Before cleanup or repairs begin, photograph and video the property thoroughly. Start with wide shots that show the overall condition, then take close-up images of individual areas, damaged materials, contents, water lines, openings, and anything that may help show how the loss occurred. Document each affected room and exterior area from multiple angles whenever it is safe to do so. 

The goal is to preserve a clear record of the condition immediately after the loss—before cleanup, removal, or repairs change what can be seen and evaluated. 

Keep damaged materials, components, and contents when it is safe and practical to do so. If something must be removed because of safety, sanitation, or emergency mitigation, photograph it thoroughly first and preserve representative samples when possible. Keep all receipts, invoices, estimates, mitigation records, contractor documents, correspondence, and other claim-related records together in one place. 

Once damaged property is discarded or records are lost, the opportunity to inspect, verify, measure, or document that part of the loss may be gone. Preserving the evidence helps support what was damaged, what work was necessary, and what costs were actually incurred. 

Document where the damage began, what caused it, how it entered or affected the property, and the path the damage followed. Look for conditions such as roof openings, fallen trees, broken windows, plumbing failures, rising water, sewer backup, fire origin areas, or other visible evidence that may help explain the loss.

The cause of the damage can directly affect how the policy responds. Preserving evidence of what happened helps prevent important facts from being replaced later by assumptions about the loss.

Take reasonable temporary steps to prevent the loss from getting worse when it is safe to do so. This may include tarping damaged roofing, boarding openings, moving vulnerable contents, extracting standing water, using drying equipment, or securing damaged areas. Photograph the condition before temporary work begins and keep receipts, invoices, and records for all emergency measures.

Why this matters: most property policies require the insured to take reasonable steps to protect the property after a loss. Failing to mitigate additional damage can create disputes over what was caused by the original event versus what happened afterward. Properly documenting temporary protection helps preserve the claim and shows that reasonable steps were taken to prevent further damage.