Homeowners Insurance Claims

What to know about filing homeowners insurance claims

When you file a homeowners insurance claim, your responsibility is to promptly report the loss to your insurance company or agent and provide the documentation they need to evaluate your claim. If the damage to your property is due to a crime, you'll also need to file a police report. You may also need to make emergency repairs prior to filing a claim to prevent further damage to your property.

Steps to take before you file a homeowners insurance claim

The following items are general recommendations that will apply in many situations. For any event where you consider filing a home insurance claim, consult your homeowners insurance policy, which lists specific expectations for you and your insurer.

Be safe:

Make sure you and anyone else in or around your home are out of any potential danger before taking further action.
When appropriate, call the police:

Burglary and vandalism, for example, are crimes where the police need to be involved. If you have reason to believe a crime was committed, call the police right away.
Call your insurance company or agent:

Call your insurance company or agent: Calling them doesn't mean you must file a claim. But if you do end up filing a claim, you need to let your insurance company or agent know about the incident as soon as you're able.
Protect your home from further damage:

You may need to make emergency repairs to prevent things from getting worse.
Don't throw anything away:

Even if an item is damaged beyond repair, you may need to hang onto it for the time being. If a claims adjuster is assigned to your claim, they may want to have a look at it in person.

Learn more about homeowners insurance coverages and the different types of homeowners insurance policies.

What documentation do you need to file a homeowners insurance claim?

To file a home insurance claim, you need to "substantiate your loss" — a term you may hear that means establishing what was lost, stolen, or damaged, including its worth. The most common kinds of documentation include:

Photos and videos of the damage: Make a record of the damage to your home and any damaged items in your home. Be as thorough as possible.
A complete list of all lost, damaged, or stolen items: It's especially helpful if you have receipts to document the value of those items.
If requested, estimates for select repairs: Some insurance companies may ask you to get an estimate for larger repair costs. Your insurer may want you to include those estimates with your claim filing.
If applicable, receipts for emergency repairs: These are any repairs you had to make so there wouldn't be further or additional damage to your home or belongings.
If applicable, a copy of the police report: If the loss is due to an alleged crime like burglary or vandalism, you'll have to provide your insurance company with a copy of the police report.
If applicable, receipts for loss-of-use expenses: If your home is damaged due to a covered loss, and you can't stay there while it's being fixed, loss of use coverage may pay for your living expenses over and above what you'd normally pay.

How to file a homeowners insurance claim

If you decide to file a homeowners insurance claim, simply let your insurance company know. They will either mail forms for you to complete or have you complete the forms online or through an app. You should complete these property insurance claim forms as quickly as you're able, and provide your photos, videos, and list of claimed items on request.

What's a claims adjuster, and what do they do?

Depending on the level of the damage and the potential cost of the claim, your insurance company may send out a claims adjuster to work with you. The adjuster's job is to verify the elements of the loss you're claiming. They'll inspect the damage in person, interview you, and may review your loss documentation with you if they haven't already done so.