Damaged property? Learn how to file a homeowners or property claim quickly & easily. Including what to do after damage, the claims process and tips.
Article: 7 minutes
Updated: October 28, 2026 Published: March 22, 2022
By: USAA Reviewed by: Editorial contributors
After property damage occurs, your immediate priorities are ensuring safety and documenting everything through photos and videos and contacting your insurance provider. Be prepared to provide details about the incident and the damage, and expect an adjuster to assess the situation to determine coverage and repair costs.
Imagine sitting on your couch, watching your favorite show, when it happens: Water dripping from your ceiling. Your stomach drops. You know there's more hiding above. What do you do?
Whether it's water, a weather event or some other circumstance that damages your property, you want to be prepared. From addressing the immediate problem, like getting a burst pipe repaired or covering a shattered window, to taking the steps to file a claim with your insurance company, you should know how to help get your home back in shape.
Video Duration:
This guide will help you navigate the ins and outs of your claim so you can get back to enjoying your home.
When property damage occurs, it's important to notify your insurance provider as soon as possible. Many insurance companies offer online portals or mobile apps where you can easily start a claim, upload photos of the damage and communicate with your assigned claims adjuster. Contact them directly to understand their specific procedures for initiating to managing a claim. Some insurers may also have a network of preferred vendors for repairs, which can potentially simplify the restoration process. After your claim is officially started, your adjuster will reach out to guide you through the necessary next steps and any immediate actions required.
Check plumbing and common water sources like toilets, bathtub fixtures or sinks to find the water source. Look for any drywall that is warped or damp. If water pools on your ceiling, grab a bucket and poke a hole into the drywall with a small screwdriver or nail to drain the water. If water is still dripping onto the affected area, you may need to shut off your water at the main exterior source to prevent further damage.
Take notes or photos of what happened and any damage to surrounding areas and affected household items. For example, if water leaked from your ceiling onto a couch, take a picture of the damage to the ceiling and the furniture.
It’s not uncommon to have a professional help repair the source of damage. Most property insurance will pay for damages to your home and personal property resulting from a covered loss or peril. But you may be responsible for repairs made to the original source of the loss, like a broken pipe or fixture.
Make sure to save any estimates or receipts and send those to your claims adjuster as soon as possible.
If you've had exterior damage from a storm like a fallen tree or hail damage, make sure you and your loved ones are safe first.
This info gets redundant and is chronologically out of step. For example, we tell readers to inspect for property damage in the first paragraph, then we tell them to inspect again in the second paragraph, but with the caveat "if it's safe." Shouldn't that be the emphasis in the first paragraph? Consider revising to something like:
When it's safe to do so, inspect your property for damage. Flying debris can cause additional damage or injury during excessive winds. Look for downed electrical lines, fallen tree branches or other backyard items that could have been thrown and take pictures and notes of damage to your property.
You may need to call a specialist to clean up fallen trees and debris. Tree removal may be covered under your property damage insurance policy. Otherwise, remove any items that you safely can.
You can initiate your claim once you've gathered details of what took place. Remember to save any receipts or invoices for cleanup or removal services to provide to your adjuster.
Depending on the damage involved with your claim, you may have to work with multiple professionals coming to your home. It’s important to choose contractors who have your best interest in mind and do quality work.
Many insurance companies have preferred contractors that specialize in rehabilitation and repair work. Working with a preferred contractor may help make your claims experience easier. Plus, their work may be warranted and you may have more transparency into how your claim is being processed.
Your contractor will inspect the damaged area and provide an estimate of your repairs directly to your insurance adjuster. Your contractor will assess the damage and provide your insurance adjuster with a detailed breakdown of the estimated costs for the necessary repairs.
You may be surprised at the scope of your repairs. For example, a seemingly isolated area of water damage may reveal a much bigger problem. Water can travel out and down from the source, so it's not uncommon to need ceiling repairs from an upstairs leak. A qualified contractor or field insurance adjuster can assess the extent of the damage and what repairs may be necessary.
It's not a requirement to use a preferred contractor to work on your insurance claim, but there may be some things to consider when choosing your own versus a preferred vendor. For example, a preferred vendor may be able to collect payment directly from your insurance policy benefits, meaning you won’t pay out of pocket for repairs and wait for reimbursement.
If you have a mortgage on your home, your insurance company will likely make any claims payment to you and your mortgage company. To pay for your repairs, your mortgage bank must endorse the claims check before you can cash it and pay your contractor.
You're responsible for paying your deductible, which you determine through your policy and coverage choices. Some policies use a percentage deductible, like 1% of the amount that you've chosen to insure the structure of your home for. Other policies use a flat amount for the deductible. And depending on your state, you may have separate deductibles for things like wind or hail. Some states may even have separate coverages for damage from windstorms.
If you don't know your deductibles, review your coverage before a claim happens so you can be prepared financially should one occur.
Your contractor may require your deductible as a down payment on the total repair work. Your deductible typically isn’t due until your contractor and insurance adjuster have presented an agreed estimate that illustrates the costs, materials and labor for the repair work. In some cases, if you're working with a water mitigation company that leaves equipment like air movers and dehumidifiers at your property, you may have to pay your deductible even though repair work hasn't started.
After repairs start, keep an eye on things and communicate with your contractor. Make sure your contractor is meeting your expectations for quality of work. If additional damages or repairs are identified during the work, or if you feel like things aren't working the way you expected them to, contact your insurance provider.
The final stages of your claim may include some basic documentation such as a summary of your total claim and any warranties offered on materials and craftsmanship provided by your contractor.
Keep your records or store them digitally so you can access them later. If you plan to sell your home, it may be helpful for a potential buyer to see the extent of any repairs and insurance claims you had.
Once your repairs are complete and the contractors are gone, you may feel a deep sense of relief. You've made it through an unfortunate circumstance and your house can finally feel like a home again.
Review policy types and coverage limits to determine the coverage you need.
