Why Documentation Makes or Breaks Claims
Insurance claims are won and lost on documentation. Adjusters can't pay for damage they can't see evidence of — and they're trained to look for reasons to limit payouts. Homeowners who document thoroughly consistently receive significantly higher settlements than those who don't.
Before the Storm: Pre-Documentation
The most powerful documentation is a before/after comparison. Without pre-storm documentation, insurers can claim any damage is pre-existing. Create this baseline now, before hurricane season:
- Photograph your entire roof from the ground on all four sides
- Take close-up photos of any existing minor damage or wear you're aware of
- Video walk around the exterior of the house
- Photograph your gutters, downspouts, fascia, and soffits
- Store photos in cloud storage (Google Photos, iCloud) — timestamps are automatic and cloud-stored photos survive if your phone is lost in a storm
Immediately After the Storm
Before any cleanup or temporary repairs, document everything in its storm-damaged state. This is your evidence. Don't wait — insurance companies may question why you didn't document promptly.
Safety first
Don't go on the roof yourself. Document from the ground, from windows, and from a ladder if safe to do so.
Wide shots first
Capture the full scope — whole house from all four sides, street view, aerial if you can safely get it.
Close-up details
Missing shingles, lifted shingles, exposed decking, damaged flashing, dented gutters, broken vents, chimney damage, skylight damage.
Interior damage
Any water stains, active leaks, ceiling damage, wet insulation in attic. These are often the most compelling evidence of functional damage.
Collateral damage
Dented AC units, damaged gutters/downspouts, fence damage from the same wind event — all supports the storm cause of loss.
What to Include in Every Photo
- Timestamp — most phones do this automatically; verify it's enabled
- Location context — show where on the roof or home the damage is
- Scale reference — put your hand or a ruler next to small damage for scale
- Multiple angles — don't just take one photo of each damage area; take 3–5
Before Making Temporary Repairs
You're required to mitigate further damage — meaning you should tarp an exposed area to prevent additional water intrusion. But document everything thoroughly before covering it. Save all receipts for temporary repairs; most policies reimburse these costs.
Organizing Your Documentation
- Create a dedicated folder for this claim in your cloud storage
- Keep a written log of: when the storm occurred, when you first noticed damage, every call you make to your insurer (date, time, who you spoke with, what was said)
- Save your weather service confirmation of the storm event — printouts from weather.gov showing storm track, wind speeds in your county
- Keep copies of all correspondence with your insurer — every email, every letter