Before the Insurance Adjuster Arrives — A Preparation Checklist

The adjuster will inspect the damage and produce an estimate, but they'll also ask questions and review whatever you give them. Having the relevant documents organized and accessible (digital folder or a binder) makes the inspection more efficient and the file more complete.

• Declarations page — the dec page of your homeowners policy.
• Claim number — the number the carrier assigned when you reported the loss.
• Date of loss — with any supporting evidence (weather record, plumber invoice).
• Emergency repair receipts — any temporary repairs you've already paid for (tarp install, water mitigation, board-up).
• Mitigation paperwork — if you've had a restoration company in (water claims especially) — scope of work, daily logs, invoices.
• Contractor estimates — from qualified contractors for the affected work.
• Prior-claim history if asked — the carrier may already have it.

Take a thorough set of your own photos before the inspection, especially if mitigation or temporary repairs have already changed what's visible. The adjuster will take their own photos, but yours go in your file regardless of what they capture or don't.

Cover every damaged area, wide context shots and close-ups, soft metals and collateral damage you noticed, interior damage from any room affected, and the source of damage where applicable (the broken pipe, the impact point, the wet wall cavity).

Walk the property with the adjuster

Don't hand them the documents and disappear. Walk the affected areas with them. Point out what you've noticed. Mention damage in places they might not check unprompted — interior rooms above an affected ceiling, the slope of the roof you couldn't safely see, the wall cavity behind a cabinet, the attic.

Be specific, not exhaustive

You don't need to argue every line item. You do need to ensure the adjuster sees what's actually damaged. "I noticed water staining on the ceiling in the bedroom upstairs and a soft spot on the floor" is more useful than a long list of speculative damage.

Take notes

Note the adjuster's name, the inspection time, the areas they examined, and any questions they asked. If they made comments about cause of loss or coverage, jot them down. These notes can be useful weeks later.

Don't sign anything substantive on the spot

Some adjusters will ask you to sign a sworn proof of loss or a release at the end of the inspection. Sworn statements that lock in the claim before you've had time to review the estimate aren't usually a good idea to sign on the spot. Ask for time to review.

A handful of patterns produce most of the miscommunication we see on inspection-related disputes. They're avoidable with a little intentionality.

• Vague language about the date of loss ("sometime in late April" instead of a specific date).
• Off-hand comments about prior damage or maintenance history that the adjuster interprets differently than intended.
• Speculation about cause of loss instead of describing what was observed.
• Assumptions about what's covered or excluded — leave coverage analysis to the policy and the formal claim file.
• Letting the adjuster onto the roof without anyone present (this can be more about safety than communication, but it matters).

• Note in writing what was inspected and what was discussed.
• Send any documents the adjuster asked for promptly.
• When the estimate arrives, review it against your own photos and contractor estimates line by line.
• If anything appears missing or misvalued, document it specifically and prepare a supplement request.
• Don't sign a release on the settlement until you're confident the scope and pricing are right.

Some homeowners want a licensed public adjuster present at the carrier's inspection — to make sure the scope is documented fully, to point out items the carrier's inspector might not check unprompted, and to keep the inspection thorough.

This is most useful on complex claims, contested losses, or situations where the homeowner feels at a disadvantage in the conversation. It's not necessary on every claim. The initial review is free and can include a discussion of whether being present at the inspection makes sense.