Inventory, packing, cleaning and return
Contents pack-out and cleaning in Atlanta
Your belongings need a plan of their own after a fire or flood. We photograph and list everything, pack out what can be cleaned, handle what cannot, and bring things back once the house is ready.
Updated September 2026
- Phones
- Answered 24/7
- Job type
- Mold, air and contents
- Service office
- Biscayne Dr NW, Atlanta
Short answer
A contents pack-out in Atlanta moves belongings out of a fire- or water-damaged home so the structure can be cleaned and rebuilt, usually in the first days of a job. We photograph and inventory each room, pack what can be saved, clean it, list what cannot be saved for your claim and return everything when the house is ready.
The job
Why belongings leave the house during restoration
Cleaning soot from walls or drying a floor is hard to do around a full room of furniture, and belongings left in place keep absorbing smoke or moisture. Moving them out protects them and lets the structural work move faster.
The inventory is the core of the job. Every item is photographed and logged by room, so you know where it is and your adjuster has what they need. Items that can be cleaned are cleaned; items that cannot are documented before disposal.
Cost
What moves the cost of a pack-out
Volume and cleaning method set the price.
How much is packed
A full house is several times a single room.
Type of damage
Smoke, water and sewage call for different cleaning.
Fragile and high-value items
Art, electronics and antiques need extra care.
Cleaning method
Laundering, dry cleaning and specialty treatment differ in cost.
Time away
A longer rebuild means longer handling.
HomeAdvisor's 2025 fire data lists furniture deodorizing alone at $200 to $1,000. A full pack-out is priced by volume once we walk the house.
Common case
Pack-out inventory
We go room by room, photographing each item or group and logging it with its condition. Boxes are labeled by room and contents so nothing gets lost along the way.
You get a copy of the inventory. Items you need right away, like medications, documents, work equipment or school supplies, are set aside and handed to you first. The same list becomes the backbone of your contents claim, which is often the most tedious part of a fire or flood.
Common case
Soft goods and textiles
Clothing, bedding, curtains and upholstery hold smoke odor and can hold moisture. Many can be saved with laundering, dry cleaning or specialty odor treatment, depending on the fabric and how heavy the smoke was.
Items that soaked up sewage or floodwater are generally not saved. Heavily charred or melted items are documented and discarded with your okay. We tell you what is worth cleaning compared with its replacement value so you can decide. Leather, silk and wool get separate handling, because the wrong cleaning method ruins them.
Common case
Electronics and documents
Electronics and paper need separate handling. Electronics exposed to soot, powder or moisture should not be turned on until they are cleaned and checked, because residue on circuit boards can short them.
Wet documents and photographs can often be frozen to stop further damage and then dried by a specialist. Tell us early which papers matter most, like deeds, tax records or family photos, so they are handled first. Hard drives and phones with data you care about go to a data recovery specialist rather than a cleaning table.
What is included
What a pack-out includes
- Room-by-room photos and an itemized inventory
- Priority items set aside for you right away
- Packing in boxes labeled by room
- Moving belongings to a clean, dry area for cleaning
- Cleaning and odor treatment of salvageable items
- A documented list of items that cannot be saved
- Coordination with your adjuster on the contents claim
- Return and placement when the house is ready
After you call
How a pack-out runs
- 01
Walk through with you
We agree on what matters most and what goes first.
- 02
Photograph and list
Every item is logged by room and condition.
- 03
Pack and move
Salvageable items are packed and moved out.
- 04
Clean and treat
Items are cleaned and deodorized as needed.
- 05
Return
Belongings come back when the house is ready.
In Atlanta
Contents after Atlanta floods
In the September 2009 flood, the Chattahoochee reached a 100-year level at Vinings and Roswell. When floodwater gets into a house, contents are handled differently from items that only got damp: floodwater is black water, so hard goods can often be cleaned and disinfected, while mattresses, upholstery and paper usually cannot. We sort that with you on the first day, before anything is thrown out.
Timeline
How long your belongings are gone
Packing a typical room takes hours, not days. Cleaning depends on the item: hard goods are quick, while textiles and electronics take longer.
Most belongings come back when the house is rebuilt and clean, which after a fire can be weeks or months. Anything you need sooner, we set aside and return early.
FAQ
Questions people ask about contents pack-out and cleaning
No. We pack, label and move it. Just tell us what you need right away.
Out of the damaged area to a clean, dry space for cleaning, then back when the house is ready. We tell you where before we start.
Pack-out and cleaning are commonly part of a covered fire or water claim, and the inventory supports it.
Often, with proper laundering or dry cleaning. Melted or charred items usually cannot.
You do, with your adjuster. We document everything first.
Talk to a person now
Need your belongings out before the work starts?
Call and we'll plan the pack-out with you, starting with what you need first.
Answered 24/7, holidays included.