Smart prioritization to get the most value quickly
Not all items have equal importance for recovery, insurance, or daily use. Prioritize by value, risk, and ease of documentation to maximize benefit from your effort.
Priority tiers to consider:
- High priority: electronics, jewelry, collectibles, and documents — items with high replacement cost or identity importance
- Medium priority: furniture, appliances, and seasonal gear — moderate value and often bulky
- Low priority: everyday consumables, inexpensive household items, and mass clothing
Practical approach:
- Start with valuables that would be hardest or most costly to replace.
- Next, document items that are easy wins (single shelves, small collections).
- Leave low-value or replaceable items until later or record them in batches.
Other things to prioritize:
- Items stored offsite (storage units), in vehicles, or loaned out
- Gifts or recent major purchases that affect insurance limits
- Anything with serial numbers or warranties
Work in short sessions and track progress visually (checklists or room-by-room completion). This ensures you get the maximum protection and utility from early efforts while avoiding overwhelm.