A useful insurance record is a chronology, not just a folder of wet-room photos. It shows when the loss was discovered, what appears to have caused it, what you did to prevent additional damage and what work was performed.
Your policy and insurer determine coverage; this guide is not a coverage opinion or a promise of payment. Ask your insurer for instructions early, especially before discarding materials.
Capture the starting condition
When safe, take wide views of rooms, then detail shots of floors, walls, ceilings, fixtures and belongings. Note when the leak was first noticed, whether it was sudden or ongoing, and any plumber or utility findings. Keep original files with date information and avoid editing your only copies.
Build a simple loss log
Keep a single timeline with the date and name of each person you spoke with: insurer, plumber, mitigation company and property manager. Record what they advised and any claim or work-order number. Add receipts for temporary repairs, extraction, lodging and replacement necessities if relevant. Separate mitigation from reconstruction so the costs are understandable.
- Date and time you discovered the issue.
- Source and rooms affected, if known.
- Actions taken to prevent further damage.
- Copies of estimates, work authorizations, readings and invoices.
Ask before disposing of damaged materials
Some items cannot safely stay in the home. If disposal is necessary, photograph and inventory them first when possible. Check your insurer’s instructions, and retain samples only if safe and requested. Do not delay urgent hazard removal merely to preserve an item; document why it had to go.
Clarify the claim process
Ask the insurer what evidence it needs, whether an adjuster will inspect, how emergency work should be handled and whether there are deadlines. Ask restoration vendors to explain what is being billed and to whom. No contractor can guarantee that a claim will be approved, and a claim payment does not automatically equal every invoice you may receive.