How to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim

File a claim by calling your insurance company's claims line, providing your policy number, and describing what happened

The first step is to contact your insurance company directly — not your agent, but the claims department. Most insurers have a dedicated phone line for claims that operates 24/7. You will need your policy number, which is on your insurance documents or in your online account. Tell them what happened, when it happened, and which part of your home or property was damaged. They will assign you a claim number on the spot.

Do not wait to call. The sooner you report, the sooner the insurer can send an adjuster and the sooner you can move forward with repairs. If the damage is severe — a fire, major water damage, or a break-in — call immediately even if it is the middle of the night. If it is minor damage you discovered during the day, calling within 24 hours is standard.

Write down the claim number they give you and keep it with your policy documents. You will use this number for every conversation about this claim.

Key Takeaways

• Call your insurance company's claims line with your policy number and a description of what happened; they will assign you a claim number immediately.
• Take photos and videos of all damage before you clean up or make temporary repairs, because the adjuster needs to see the damage as it occurred.
• Keep receipts for any emergency repairs or temporary fixes you make to prevent further damage — insurers usually cover these costs.
• The adjuster will inspect the damage, estimate the cost to repair, and send you a settlement offer, which typically arrives within two to four weeks.
• If you disagree with the settlement amount, you can request an independent appraisal or hire your own contractor to provide a competing estimate.

Document the damage before you touch anything

After you call the insurance company, take photos and videos of every damaged area. Photograph the overall scene, then close-ups of specific damage. If a pipe burst, photograph the water pooling on the floor and the wet drywall. If a window broke, photograph the broken glass and the frame. If a tree fell on your roof, photograph the tree, the hole, and the surrounding area. Do this before you clean up, move debris, or make any repairs.

The adjuster will want to see the damage in its original state. If you have already cleaned up or boarded up the window, the adjuster cannot assess what actually happened. Photos and videos are your record of what the damage looked like when you discovered it.

Also photograph any items that were damaged — furniture, electronics, clothing, anything the claim might cover. Make a list of what was damaged and estimate its value if you can. You do not need exact prices, but "living room couch, approximately 5 years old, $800" is more useful than "couch".

Make emergency repairs to prevent more damage

If you have a roof leak, a broken window, or standing water, you can make temporary repairs to stop the damage from spreading. This is called mitigation, and your insurance policy requires you to do it. Board up a broken window, turn off water at the main if a pipe burst, or use tarps and buckets to catch leaking water. These temporary fixes prevent a small problem from becoming a large one.

Keep every receipt for materials and labor you spend on emergency repairs. Take photos of the temporary fix so the adjuster can see what you did. Most insurers cover the cost of mitigation, so you should not have to pay out of pocket. When you submit your claim, include these receipts and explain what you did and why.

Do not make permanent repairs yet. Wait until the adjuster has inspected the damage and the insurance company has approved the settlement. If you repair before approval and the adjuster finds the damage is less severe than you thought, you may not be reimbursed for the full repair cost.

Prepare documents the adjuster will ask for

Gather your policy documents, the photos and videos you took, receipts for emergency repairs, and a list of damaged items. If the damage was caused by a specific event — a storm, a break-in, a fire — collect any documentation of that event. If a tree fell during a storm, save weather reports or news articles about the storm. If someone broke in, have your police report number ready.

The adjuster will also want to know the age and condition of the damaged item or area before the damage occurred. If a roof was 15 years old and hail damaged it, the adjuster needs to know that. If a water heater failed and flooded the basement, the adjuster needs to know how old the water heater was. This information affects how much the insurer will pay — an older roof may have less coverage than a new one, depending on your policy.

You do not need to hire a contractor or get repair estimates before the adjuster visits. The adjuster will determine what needs to be repaired and estimate the cost. However, if you already have an estimate from a contractor, bring it to the adjuster's inspection.

Understand what happens during the adjuster's inspection

The insurance company will schedule an adjuster to visit your home. The adjuster is an employee or contractor who inspects the damage, takes their own photos, measures the affected area, and estimates the repair cost. This visit usually happens within a few days to a week after you file the claim.

Be present during the inspection if you can. Walk through with the adjuster and point out all the damage. Answer questions about what happened and when. If you have photos from before the damage occurred — a photo of the roof when it was new, or the basement before the flood — show the adjuster. The more information the adjuster has, the more accurate their estimate will be.

The adjuster will provide a written estimate of the repair cost. This estimate becomes the basis for your settlement offer. If the adjuster misses damage or underestimates the cost, you can point this out and ask for a re-inspection.

Review the settlement offer and decide whether to accept it

After the inspection, the insurance company will send you a settlement offer. This is a letter that states the total amount the insurer will pay for the damage. The offer is based on the adjuster's estimate, your policy coverage, and your deductible.

Read the settlement letter carefully. It should list each damaged item or area, the estimated repair cost, and how much the insurer is paying. Subtract your deductible from the total — that is the amount you will receive. For example, if the repair estimate is $5,000 and your deductible is $1,000, the insurer will pay $4,000.

If you agree with the amount, you can sign and return the settlement letter. The insurer will then send you a check. If you disagree — if you think the damage is worse than the adjuster found, or if you have a contractor estimate that is higher — you have options.

Challenge the settlement if the amount seems too low

If the adjuster's estimate does not match what you think the repairs will actually cost, you can request an independent appraisal. This is a formal process where you and the insurance company each hire an appraiser, and if those two appraisals disagree, a third appraiser settles the difference. The cost of the appraisal is usually split between you and the insurer.

Before you request an appraisal, get your own contractor estimate. Call two or three contractors who specialize in the type of repair you need — roofers for roof damage, plumbers for water damage, electricians for electrical damage. Ask each for a written estimate. If their estimates are significantly higher than the adjuster's, you have a strong case for an appraisal.

You can also simply decline the settlement and hire a contractor to do the repairs yourself. You will pay out of pocket, but you can then submit the contractor's invoice to the insurance company and request reimbursement. This works if you believe the adjuster underestimated the cost and you want to prove it with actual repair bills.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get paid after I file a claim?

Most insurers send a settlement offer within two to four weeks of the adjuster's inspection. Once you accept the offer, the check usually arrives within one to two weeks. If you dispute the amount and request an appraisal, the process takes longer — typically four to eight weeks total.

Do I have to use the contractor the insurance company recommends?

No. You can hire any licensed contractor you choose. The insurance company will pay based on their estimate of the repair cost, not based on which contractor you hire. If your contractor's bill is higher than the insurance estimate, you may have to pay the difference yourself.

What if the insurance company denies my claim?

The insurer will send a denial letter explaining why the claim is not covered. Common reasons include that the damage is not covered under your policy, that you did not pay your premium, or that the damage was caused by something excluded from your coverage. Review your policy and the denial letter carefully. If you disagree, you can file a complaint with your state's insurance commissioner.

Can I make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects the damage?

You should not make permanent repairs before the adjuster visits, because they need to see the original damage to estimate the cost accurately. You can make temporary repairs to prevent further damage, and the insurer will usually cover those costs. Wait for the settlement offer before you hire a contractor for permanent repairs.

What if I find more damage after the adjuster leaves?

Call your insurance company and report the additional damage. They can send the adjuster back for a second inspection, or they can add the new damage to your existing claim. Report it as soon as you discover it — the longer you wait, the harder it is to prove the damage was caused by the original event.