Short answer: Make the home safe, stop further damage, and photograph everything before you clean up. Then call your insurer or agent with your policy number, keep receipts for emergency repairs, and make a list of damaged items. Write down every call, get the adjuster’s estimate in writing, and don’t sign a settlement until you’ve compared it with a contractor’s quote.
How do you file a homeowners insurance claim?
You report the loss to your insurer, document the damage, protect the property from getting worse, and work with an adjuster until the claim is settled. That is the whole process. What trips people up is the order and the timing, so this guide is organized by the clock: the first hour, the first day, the first week, and everything after that until you are paid. Do the early steps well and the later ones go smoothly.
Two ground rules apply from the first minute. First, be accurate. Describe what happened as you understand it, document it honestly, and never inflate the damage or leave out something that matters, because a misleading claim can be denied or cancelled. Second, your policy is the rulebook. This guide explains how claims usually work under a standard HO-3 policy, and our plain-English guide to what homeowners insurance covers explains the coverage side. The policy issued to you decides what is actually paid.
The claim timeline at a glance
What do you do in the first hour after damage?
Safety first, then stopping the damage, then evidence. Get everyone out of a dangerous space. If there is fire, smoke, a gas smell, exposed wiring, or a structural problem, call emergency services before you call anyone else. If water is involved, shut off the water at the main valve when you can reach it safely. If a tree or other object has opened a hole in the roof or wall, cover the opening if it is safe to do so. These are the reasonable steps your policy expects you to take, and they are covered by the duty to protect the property from further damage after a loss.
Then photograph and film everything before you clean up. Take wide shots that show the whole room and close-ups of each damaged item. Include the source of the problem, the water line on a wall, and the serial number on an appliance. Keep the original files, which carry the date and time. Evidence disappears quickly: wet carpet gets thrown out, a broken pipe gets replaced, a fallen branch gets hauled away. If you must remove something to prevent more damage, photograph it first and keep a sample or the item if practical.
What do you do in the first day?
Report the loss. Call your insurer or your agent, or use the company’s app or claims line, with your policy number handy. Most policies expect prompt notice, and it also starts the clock on getting help. Ask for a claim number, the adjuster’s name and contact information, and what the company needs from you next. Write all of it down.
Not every problem should become a claim. If you are unsure, you can call and ask questions about coverage, your deductible, or how a claim would be handled, without opening one. At the start of the call, ask the representative how the company records an inquiry compared with a claim. Our guide on whether premiums rise after a claim explains why this matters and when paying out of pocket can be smarter.
Next, arrange emergency repairs to stop further damage: a plumber to stop a leak, a board-up service for a broken window, a tarp on a roof. Keep every receipt. Policies generally cover reasonable emergency repairs that protect the property, but permanent repairs usually wait until the insurer has had a chance to inspect. Ask the adjuster what they want to see before major work begins.
What do you do in the first week?
This is the documentation week. Build an inventory of damaged belongings: what it is, when and where you bought it, what it cost if you remember, and a photo. Receipts, credit card statements, and online order histories help, but you do not need a receipt for everything, and you should not invent figures. Estimate honestly and mark estimates as estimates. A room-by-room list is easier than trying to remember everything at once.
Get contractor quotes for the repairs. Ask for itemized written estimates that break out demolition, materials, labor, and finishing. You are free to get more than one. If the insurer’s adjuster is going to inspect, ask when, and arrange to be there. The adjuster’s visit is covered in more detail in our guide on what not to say to an adjuster, but the short version is: show them everything, answer what they ask, and stick to what you know.
Start a call log now. Every conversation with the insurer, adjuster, or contractor goes in it. Here is a template you can copy into a notebook or spreadsheet.
| Date and time | Who you spoke with (name, role, company) | Claim number | What was said or agreed | Next step and deadline | Done? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 9:10 am | Alex R., claims intake, [insurer] | 12345 | Reported burst pipe. Told to keep receipts, adjuster will call in 24 hours. | Adjuster call by Oct 6 | |
| Oct 6, 2:30 pm | Maria T., adjuster | 12345 | Inspection set for Oct 8 at 10 am. Asked for inventory and plumber invoice. | Send documents by Oct 7 | |
A printable checklist for the first week:
- Photos and video of all damage, taken before cleanup.
