Why Should I Take Photos of My Home Before Disaster Strikes?

Walk through each room and photograph furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, and personal items. Open closets and drawers, and capture serial numbers if you can. These images show what you owned before water damage occurred, which matters when you list items for a claim.

Store the photos in a safe place outside your home, like a cloud service or a family member's house. Update the photos once a year or after major purchases. If you live in a flood-prone area, keep a copy in a waterproof bag too, since water can enter homes during heavy rains.

• Photograph each room from multiple angles
• Include close-ups of valuables and serial numbers
• Capture the condition of floors, walls, and ceilings
• Note the make and model of major appliances
• Photograph outdoor structures and landscaping

Local water damage pros use your photos to understand the original layout and finishes. This helps them match materials like flooring, paint, and trim during repairs. Clear photos can also reveal hidden features, such as built-in shelving or custom moldings, that need to be recreated.

When you show the pros what your home looked like, they can plan the work more accurately. For example, if a burst pipe soaked your living room, photos of the carpet and ceiling help them know what to replace. This reduces guesswork and keeps the repair process smoother.

Having photos ready means you do not have to search for evidence after a disaster. You can provide them to your insurance company and to the pros who handle the cleanup. This can help the work begin sooner, since the pros can see the scope of the damage and the original state.

Photos also help you communicate clearly with everyone involved. Instead of describing what was lost, you can show it. This reduces misunderstandings and helps you stay organized during a stressful time.