How to document water or fire damage for an insurance claim

Start with photos and video

Before anything is moved or thrown out, walk through the house with your phone. Take wide shots of each room, then close-ups of the damage: water lines on walls, stains on ceilings, soot on surfaces, damaged floors and belongings. A slow video narrating what you see is quick and hard to argue with.

Include rooms that only got smoke or a little water. Those are the ones that get missed later.

Keep what failed, and what you remove

Physical evidence answers questions that photos cannot:

• The burst pipe section, failed hose or fitting
• Samples of damaged carpet, pad or flooring
• Damaged items you plan to throw away, until they are photographed and listed
• Model and serial numbers of damaged appliances and electronics

Write down the timeline

Note when you found the damage, when it likely started, what you did to stop it and who you called. If a plumber or the fire department came, write down their names and keep their paperwork.

Most policies require you to report a loss promptly and to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. A simple dated list shows you did both.

What your restoration company should give you

A good restoration file includes moisture readings for each affected area and the dry standard they were dried to, photos before, during and after the work, a written scope of what was removed and why, and an inventory of any contents packed out or discarded.

Adjusters often rely on that file to approve the scope. We provide it on every job, but coverage decisions are the insurer's.

Keep every receipt

Save receipts for anything you spend because of the loss: hotel stays, meals, fans or buckets, storage, laundry and emergency repairs. Many homeowners policies reimburse additional living expenses after a covered loss, but only with proof.

Keep everything in one folder, paper or digital, along with your claim number and the adjuster's contact information. The water damage restoration and fire damage restoration pages explain what the work itself involves.