Documenting Water Damage for an Insurance Claim

Photos and video

Capture wide shots of each room, close-ups of damage, the water source and any water line on walls.

Keep damaged items

Do not throw away damaged items until they are documented and your insurer confirms. Unsafe contaminated items can be photographed and disposed of.

Receipts

Save receipts for emergency repairs, equipment, hotel stays and supplies.

Professional records

Restoration technicians typically keep moisture readings, equipment logs and photos. Ask for copies.

This is not legal or insurance advice

Contact your insurer or agent with policy questions.

Organize evidence by room and date

Use a consistent room name for photos, the item list and contractor records. Note discovery time, any source repair and the sequence of cleanup. Preserve the original images where possible so a later description can be connected with the state of the room at that point.

If an item must be removed for safety or cleanup, ask how it will be recorded before disposal. Keep that record separate from assumptions about whether a policy will cover it; the insurer determines the claim under the policy and circumstances.

Keep mitigation and later repairs distinguishable

Ask for the moisture findings, material-removal record and remaining repair scope as separate documents or clearly labeled sections. This helps explain why an area was opened and what is needed to restore it. Discuss policy questions directly with the insurer or the appropriate adviser.

A documentation checklist that adjusters can use

Keep everything in one folder, with the date of loss and the claim number on every page.

• Wide photos of each room, then close-ups of damage, water lines on walls and the source of the leak.
• A short video walking through the affected area before anything is moved.
• Model and serial numbers of damaged appliances, and the failed part if a supply line or fitting burst. Keep that part.
• Records of emergency services such as a plumber, hotel stay or tarps.
• Our moisture map, daily drying logs and equipment list, which show what was wet and how it was dried.

How our restoration records support your claim

Insurers want evidence that the damage came from a covered event and that the drying was reasonable. Our technicians record initial moisture readings, the materials affected, the equipment placed and daily progress until materials are dry. Photos are taken before and after any removal. You receive these records for your adjuster.

Coverage decisions belong to your insurer. We do not promise that a claim will be paid, but we can make sure the restoration side of the file is complete and clear.