The Golden Rule: Shoot First, Clean Later
Adjusters can only pay for harm they can see proof of. Take photos and video of all harm before you move, clean, or toss anything. A phone camera is fine. Full beats fancy.
Outside Checklist
- Walk the full edge of the home. Film one slow video of each side, roof to ground.
- Shoot the roof from the ground. Do not climb it. Catch missing shingles, bent flashing, hurt vents, and limbs on the roof.
- Siding, gutters, spouts, windows, doors, fences, sheds, and outside AC units — each side, wide shot plus close-up.
- Water lines on walls or slabs — put a ruler in the frame for scale.
- Hurt trees — show where each fell and what it hit.
Inside Checklist
- Go room by room. Include closets, attic, garage, and crawl space. Film one slow sweep per room, then shoot single damage spots.
- Water marks on tops and walls — shoot straight on and at an angle, with a tape measure for size.
- Wet floors, warped wood, soaked rugs and pads.
- Hurt goods and machines — catch brand names, model numbers, and serial plates in the shot.
- Personal goods: open each closet and drawer you claim. One wide shot plus close-ups of the worst items.
Write It Down
- Home list: note each hurt item with its age, what you paid, and what it costs now. Do this from your photos while fresh.
- Timeline: note when harm hit, when you found it, when you called your insurer, and your claim number.
- Receipts: keep each one — tarps, pumps, hotel, food, hauling. Snap shots of paper slips in case they fade.
- Calls: after each insurer call, jot the date, name, and key points.
Guard Your Proof
- Back up photos and video to the cloud the same day. Phones get lost too.
- Keep raw files with dates intact. Do not edit them.
- Email key photos and your list to yourself for a dated record.
Next step: start your claim with the Louisiana claim guide.