Home Insurance Claims

Our hearts go out to anyone who finds themselves in the position to file a catastrophic home insurance claim. The recent devastating fires in Spokane, Washington brought that concern much closer to home. While we hope no one has to go through that process for any reason, we also know that if it does happen. Having the documents and information prepared and readily available is so important. Listed below is a checklist of documentation potentially needed. These items are important to clearly  show what happened, what was damaged, what it may cost to repair or replace, and any related expenses.

Claim and Policy Information

• Your homeowners insurance policy number
• Claim number, if already assigned
• Date, time, and location of the loss
• Brief written description of what happened
• Contact information for your insurance company, agent, or adjuster

Proof of Damage

• Photos and videos of all damaged areas and items
• Before-and-after photos, if available.
  • Don’t have these? Your realtor should!
• Notes describing the damage in each room or area
  • Again, check with your realtor, documents including property condition disclosures may provide good information on the home prior to the damage.
  • If you had an inspection done prior to purchasing, this may also serve as a good overview of the home and property prior to the damage.
• Weather reports, fire reports, or other evidence related to the cause of loss

Repair and Replacement Records

• Contractor estimates or repair bids
• Invoices and receipts for completed repairs
• Receipts for damaged personal property, appliances, furniture, or electronics
• Product manuals, serial numbers, model numbers, or warranty information
• Inventory list of damaged or destroyed belongings

Emergency and Temporary Expense Records

• Receipts for emergency repairs, tarping, board-up services, water removal, or cleanup
• Hotel, rental, or temporary housing receipts
• Meal, laundry, transportation, or pet boarding receipts, if covered by the policy
• Documentation of any other additional living expenses

Official Reports and Communications

• Police report, fire department report, or incident report, if applicable
• Inspection reports from contractors, plumbers, electricians, roofers, or mitigation companies
• Copies of emails, letters, or messages exchanged with the insurer or adjuster
• Notes from phone calls, including dates, names, and summaries of conversations

Reach out to your agent to help get pre-damage information such as photos, a comparitive market analysis, your inspection report, sellers disclosures from your purchase or more for your files just in case!