Establishing what your items were worth
Proving value is about showing what you owned, its condition, and what it was worth — so the more documentation you have, the stronger your claim.
Start with an itemized list of everything damaged, including a description, approximate age, original cost, and estimated value of each item. Add photos or video showing the items and their damage. Any proof of purchase helps enormously: receipts, bank or credit card statements, order confirmations, or even photos from before the damage that show the items in your home.
For higher-value items like electronics or furniture, model numbers and any records make it easier to establish value. If you had a home inventory or renters insurance documentation, that can support your claim too.
Where items must be discarded for safety — like sewage-soaked or heavily infested belongings — photograph them thoroughly first, since the photos become your evidence.
Organized proof of value is what turns a general claim into a specific, credible one. If you want help understanding how to document and value your damaged property, a free, confidential review can walk you through what will strengthen your claim.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.