The Claim Readiness Guide

Your inventory is your single most important claim document. Without it, you are at the mercy of what the adjuster decides your belongings were worth.

Walk every room and photograph everything

Open every drawer, every cabinet, every closet. The adjuster will not give you credit for what they can't see documented.

Record serial numbers on electronics and appliances

Serial numbers prove ownership and establish model-specific replacement cost. Without them, carriers default to the cheapest comparable model.

Document high-value items separately

Jewelry, art, collectibles, instruments, firearms, and watches should each have their own photo, description, approximate value, and purchase date.

Store your inventory off-site

A home fire destroys on-site documentation. Use cloud storage, email it to yourself, or store a copy in a safe deposit box.

Update it annually

Every new purchase worth more than a few hundred dollars should be added. Your inventory from five years ago does not reflect what you own today.

Most policyholders discover their deductible when they file a claim. By then it's too late to plan around it.

Find your all-perils deductible on your declarations page

This is the amount you pay out of pocket before your policy responds. A $5,000 deductible means you absorb the first $5,000 of every covered claim.

Check for separate wind, hail, or named-storm deductibles

In many states, policies have a separate — and higher — deductible for wind or hurricane damage, often calculated as a percentage of your Coverage A limit.

Understand when NOT to file a claim

Filing a claim for a loss close to your deductible amount can result in a premium increase that costs more over three to five years than the claim paid out.

Build a deductible reserve

Treat your deductible like an emergency fund. If your deductible is $5,000 and you do not have $5,000 accessible, a covered loss is still a financial emergency.

A sublimit is a coverage cap within a coverage. Your policy may show $200,000 in personal property coverage and a $1,500 sublimit on jewelry theft.

Jewelry, watches, and furs

Standard homeowners policies typically cap jewelry theft coverage at $1,000 to $2,500 total — not per item. If you own jewelry worth more, you need a scheduled endorsement or a separate floater policy.

Electronics and computers

Some policies sublimit electronics separately. Business equipment used at home may be entirely excluded.

Fine art and collectibles

Paintings, sculptures, antiques, and sports memorabilia are frequently sublimited or excluded. They almost certainly need separate scheduling.

How to find your sublimits

Look in the Special Limits of Liability section — usually in Section I, Coverage C. Every item listed there has its own cap regardless of your total personal property limit.

These are the two most common catastrophic exclusions in standard homeowners policies. Neither carrier nor agent is required to proactively inform you of them.

Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood

Flood is excluded universally from standard HO-3 and HO-5 policies. This includes storm surge, overflow from rivers or lakes, and flash flooding.

NFIP flood insurance has its own limits

National Flood Insurance Program policies cap dwelling coverage at $250,000 and personal property at $100,000. In high-value homes, this may be insufficient.

Earthquake is excluded in most states

Even in California, earthquake coverage requires a separate policy or endorsement.

Sewer backup is not flood and not standard

Sewer or drain backup requires its own endorsement. It is inexpensive to add and frequently overlooked.

The decisions you make in the first 24 hours after a loss significantly affect your claim outcome.

Notify your carrier immediately

Most policies require prompt notice of loss. Delayed reporting can give the carrier grounds to dispute or deny coverage.

Document everything before cleanup begins

Do not throw anything away. Do not begin repairs. Photograph every inch of the damage before anything is touched.

File a police report for theft, vandalism, or suspicious fires

Theft claims without a police report are routinely questioned or denied. File the report even if recovery is unlikely.

Keep receipts for all emergency expenses

If your home is uninhabitable, your Additional Living Expense coverage reimburses hotel, meals, and storage. Every receipt counts.

Know your proof of loss deadline

Most policies require a sworn proof of loss within 60 days of a carrier request. Missing this deadline can void your claim.