What Should I Photograph After Flooding for Insurance?

Begin by taking photos that show the full extent of the flooding. Capture the water's height against walls or furniture legs to document depth. Walk through each affected room, taking wide-angle shots from every corner. These images establish the scale of the incident for your insurance adjuster.

Make sure to photograph where the water entered your home, if you can safely see it. This could be a burst pipe, a leaking appliance, or water coming under a door. If the source is outside, like from heavy rain, take pictures of the yard or street conditions. These photos help tell the complete story of the event.

Your building's structure needs thorough photographic evidence. Take clear pictures of damaged drywall, baseboards, insulation, and flooring. Show where materials are swollen, stained, or buckling. Pay special attention to areas where different materials meet, like where the wall meets the floor, as these are common failure points.

Photograph ceilings for signs of water intrusion from above. Check for sagging or discoloration. Also document any damage to built-in elements like kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and built-in shelving. These are often considered part of the structure.

• Water lines on walls and baseboards
• Buckled hardwood, laminate, or tile flooring
• Soggy, stained, or disintegrating drywall
• Wet insulation in attics or crawl spaces
• Swollen or warped door and window frames
• Damaged subflooring visible from a crawl space or from below

As you take photos, organize them logically. Create digital folders by room, such as 'Kitchen' or 'Master Bedroom.' Within each folder, you might have subfolders for 'Structural,' 'Furniture,' and 'Personal Items.' This makes it easy to present your evidence to an adjuster and ensures you don't miss documenting any area.

Immediately back up your photos to a cloud service or an external hard drive not kept in the home. Write brief notes for each major photo, including the date, time, and what it shows. Policies vary, and your insurer decides what is covered. Thorough, well-organized photos give your claim the strongest foundation.

• Take photos before removing any water or starting repairs
• Use your phone's timestamp feature, or ensure dates are correct
• Take videos for a 360-degree view of damaged rooms
• Keep original, high-resolution files; do not delete or edit them
• Note the brand, age, and approximate value of damaged items
• Store copies with a friend, family member, or in the cloud