How do you recover depreciation from insurance?
Short answer. You recover depreciation by finishing the repairs and sending your insurer a document package that proves it: the final itemized invoice, completion photos, and any approved supplements, all referencing your claim number. The insurer then issues a check for the held-back depreciation, up to what you actually spent.
What the final invoice should show
- Your name, the property address, and the claim number
- The date the work was completed
- The work performed, ideally in the same terms as the insurer's estimate: tear-off, shingles, underlayment, flashing, gutters
- The total amount, with any upgrades listed separately
- Approved supplements and their amounts
Other proof that helps
- Before, during, and after photos, especially of decking or flashing replaced as supplements
- A certificate of completion, if your insurer uses one
- The permit closeout or final inspection, where your city or county requires a permit
- Material receipts if you did part of the work yourself
After you submit
The insurer reviews the package, may ask follow-up questions, and issues the check. If your mortgage company is named, it will likely need to endorse it too, so contact its loss draft department early to learn its process.
Keep copies
Save everything you send and note the date. If the release is delayed, you can point to exactly what was submitted and when.
Related: mortgage company on the check, roof supplements, and recoverable depreciation on a roof.