How do you file a homeowners insurance claim after a storm?
Short answer. Make the house safe, stop more water from getting in, photograph the damage and get the roof inspected, then report the claim to your insurer with the storm date and a factual description. Keep receipts for emergency work, be present for the adjuster's inspection, and read the estimate line by line before you accept it.
The first day
- Stay away from downed lines and do not climb a wet or damaged roof.
- Photograph and video every room and every side of the house, plus dented gutters, screens and the air conditioner, before anything is cleaned up.
- Stop active leaks with buckets, tarps and by moving belongings. Keep receipts. See your duty to mitigate.
- Write down the date and time the storm hit.
Days two and three
- Have a roofer inspect the roof and give you photos, so you know whether the damage is real and more than your deductible.
- Find your declarations page: deductible type, settlement basis and any roof endorsements.
- Report the claim by app, phone or through your agent. Give the date, what happened and what you found. Get a claim number and the adjuster's contact information.
The weeks after
- Be home for the adjuster, with your roofer there.
- Ask for the full estimate and the photo report.
- Compare it with your roofer's scope and request a supplement or reinspection for anything missing.
- Deposit the first check, sign a contract, get the work done, then send the final invoice to release any withheld depreciation.
Mistakes to avoid
- Throwing out damaged items before they are photographed.
- Making permanent repairs before the inspection.
- Signing with anyone who offers to cover your deductible, which is illegal in Georgia.
- Guessing on the phone. Say what you know and let the inspection establish the rest.
The full walkthrough is in how to file a roof insurance claim.