Many homeowners go their entire lives without making a property damage insurance claim. When you need to file a claim, however, it’s crucial that you know how the claims process works.

Here we’re explaining what you need to know about filing an insurance claim for property damage, maximizing your payout, fulfilling your policyholder responsibilities, and ensuring everything gets covered by your insurer.

How to File a Home Insurance Claim

There are all types of home insurance claims — from burst pipes to liability claims. Generally, however, an average home insurance claim for property damage will proceed like this:

Step 1) Report Any Crime to the Police

If a crime has been committed, then you need to call the police. Someone might have deliberately set fire to your home, for example, or burglarized your property. For insurance claims involving criminal activity, your insurer will require a police report. Your insurer may treat your claim with suspicion if you don’t file a police report.

Step 2) Contact your Insurer and Start the Claim

Once you have secured your property, you need to contact your insurance company and begin the claims process. Generally, it’s best to begin filing an insurance claim as soon as it’s safe to do so. The sooner you start the claim, the sooner the insurance company can dispatch a 24/7 emergency restoration crew or take other action.

Your insurance company will give your claim a number, then move the process forward. To make a claim, you’ll need to provide the following information:

Name

Policy Number

Address

Type of Claim (Storm, Flood, Fire, Tornado, etc.)

Description of Damage to Home and Personal Property

Step 3) Complete Any Claims Forms

Your insurance company will require you to complete all necessary claims forms within a certain period of time. Return the completed forms as soon as possible to avoid any delays. Your insurance company might also send some initial emergency funds to you for emergency restoration work or accommodations.

Step 4) Wait for the Adjuster to Inspect the Damages

Your insurance company will send its own adjuster to your property to inspect the damage. The insurance company’s adjuster is a salaried employee of your insurance company. They will analyze the damage, ensure the damage is covered by your policy, then determine the next steps to take. Be prepared to show the insurance adjuster any property damage they might otherwise miss. You might have had a garage fire, for example, but soot damage affected your upstairs bedrooms.

Step 5) Consider Hiring a Professional to Help with the Claims Process

At this point, some homeowners will choose to hire a professional to expedite the claims process and maximize payout. A public adjuster, for example, is a licensed insurance industry professional specializing in managing a home insurance claim from start to finish. With the help of a skilled public adjuster, you can double or even triple your insurance payout. The public adjuster also negotiates with your insurance company on your behalf and handles all other aspects of the insurance claim, taking an enormous load off your shoulders.

Step 6) Photograph or Video the Damages

Photograph or video all damage to your property and your possessions. The more documented evidence you have, the easier the claim will be. It’s better to have all of this evidence and not need it than to need it and not have it. Before repairs start, be sure to collect visual evidence of any damage to your home.

Step 7) Make Temporary Repairs

Take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage. If a tree has fallen and blown a hole through your roof, for example, then you may want to place a tarp over the hole. If there’s a leak, place a bucket underneath it. Never perform repairs unless you feel comfortable, and never put your safety at risk. If needed, your insurance company will send a professional restoration company to your location to secure the scene.

Step 8) Prepare a List of Lost or Damaged Items

Your home insurance covers the cost of repairing your property, but it also covers your damaged possessions. Prepare an inventory of your damaged items and their approximate value. Ideally, you’ll have receipts for all high-value items in your home. Better yet, you’ll have a home inventory you can hand to your insurance company. The more accurate and detailed the inventory is, the easier it will be to make a claim.

Step 9) If Forced to Move, Keep All Receipts

Your home may be extensively damaged and you may need to move out while repairs are completed. If you must move, then home insurance will cover your expenses. Keep all receipts for hotels, restaurants, meals, groceries, transport, rental cars, personal hygiene items, and other daily living costs. Your home insurance policy covers all of these items up to a certain daily limit, and you should have no trouble being reimbursed. Once you are able to move back into your property, your insurer will send you a check for additional living expenses (ALE).

