After a loss, most insurance companies will give you a check that covers the Actual Cash Value (aka: depreciated value) of your personal property (couches, TV, clothes, etc...) In order to get the full replacement cost you have to re-buy the stuff. However, many companies want to have some idea of what was in your home before you replace an Ikea couch with something from Ethan Allen.
It's a good idea to take pictures of your home. Get a snapshot or two of each room and then put the images somewhere safe OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME. It's a whole lot easier to prove what you had (and what you didn't, i.e. original Picasso) and it should only take you a matter of minutes.
Contact us for more good ideas that aren't that exciting, but really do make sense.