Claim Tip 1. During Your Claim Process — Obtain Details Of Your Home Building – Take the time to inspect and document the damage as thoroughly as possible. If you can’t do this yourself, consider hiring someone to assist. Start by taking photos of both the damaged and undamaged areas in each room. Begin with a wide-angle shot of the room that shows the overall damage, followed by detailed close-ups.

For example, start with an overview photo of the entire room. Then, take a wide shot of the damaged ceiling, followed by close-up images of the ceiling damage. Do the same for the walls, windows, doors, and floors—first taking an overview, then detailed photos of the damage.

Work systematically, moving clockwise around the house or building. As you enter each new space, like closets or hallways, take an overview shot and follow the same process for the detailed photos. This approach will help you stay organized and ensure that each photo corresponds to the correct room. (For now, focus on the structure itself—no need to photograph the contents just yet.)

Claim Tip 2. During The Claim Process – Document Your Belongings/Contents – The next step is to document and inventory your damaged belongings, such as clothing, furniture, electronics, and appliances. To do this efficiently, revisit each room in the same order as before.

Start by taking overview photos of each item—furniture, electronics, shoes, clothing, etc. Follow up with close-up photos that show any visible damage on the individual items. As you do this, write each item down on a Contents Inventory Form. Organize your belongings the same way you organized the room damage—start with an overview of the room, then work clockwise around, listing and photographing each item along the way.

For example, in the master bedroom, take a wide shot of the room, then move left, documenting each item on every wall until you return to the starting point at the doorway. This process ensures you don’t miss or forget any damaged items.

Once you’ve completed the master bedroom, repeat the process in the master closet and master bathroom. After that, move on to the next room, taking an overview photo and documenting the items in the same organized fashion. Be sure to label each inventory sheet with the name of the room at the top. This will keep your photos and inventory list aligned and easy to follow.

Claim Tip 3. During Claim Process – Review Of Your Policy – Insurance claim victims should take some time to review their policy carefully. Many policyholders are often unaware of basic details such as:

• The amount of coverage they have on their home or building.
• The coverage available for their personal belongings (furniture, clothing, etc.).
• The amount of coverage provided for temporary living expenses, such as staying in hotels or renting a business location, rental home, or even furniture.

Surprisingly, most people aren’t familiar with this essential information. Unfortunately, many lose their policy within the damages suffered. If that happens, you can request a “certified true copy” of your full insurance policy and endorsements from your agent. It’s also a good idea to have your agent explain how much coverage is included in your policy.

Claim Tip 4. During Claim Process – Consult With A Professional – When your insurance company assigns an adjuster to inspect your claim damage, they estimate the losses based on their own assessment. It’s crucial that you have the same process done on your behalf. How can you be sure the insurance adjuster from your carrier has accurately and thoroughly evaluated the damage? Would you risk losing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars by not taking the necessary steps to verify their work?

Your insurance adjuster is supposed to explain all the fire claim coverage available to you under your policy, but this is rarely offered voluntarily. In fact, the failure to disclose certain coverages often happens intentionally. Yes, you read that right—coverage information is often withheld unless you specifically ask. This is your home, your belongings, and your money. You paid for that coverage, and it’s essential to educate yourself to ensure you receive full compensation for the damage you’ve suffered.

Considering this, it may be wise to hire an independent insurance claim professional. The insurance company has its own adjuster working for them—shouldn’t you have one working for you? A Public Insurance Adjuster can advocate on your behalf, reviewing the insurance company’s estimates, inventory lists, and damage assessments to ensure they reflect the true cost of repairing or replacing your damaged property. Hiring an expert helps ensure you’re compensated fairly and receive what you’re entitled to under your policy.

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