What Should You Photograph After a Disaster for Insurance?

Begin by photographing the cause of the water. This could be a burst pipe, a leaking appliance, or storm damage from a window or roof. If it is safe to access, get a clear picture of the exact point of failure. These images help establish the origin of the damage for your insurance adjuster and any restoration work needed. The source might be obvious, like a broken pipe, or more subtle, like a slow leak behind a wall. Capturing this first creates a clear starting point for your entire documentation process, providing context for all the damage that follows.

Your photos should clearly show damage to the building itself and your personal items. Focus on warped floors, stained or sagging ceilings, and damaged drywall. Then, photograph ruined furniture, electronics, clothing, and other belongings. Open cabinets and closets to show water intrusion in hidden spaces, as damage there is often significant. For personal items, take clear shots of labels, model numbers, and materials to help establish their pre-loss condition and value. This detailed evidence is vital for content claims and for restoration professionals to understand the full scope of damage.

• Swollen baseboards and door frames
• Buckled hardwood or laminate flooring
• Stained and sagging drywall or plaster
• Damaged furniture upholstery and wood
• Ruined books, documents, and electronics
• Wet insulation in accessible attics or crawlspaces

Create a systematic record for your claim. Take photos with a date and timestamp enabled on your camera or phone. Write brief notes about what each picture shows and the room it was taken in. Save copies in multiple secure places, like a cloud service and an external drive. This ensures you have a permanent, organized visual log to share with your insurance company. Keep this log updated as you document temporary repairs or further damage. Organize photos into folders by room or category. A well-organized file makes it much easier to submit evidence and answer questions from your adjuster later.