How It Works
How Contents Restoration Works, From First Call to Pack-Back
What happens to your belongings after a fire, flood or other loss, step by step, and how we keep you and your insurer informed along the way.
Contents restoration means saving your belongings instead of replacing them: cleaning, deodorizing and restoring what can be saved, and documenting what cannot.
Calgary Contents handles everything inside the building. We pack out, clean, restore, store and return your belongings, using our own people, equipment and trucks. A restoration contractor repairs the structure at the same time, and your insurance adjuster gets a clear record of every item.
Every loss is different, but the process below stays the same, whether it is one room after a kitchen fire or a whole house after a flood.
At every stage you get:
One point of contact for your belongings
A photo inventory of every item
Updates for you and your adjuster
Secure, climate-controlled storage
Your belongings returned when your home is ready
Our Process, Step by Step
- Emergency call. Call (403) 407-0208 any time. We ask what happened, who your insurer and adjuster are, and what needs protecting first.
- Assessment. We walk through the property, identify what can be saved and agree on the scope.
- Pack-out and photo inventory. Items are photographed, labelled and packed room by room through our contents pack-out and photo inventory services.
- Restorable or non-restorable. Each item is assessed, and items that cannot be restored are documented for your claim.
- Cleaning and restoration. Each item gets the method that suits it: ultrasonic cleaning, electronics restoration, textile cleaning, document drying and more.
- Odour removal. Smoke and other odours are treated with hydroxyl, ozone or fogging.
- Storage. Restored items wait in climate-controlled storage while your home is repaired.
- Pack-back. When repairs are done, we deliver, unpack and place everything back where it belongs.
How Long Does It Take?
Most contents jobs follow the timeline of the building repairs. Pack-out takes from a day to a few days depending on the size of the home. Cleaning and restoration happen while your contractor works, and pack-back is scheduled once the home is ready. On a typical residential loss the whole process takes four to ten weeks, much of it overlapping with repairs.
Our contents restoration timeline breaks down each stage.
What affects the timeline:
The size of the home and number of items
The type of damage: smoke, water or mould
Items that need specialist methods
The pace of structural repairs
Insurance approvals
Who Pays for Contents Restoration?
When the loss is covered by your home or business insurance, pack-out, cleaning, storage and pack-back are usually part of the contents portion of the claim. We work directly with your adjuster and provide the inventory and documentation the insurer needs.
Our guide on whether insurance covers pack-out, contents cleaning and storage in Alberta explains what to ask your insurer.
Have these ready when you call:
Your insurer and policy number
Your claim number, if you have one
Your adjuster's name and contact details
Photos of the damage, if it is safe to take them
FAQ – How Contents Restoration Works
What is a contents pack-out?
Removing your belongings from a damaged home so they can be cleaned, restored and stored safely, and so repairs can start. See our complete guide to pack-outs.
Can I keep some things at home?
Yes. Essentials such as medication, documents and valuables you need right away can stay with you. Everything else is inventoried before it leaves.
What happens to items that can't be restored?
They are photographed and listed separately so they can be valued on your claim. See non-restorable items explained.
Do you repair the house as well?
No. We handle the contents, and a restoration contractor repairs the structure. See contents vs. structural restoration.
Is the service available 24/7?
Yes. Call (403) 407-0208 any time.
Learn More About Each Step
Detailed guides to the stages of a contents job.
Talk to a Contents Specialist
Tell us what happened and what was damaged. We will explain what can be saved and what happens next. Call 403-407-0208, 24/7.