE.
• Luxury or High-Value Items? – If you’re packing out rare art, collectibles, or a golden toilet, check if you need extra scheduled personal property coverage.

Final Thought:

If your insurance covers the disaster, it probably covers the pack out—but don’t assume. Call your Public Adjuster and they will handle listening to your insurance carrier hold music, and make sure you know what’s actually covered.