How to photograph storm or flood damage to your home for an insurance claim
Updated · 4 min read
After a storm or flood, once it is safe, photograph the damage before you clean up, move or throw anything away: first the whole building from each side, then each room, then every damage in close-up, then each damaged belonging. Then tell your insurer promptly and ask what it needs.
This guide is about what to record. It is not legal or insurance advice: what a policy covers, the time limits and the proof an insurer asks for depend on the policy, the insurer and the country, so read your policy and ask your insurer or adjuster.
What comes before the photos?
Safety first. Do not enter a building that looks unsafe, stay away from fallen power lines and water that may touch electrics, and do not go in if you smell gas. If you cannot get close, photograph from a distance and use the zoom.
If something must be done at once to stop more damage, such as covering a broken window or a hole in the roof, do it, photograph the damage first and keep the receipts. Insurers generally expect reasonable steps to limit further loss.
In what order should I photograph the house?
1. The whole building from every side, with the house number, gate or street sign in at least one shot, so it is clear which property it is.
2. Each affected room, from the doorway or a corner, so the room is seen whole.
3. Each damage in close-up: a broken roof tile, a split ceiling, a waterline on a wall, a cracked window. Put a tape measure or a ruler beside it to show size.
4. For flood, the water line on the wall or the furniture, with a tape measure showing the height. If the water is still there, photograph it too.
5. The cause, if you can see it: the fallen tree, the blocked drain, the gap where the water came in.
Take a wide shot and then close-ups of the same spot, so the close-up can be placed. Take more photos than you think you need: you can always send fewer.
How do I record damaged belongings?
- Photograph each damaged item where it is, then again laid out in a clear place, with the brand or model label in view if there is one.
- Write a list as you go: what it is, roughly when you bought it and what it cost. Receipts, bank entries or old photos of the item help.
- Do not throw damaged items away until your insurer or adjuster says you can. If you must discard something for health reasons, such as food or wet bedding, photograph it first and keep a sample or a note of what it was.
A short video that walks through each room while you say what you see can help, but keep the photos as well.
Should I take photos before the adjuster comes?
Yes. Take your own photos even if an adjuster will visit, and take them before repairs begin. The adjuster's report is theirs; your photos are your record of what you saw on the day.
If you have photos of the home from before the storm, for example from when you bought or rented it, keep them. They show its normal condition. Not having them does not by itself mean a claim fails.
How do I keep the date and place with the photos?
The iPhone saves the date, time and, if allowed, the location in each photo's hidden data. That data can be lost when a photo is sent through a chat app or a web form, and the person reading your claim cannot see it. A photo that shows the date in the picture itself keeps its place in the sequence wherever it ends up.
After a storm, power and mobile networks may be down, so charge the phone when you can, and check that its clock and time zone are right. Do not edit the photos in a way that changes how the damage looks, and keep the originals.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I photograph first after a storm damages my home?
- Once it is safe, photograph the whole building from every side, then each affected room, then each damage in close-up with a tape measure for scale. Do this before you clean up, move or throw anything away.
- Do I take photos before or after cleaning up flood damage?
- Before. Photograph the water line, the damaged rooms and belongings first. If something must be thrown away for health reasons, photograph it first and keep a note of what it was.
- Should I keep damaged items for the insurance adjuster?
- Generally yes, until your insurer or adjuster says you can discard them. Ask them what they need, because rules differ by insurer and country.
- Do I need photos from before the storm?
- They help, because they show the normal condition of the property, but not having them does not by itself mean a claim fails. Take clear photos of the damage and keep any older photos you have.
- Does the date on the photo prove when the damage happened?
- No. A date printed on a photo is your own record and an insurer decides what it accepts. It helps put your photos in order, and the phone's clock should be correct when you take them.