To document water damage for insurance, take photos and video of everything before cleanup, keep the burst pipe or failed part, list every damaged item, save receipts for emergency costs, and keep the drying company's moisture readings and photos. Do it fast, but do not let documenting delay stopping the water. Need the water stopped? Call (413) 603-1274.
The checklist
- Wide video walk-through of every affected room, narrating the date and what you see.
- Photos of the source: the split pipe, the failed hose or the leaking tank, and the label.
- Photos of the damage: ceilings, walls, floors, baseboards and the rooms below.
- Close-ups of belongings with brand and model labels where possible.
- Keep the failed part. Do not throw away the cut-out pipe or old hose until the adjuster says so.
- List damaged items: what, roughly when bought, and roughly what it cost.
- Save every receipt: emergency repair, drying, hotel, meals, supplies.
- Keep the drying records: moisture readings, equipment logs and photos from the restoration company.
- Keep a log of every call with the insurer: date, name, what was said.
Things that help a frozen pipe claim
- A photo of the thermostat setting
- Oil delivery receipts or utility bills showing the heat was on
- Notes on when you found the leak and what you did first
Many policies exclude freezing damage unless the home was heated. See burst pipe insurance in Massachusetts.
What we provide
On our jobs you get photos, the cause in writing, daily moisture readings, and an itemized invoice that separates the plumbing repair from the water damage work. See water damage insurance claim help.
Photo tips that adjusters appreciate
- Start each room with a wide shot from the doorway, then move in for close-ups
- Photograph the source: the broken pipe, the split fitting, the failed hose
- Put something in the frame for scale, such as a tape measure along a water line on the wall
- Photograph the labels on appliances and the water heater, showing model and serial numbers
- Take video while walking slowly through each affected room, describing what you see out loud
- Photograph the thermostat setting if pipes froze
- Back the photos up to email or cloud storage the same day
Make a list as you go
For damaged belongings, write down what each item is, roughly when you bought it, and what it would cost to replace. Receipts and bank statements help, but most people do not have them for everything. Photos of items in place, even old ones from birthdays or holidays, can show what you owned.
Keep the evidence
Keep the broken piece of pipe, the failed hose or the split fitting in a bag, labeled with the date. Insurers sometimes want to see it, and if a product failed, the manufacturer may be responsible. Do not throw it out until the claim is closed.
Questions
Can I throw out soaked items?
Photograph and list them first. For wet carpet and drywall that must come out for drying, keep a small sample if you can. See removing flooring before the adjuster.
Do I need receipts for everything?
Not always. Photos, bank records and reasonable estimates help when receipts are gone.
Need it fixed and documented? Call
Call (413) 603-1274 now. Locally owned in Chicopee.