- Claim number, adjuster name, and phone number written in one place.
- Receipts for emergency repairs, hotel stays, and meals, if your policy covers living expenses.
- An inventory of damaged belongings with estimates marked as estimates.
- At least one itemized written repair quote.
- A call log with dates, names, and follow-ups.
- Copies of everything you send, with the date you sent it.
What happens at the adjuster’s visit?
The adjuster inspects the damage, takes photos, measures, and writes an estimate of what the insurer thinks the repairs will cost. Prepare by having your policy, your inventory, your quotes, and your call log in one folder. Walk the adjuster through every area, including places you think are minor. Point out damage that is not obvious, like a ceiling stain or a warped floor, and say when you first noticed each thing. Do not guess about what caused it. If the adjuster asks a question you cannot answer, say so and offer to find out.
Ask the adjuster to explain what they are including and what they are not, and when to expect the estimate in writing. You can ask to have a contractor of your choice present. If the adjuster’s recorded statement or interview is part of the process, our guide on what not to say to an adjuster covers how to prepare.
Adjuster’s estimate or contractor’s quote: which one is right?
Neither is automatically right. The insurer’s estimate is built from standard unit prices in estimating software and may not reflect what local contractors charge for your specific job. A contractor’s quote reflects what that contractor will actually do the work for. When they differ, ask the adjuster to walk through the line items and identify what is missing: a layer of drywall, a code-required upgrade, a hidden-damage allowance, or a different grade of material.
If the contractor finds more damage after opening a wall or floor, tell the adjuster right away and ask for a supplement, which is an additional payment for damage that was not visible at the first inspection. Do not hold the repair open indefinitely, though. Insurers usually want to see hidden damage before it is covered up, so ask what they need and take photos.
Do not sign a settlement or release until you have compared the offer with your quotes and understand what it covers. Once you sign a final release, reopening the claim may be hard.
What is actual cash value, and what is recoverable depreciation?
Many homeowners policies pay claims on one of two bases. Replacement cost pays what it costs to repair or replace the item with similar new materials. Actual cash value (ACV) pays replacement cost minus depreciation, which is a deduction for age and wear. Some policies pay ACV first and then pay the held-back depreciation, called recoverable depreciation, once you complete the repair or replacement and send proof.
As an illustration with made-up numbers: carpet that costs $4,000 to replace has been deducted $1,200 for age. The insurer pays $2,800 up front. If your policy pays replacement cost, you install the new carpet, send the invoice, and the insurer releases the remaining $1,200, subject to your deductible and any deadline in the policy. If the policy pays only actual cash value, $2,800 is the final amount. Check your declarations page and policy for which one applies to each part of your home, because some policies treat roofs and personal property differently from the rest of the dwelling.
What does it cost, and should you file?
The cost to repair depends on the damage, so compare it with your deductible before you decide. As an illustration: damage of $6,000 with a $1,000 deductible would produce a payment of about $5,000. If a claim raised your $2,000 annual premium by 10% for three years, the added cost is about $600, so filing probably pays off. Damage of $1,300 would pay about $300, and the premium effect could exceed that. Use the claim calculator with your figures. Remember that claims remain on your claims history report for years, even small ones, and that whether a claim affects your renewal depends on the insurer and the state.
| Situation | Possible outcome | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency repairs to stop more damage | Usually covered | Reasonable steps to protect the property are expected and generally reimbursed as part of a covered loss. Keep receipts. |
| Temporary repairs and cleanup after a covered loss | Usually covered | Typically part of the claim when tied to the covered damage. Ask the adjuster what to document. |
| Hotel and living expenses when you cannot live at home | Usually covered | Loss of use coverage, within its limits and conditions. Save receipts and ask what the policy considers a reasonable cost. |
| Permanent repairs before the insurer inspects | Depends | Insurers usually want to see the damage first. Ask before doing non-emergency work, and photograph everything. |
| Upgrades or improvements beyond the damaged item | Usually not covered | Policies pay to repair or replace what was damaged, not to improve it, unless an endorsement or code requirement applies. |
| Damage from a cause the policy excludes | Not covered | Documenting well does not change an exclusion. See our denial guide if you disagree with how it was applied. |
What if the claim is denied or underpaid?
