Normally these companies charge a percentage of the total amount of the scope of repairs, but I have heard of them charging by the scope in some cases.
Logging destroyed items without a good system in place can definitely create a huge mess in a hurry. This is the part of the job that not only affects the homeowner the most financially, but emotionally as well.
You need to remember that the items that end up going on the “destroyed list” and put into a contractor bag bound for the dump are more than just “things.”
The first thing you need to do is have all of your paperwork, especially the work/payment authorization, signed by the building owner as they are the insured.