A water damage claim is only as strong as the records behind it. This checklist covers what to capture, what to keep and what to ask before spending money.
Documentation never comes before safety. Do not walk into standing water to take a photo if electricity may be involved. Our basement flood guide covers the safety checks. Once it is safe, record the scene before cleanup changes it.
Know which policy you are dealing with. Standard homeowners policies and flood insurance are separate products, and the National Flood Insurance Program guidance notes that coverage limits, deductibles and claim rules come from the policy you hold. Sewer backup and burst pipes may be covered differently again, and rules vary by state and insurer. Read your policy or call your agent.
FEMA flood claim guidance advises documenting damage to the building, inside and out, from several angles and distances if it is safe. Include structural damage and the water line on walls. Photograph damaged contents that need replacing, and record make, model and serial numbers of appliances, electronics and other high-value items.
Add video walk-throughs while narrating what you see, and keep original files with their timestamps. Photograph again as drying and demolition progress, so there is a record of what was wet, what was removed and why. That sequence also helps a contractor justify the work.
Make a list of every damaged item. Federal flood claim guidance suggests recording a description, value, make, model, serial number, quantity, approximate age and replacement cost. Receipts, invoices, bank or credit card statements and prior photos can support those details. Keep samples of flooring, blinds or similar materials if you must dispose of them.
Separate damaged property from undamaged property, and protect what you can from further harm. Insurers generally expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage, but the specifics depend on your policy.
The FEMA checklist says not to discard anything before your adjuster sees it, unless the items pose a health hazard or local law requires disposal. That conflicts with the need to remove wet materials quickly, so call your insurer early, photograph and sample materials, and ask for guidance before demolition.
Contaminated materials and mold are health matters. If the water was sewage, follow the sewage cleanup safety guide and tell the adjuster why items were removed. Written notes on dates and times help.
Before you pay for cleanup or repairs, check with your insurer on which costs and services the policy covers. Then keep records of what you spend, including pump, dehumidifier and air mover rentals. Ask any rental company for written terms so you have documentation to submit. Whether the insurer reimburses a given expense is the insurer's decision under your policy.
Keep a log of calls with the insurer, plumber and contractors, with dates, names and what was said. Save emails and written estimates.
If a restoration contractor handles the job, ask for moisture readings, equipment lists and photos at each visit. If you dry the space yourself, take daily moisture readings and photos, and note when equipment ran. These records show that you dried the structure properly and they matter if mold appears later. See how to dry out a flooded room for the process.
Deadlines exist. The federal flood checklist asks policyholders to send required documentation within 60 days of the flood or within any other timeframe the insurer or adjuster gives. Other policies have their own deadlines, so ask your insurer for the timeline in writing, and keep all claim records after settlement.
An adjuster evaluates the loss on behalf of the insurer, and a contractor estimates repair and drying work. They sometimes disagree about scope. Your records are what let you explain what happened, so give each of them the same photos and timeline and ask them to put their findings in writing.
If you disagree with a decision, ask the insurer for the reason and for the process to dispute it. Rules and consumer protections for claims are set by each state's insurance regulator, so contact yours if you need help. We do not give legal or insurance advice, and nothing here replaces your policy.
Use this short list as a starting point and adapt it to your policy.
If you must leave the home during repairs, ask your insurer whether temporary living expenses are covered and what receipts they need. Policies differ widely on this, and the answer is only in your own policy and with your insurer. Store copies of everything in more than one place, such as a cloud folder and an external drive, because phones get wet too. Back up photos the same day you take them. A clean, dated folder with photos, the inventory, receipts and a call log makes the adjuster's job easier and makes it harder for details to be lost, forgotten or disputed later. Label files with the room and date, and keep a short running summary of what was done each day, since memory fades quickly during a stressful repair.
The damaged structure, the water line, damaged contents and serial numbers of appliances and electronics, from several angles, before and during cleanup.
FEMA guidance says not to unless they are a health hazard or local law requires it. Photograph and keep samples, and ask your insurer first.
That depends on your policy and insurer. Ask before you rent and keep every receipt.
Flood coverage is generally a separate policy. Check what you hold and ask your agent about sewer backup and burst pipes, since rules vary.
Tell us what is wet and what you need, and we will reply with availability and terms.