The insurance industry provides a valid service, and the devil is in the details when it comes to making sure your contract terms are in order. They are not there to hold your hand when it comes to tracking your possessions, and it’s your job to make that relationship smoother by having a reliable, detailed inventory at your disposal.

You pay a fee for your policy, that in theory; has the correct contract terms within it to repair or replace your existing items and/or structure. When a claim arises, the insurance company sends a representative to get an account of the losses and summarizes the costs necessary to replace or repair. To make their business model successful, it is not usual for them to pick the highest bids, and they go out to the preferred industry tradesmen to get pricing. If the insurance company was paying the highest dollar per square foot cost for your repairs, they wouldn’t be in business long.

It benefits you to clarify exactly what you expect during the rebuilding process, so there is no ill will between you or your provider. Having a proper video inventory of your goods will help you in this respect.