What should you document after a disaster hits your home?
Written by Andy Kruger
BuildSOS CEO5 min read
The short answer
Once it’s safe, take 8 photos of the outside of your home (all 4 sides, all 4 corners), just like your pre-disaster set. Then go inside and photograph or video every room and every item that’s damaged. Update your asset list to mark what’s affected. This becomes the “after” that your insurer compares against your “before,” and it’s the single biggest factor in how smoothly your claim moves.
Why post-disaster documentation matters
Your claim is a comparison: what you had, against what you have now. If you completed your 8 photos and asset list beforehand, this step is what makes that preparation pay off.
If you didn’t document beforehand, this step matters even more. Thorough documentation now is still the strongest evidence you can bring to a claim.
What to document, step by step
- Prioritize safety first. Don’t enter unstable structures. If it’s not safe to assess, wait for confirmation that it is.
- Take the same 8 exterior photos you’d take pre-disaster: all 4 sides, all 4 corners, in the home’s current condition.
- Go room by room inside. Photograph or video every space and every damaged item.
- Update your asset list. Mark what’s damaged, destroyed, or missing against your original list.
- Prevent further damage where you safely can. A tarp over a damaged roof, for example. Keep receipts for anything you spend on this. Insurance may not cover damage that happens after the storm if reasonable steps weren’t taken.
- Upload everything to your BuildSOS profile alongside your original documentation.
Frequently asked
What if I didn’t document my home before the disaster?
Document as thoroughly as you can now. It’s not as strong as a dated “before” set, but it’s still meaningful evidence for your claim.
Is it okay to start cleaning up before I document?
Document first wherever it’s safe to do so. Once damage is cleared away, it’s much harder to prove.
What counts as reasonable steps to prevent further damage?
Simple, temporary measures like tarping a roof or boarding a broken window. Keep any receipts for materials, since these costs are often reimbursable.
About the author
Andy Kruger
Andy Kruger is CEO of BuildSOS, author of When the Storm Comes, and sits on multiple boards and advisory groups shaping disaster resilience policy and research.
About Andy