Home / Property Damage Checklist
Your home has been damaged by a disaster, fire, water, or other event.
9 expert-curated steps · Organized by urgency · Free preview below
What most people ask first
What does my insurance actually cover?
How do I file a claim and what happens next?
How do I find trustworthy contractors?
Understand what your homeowners or renters insurance covers
Most people have no idea what their policy includes or excludes until they need it. Review it now — not after disaster strikes.
Why this matters: Standard homeowners insurance has significant exclusions that catch people off guard. Knowing your coverage lets you fill gaps before you need it.
Create a home inventory before disaster strikes
Walk through every room and document what you own. Photos, video, receipts, and serial numbers. Store it in NowWhat vault.
Why this matters: After a disaster, you'll need to prove what you owned and its value. Without documentation, you'll get a fraction of what you're owed.
Know your deductible and when to file a claim
Filing small claims can raise your rates more than the payout is worth. Understand the math before you file.
Why this matters: Not every incident should be an insurance claim. Understanding the financial tradeoffs prevents rate increases that cost more long-term.
Document everything before cleanup
Before you touch anything, take extensive photos and video of all damage. This is your evidence for the insurance claim.
Why this matters: Insurance adjusters evaluate damage based on documentation. Once you clean up, the evidence is gone. Document first, then protect.
File your insurance claim and understand the process
Call your insurance company immediately. Understand what happens next: adjuster visit, estimate, payment timeline.
Why this matters: The claims process is adversarial — your insurance company wants to pay as little as possible. Understanding the process protects you.
4 more steps available
Create a free NowWhat account to unlock the full 9-step checklist, track your progress, assign tasks to family members, and get “Questions to Ask” guidance for each step.
Unlock full checklist — freeNo credit card required