Do not accept the first no. Ask for the denial in writing with the exact policy language the insurer relied on, compare it with your policy, and consider a reinspection or new evidence such as a contractor’s or engineer’s report. Our claim denied guide walks through the options in order, including appraisal, which can help when the dispute is about the amount of the loss rather than whether it is covered, and complaints to your state insurance department.
Some people hire a public adjuster for a large or complicated claim. A public adjuster is a licensed professional who works for you, not the insurer, and is usually paid a percentage of the payout. Whether it makes sense depends on the size and complexity of the loss. Check the license with your state insurance department and read the contract before you sign.
Two real scenarios
The kitchen pipe. Luis comes home to water across the kitchen floor from a split supply line. He shuts off the water, photographs the floor and cabinets, and calls his insurer that afternoon, getting a claim number. A plumber stops the leak and writes down what failed. The adjuster visits two days later, and Luis has an inventory, the plumber’s invoice, and a quote for the floor. The adjuster’s estimate leaves out the cabinet bases, so Luis shows the contractor’s line and asks for a supplement. Because he kept a call log, he can point to each date. The insurer pays the difference. For the pipe side of this story, see our burst pipes guide.
The storm and the tarp. After a windstorm, Dana finds shingles gone and a leak in the ceiling. She has a roofer tarp the roof the same day and keeps the invoice. She reports the loss and photographs everything before the roofer works. The adjuster approves the tarp as an emergency repair and schedules an inspection before the roof is replaced. Dana avoids doing permanent work before the visit and keeps the whole file in one folder. The insurer pays actual cash value first and holds back depreciation until she sends the final invoice.
What mistakes cost people money?
Cleaning up before documenting is the most common. Throwing away damaged items before an adjuster has seen or photographed them hands the insurer a reason to question the amount. Signing a settlement or release without comparing it to quotes is the second. Guessing about the cause or timeline in a recorded statement is the third, and it is the reason our guide on what not to say to an adjuster exists. Others include waiting too long to report, doing permanent repairs before inspection, and forgetting to keep receipts for hotel and emergency costs.
State rules also matter. States set timelines for how quickly insurers must acknowledge a claim, investigate, and respond, and they differ. Your state insurance department’s website explains the rules that apply to you. The Texas Department of Insurance, for example, publishes a consumer page on whether a claim will raise your premium; other states have their own.
For related situations by cause, browse our Claims & Deductibles category, and see the guides on mold, AC and HVAC, and foundation problems.
Frequently asked questions
What not to say when filing a homeowners insurance claim?
Do not guess about the cause or the timeline, and do not call an estimate final before it is. State what you saw, when you saw it, and what you did. Never exaggerate or leave things out, because a misleading statement can put the whole claim at risk. Our guide on what not to say to an adjuster has a phrase-by-phrase table.
What's the biggest mistake people make with an insurance claim?
Cleaning up or throwing things away before documenting them. Close behind is signing a settlement or release before comparing the estimate with a contractor’s quote and checking what it leaves out. Keep the evidence, keep a call log, and ask for everything in writing.
What not to tell your insurance company?
Nothing should be hidden. The safer idea is to stick to facts you know and avoid speculating about the cause, the age of the damage, or fault. If you do not know something, say so and offer to find out. Accurate and complete beats confident and wrong.
How long does it take for a homeowners insurance claim to be approved?
It varies with the size and complexity of the loss, how quickly you provide documents, and whether the insurer needs an inspection, an engineer, or a contractor review. States set rules for how fast insurers must acknowledge and respond, so check your state insurance department’s site and ask your adjuster for a timeline in writing.
Sources
- What you need to know when filing a homeowners claim — National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
- How to file a home insurance claim — Amica Insurance
- What you need to file a homeowners insurance claim — United Policyholders
- Will my premium go up if I file a claim? — Texas Department of Insurance
- Homeowners 3 — Special Form, ISO form HO 00 03 05 11 — Maine Bureau of Insurance
CoverClaro explains insurance. We do not sell insurance or give personal advice. Your policy and insurer determine your coverage.