Step 10) Use your Insurer’s Recommended Contractor or Get a Second Opinion

At this point, you can choose to work with your insurer’s recommended contractor. Or, you can get a second opinion. Some homeowners turn to a trusted local contractor for an accurate estimate, for example.

There’s nothing wrong with choosing your insurer’s recommended contractor. The contractors who work with insurance companies are generally some of the best in the area.

However, you are not required to use your insurer’s recommended contractor. Your insurance company has set aside a certain amount of money for repairs, and you can spend that money through your insurer’s recommended contractor or through a contractor of your choice.

Consider requesting estimates from a few local contractors. If contractors are consistently giving you a quote that is significantly higher than the payout offered by the insurance company, then you may want to negotiate a higher settlement with your insurer (or hire a public adjuster as an expert negotiator).

Step 11) Track the Claim and Repair Process

As best as possible, track the claim and repair process as it moves forward. Ask your insurance company or contractor questions about the repair process if you’re unsure how it works. By taking an active role in the claim and repair process, you can avoid any future surprises.

Tips for Filing a Home Insurance Claim for Property Damage

Filing a home insurance claim can be tricky. Even minor damages can lead to a complicated claims process. Here are some tips to make the process go smoothly:

Take As Many Photos and Videos of the Damage as Possible: The more photos you have of the damage, the more evidence you can send to your insurance company.

Document All Receipts for Additional Living Expenses (ALE): Home insurance covers additional living expenses (ALE) if your home is unlivable. Keep all receipts for hotels, food personal hygiene items, transport, and all other costs you spend on daily living expenses. You should receive compensation for all of these items.

Prepare for a Lengthy Process: If your home is a total loss, then it can take as long as 18 to 24 months to fully repair or replace your home and all its possessions.

You May Need to Pay to Clear Debris from your Property: Many homeowners are surprised to discover that they need to pay to clear debris from their property after a significant loss. If half your home burns down, then insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing your home, but it does not cover the cost of removing fire-damaged debris from your property. After a natural disaster, a local government organization may be coordinating debris removal. Or, you may need to hire a private company to clear your lot.

Read your Insurance Policy: Your insurance policy needs to be written in simple English. It must explain your policy terms in language that any average person can understand. Take a few minutes to read through your homeowners insurance policy. Check the declarations page for your dwelling coverage (Coverage A), other structures coverage (Coverage B), personal property coverage (Coverage C), and loss of use and additional living expenses coverage (Coverage D). Your policy may also list other categories like liability and medical payments coverage.

Prepare for Depreciation: Depreciation will significantly lower the value of your insurance claim. Prepare for it. Making depreciation more complicated is that it’s subjective — it’s not an exact science. An insurance company isn’t going to analyze the quality of every item in your home to determine its actual usability and value. Plus, some items in your home are subject to depreciation but others are not. Paint, vinyl, and roofing are affected by depreciation, for example, because they’re exposed to the elements. Studs, cement, rebar, and framing are not affected by depreciation.

Don’t Let Insurance Companies Rush You: Insurance companies may rush you after a traumatic loss. They might demand an inventory of your home’s contents as soon as possible, for example. They might encourage you to quickly accept the first settlement offer. Don’t let your insurer rush you. Take your time. Consult with a public adjuster, attorney, or your state’s Department of Insurance if you need professional assistance.

Hire a Public Adjuster for Help with your Property Damage Claim

Most homeowners aren’t home insurance experts. Many homeowners go their entire lives without making a major claim.

If you feel overwhelmed, want some help with the claim process, or simply want to maximize your payout, then you may want to hire a public adjuster.

A public adjuster is a licensed insurance industry professional dedicated to maximizing your payout and ensuring a smooth claim process. In exchange for a small fee of the final settlement (typically 8% to 15%), the public adjuster manages all aspects of your claim from start to finish and negotiates the best possible settlement. You don’t pay a dime until you accept the final settlement.