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Recoverable depreciation explained: how to get the rest of your contents claim paid

If your homeowners or renters policy pays replacement cost for personal property, your first check is usually smaller than the total value of your list. The difference is recoverable depreciation, money the insurer holds back until you actually replace the items.

How it works

Across a full household, the withheld depreciation commonly runs into the tens of thousands of dollars.

How to collect it

1. Check your policy's deadline for replacing items. It's often 180 days to 2 years, and extensions are frequently granted on request.
2. Replace items, keep receipts, and match each receipt to a line on your inventory.
3. Send the receipts in batches with a summary of what was replaced and the cost.
4. You can generally collect up to the lesser of the original RCV or what you actually spent.

Common pitfalls

• Missing the replacement deadline.
• Not tracking which receipts match which items.
• Buying a cheaper replacement and only being reimbursed what you spent.

LossList tracks replaced items and actual costs alongside your original inventory, so you know exactly how much depreciation is still recoverable.