First Steps After Your Home Is Damaged: What to Do Before the Adjuster Comes
Learning goal: Know the steps that protect both your home and your claim in the first days after damage.
Short answer
Make your home safe, then make only temporary repairs to stop more damage, such as tarping a roof or boarding a window. Photograph everything first, keep receipts for repairs and replacements, and report the claim promptly. The Texas regulator advises against permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage.
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On this page
The Fuller Picture
Most policies expect you to protect your property from further damage after a loss. That means small, reasonable steps right away, not a full renovation before anyone has inspected. Good records from day one make the rest of the claim easier.
Key Takeaways
- Texas Department of Insurance: "Make only temporary repairs to protect your house and belongings. For instance, board up broken windows or put a tarp over a damaged roof."
- "Keep receipts. To get full payment, you may need to prove to the insurance company that you replaced destroyed items," per TDI.
- Photograph and video the damage before cleaning up.
- Report the claim as soon as you can; policies have deadlines.
- Keep damaged items until the adjuster says you can throw them away.
Real-World Example
A tarp and a camera
A windstorm tears shingles off Omar's roof and rain starts dripping into a bedroom. He photographs the roof and ceiling, moves furniture away from the leak, and pays a roofer $350 to tarp the roof that evening. He keeps the receipt, reports the claim the next morning, and waits for the adjuster before hiring anyone to replace the roof.
Common Mistakes
- Doing permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects.
- Throwing away damaged items without photos.
- Waiting weeks to report the claim.
Interactive Exercise
First 48 hours
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Knowledge Check
Question: A storm damages your roof and rain is coming in. What does the Texas regulator advise first?
Recommended Insurpedia Tools
- Insurance Preparedness Checklist: Twelve insurance questions worth having an answer to, with a place to learn more about each one you have not looked at yet. No score.
Related Insurance Terms
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Questions to explore next
Questions readers often ask next about this topic:
- Will my policy pay for the tarp?
- What if I can't reach an adjuster?
- How do I document damage well?
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The factual claims on this page were checked against these sources. Rules and figures change, so check the source itself if you need to confirm the current version.
- Home insurance guideTexas Department of Insurance
Educational information, not advice: This lesson is for general education only, not legal, financial, or insurance advice. Actual coverage, discounts, and requirements depend on your policy’s wording, your insurer, and the laws of your state. Confirm specifics with your own insurer or a licensed agent before making a decision. Insurpedia does not sell insurance and does not recommend specific insurers. The temporary repair and receipt points come from the Texas Department of Insurance.