How to Document Property Damage for an Insurance Claim

When disaster strikes your Northern Arizona home, paperwork is the last thing on your mind. However, how well you document your damage in those first critical hours can make or break your insurance claim.



Poor documentation leads to delays and underpayment. Good documentation means a faster payout and a better chance of getting what you’re owed.

Start Documenting Before You Clean Anything

Before you move anything, throw anything away, or start cleanup, document everything exactly as it is. Insurance adjusters need to see the full picture, and once you start cleaning, that evidence is gone.



The only exception is emergency protective measures like tarping a roof or shutting off water. Just document before and after.

Use Your Phone Thoroughly

Walk through every affected area and shoot photos and videos of everything. Get wide shots of entire rooms, mid-range shots of specific damage, and close-ups of individual items. Don’t skip anything that seems minor.



Also capture structural damage to ceilings, walls, and floors, damaged appliances, electronics, furniture, and any visible mold, soot, or water staining.

Make a Written Inventory

Create a written list of every damaged item. Note what it is, when you bought it, and an estimated replacement value. Because insurance companies pay based on what you can prove, the more detail the better.

Read Your Policy Before the Adjuster Arrives

Know your deductible and whether you have actual cash value or replacement cost coverage. Also look for any exclusions that apply to your situation.

Call a Restoration Company First

A professional restoration company can provide an independent assessment before an insurance adjuster puts their number on it. At RestorePro, we work with insurance companies every day and advocate for our clients throughout the entire process.

Keep a Paper Trail

Save every email and text related to your claim. Write down a summary of every phone call. Also keep receipts for emergency expenses like hotel stays and temporary repairs. Many policies include additional living expense coverage that homeowners never use simply because they didn’t know to ask.

RestorePro Is With You Every Step of the Way

RestorePro has helped homeowners and businesses across Payson, Show Low, Snowflake, and Winslow get through the claims process with less stress and better results.



Call us anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.