Property damage hits fast. A burst pipe, a fire, a storm, falling tree damage. Suddenly your home looks nothing like it did this morning. The next 24 hours matter more than most homeowners realize, and what you do in that window can directly affect what your insurance company pays you.

Here’s what to do right now.

Make Sure Everyone Is Safe First

Before anything else, get your family out of harm’s way. If there’s structural damage, active flooding, gas leaks, or fire, don’t re-enter until emergency responders clear the property. No document, no photo, no personal item is worth your safety.

Call 911 if there’s an immediate threat. Then call your utility companies to shut off gas, electric, or water if needed.

Document Everything Before You Touch It

This is the most important step most homeowners skip. Before you move furniture, clean up debris, or make any repairs: document the damage.

Take photos and video of every affected area. Walk through the entire property, not just the obvious damage. Capture close-up shots and wide shots. Film it. Narrate what you’re seeing. The more detail, the better.

Your phone timestamps everything automatically. Don’t crop them out.

Write down what happened: the time, what you noticed first, and how the damage progressed. This becomes part of your claim record and it protects your financial recovery if the insurance company later questions the cause or extent of the damage.

Call Your Insurance Company to Report the Claim

You’re typically required to report damage promptly under your policy. Call to open your claim, but keep the conversation short. Give them the basic facts: what happened, when, and where.

Don’t accept any settlement offers at this stage. Don’t sign anything. Don’t agree to an adjuster visit without knowing your rights first. You’ve just filed. The full assessment hasn’t happened yet.

Write down the name of every person you speak with, the date, and what was said. Keep every email and letter you receive.

Make Emergency Repairs Only

You have a duty under your policy to prevent further damage. That means you should board up broken windows, put a tarp over a damaged roof, or stop an active leak. These are emergency repairs and your insurance company should cover the cost.

But don’t make permanent repairs yet. Don’t replace flooring, repaint walls, or rebuild any structure before your claim is documented and assessed. Permanent repairs before proper documentation can give your insurer grounds to dispute the scope of the damage.

Save every receipt for emergency materials or contractor work. Those costs belong in your claim.

Inventory What Was Damaged or Lost

Start a list of every damaged item you can identify. Include a description, approximate age, and estimated value. If you have receipts, photos from before the damage, or serial numbers, gather them.

For structural damage, note every room and every affected surface. Don’t assume the adjuster will find everything. They often don’t.

This inventory becomes one of the most important documents in your claim.

Watch Out for Storm Chasers and Unsolicited Contractors

After major storms, contractors show up fast. Some are legitimate. Many are not. Be cautious of anyone who shows up uninvited, pressures you to sign immediately, or asks you to sign over your insurance rights.

Never sign an Assignment of Benefits agreement without consulting a professional first. These documents transfer your claim rights to the contractor. Once signed, you lose control of your own settlement.

Consider Calling a Public Adjuster Before the Insurance Adjuster Visits

Most homeowners don’t know they have the right to hire their own claims professional. A public adjuster works for you, not the insurance company.

We assess your damage independently, document it thoroughly, and present a claim that reflects the true cost of your loss. When an insurance adjuster visits a property before a public adjuster has been involved, homeowners often accept the first offer without knowing it’s far below what they’re entitled to.

A call before that first adjuster visit can make a real difference in your outcome.

What You Do Now Protects What You Recover Later

The first 24 hours set the foundation for your entire claim. Document thoroughly. Make only emergency repairs. Report promptly but carefully. And don’t feel pressured to move fast on decisions that will affect your long-term financial recovery.

If you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to help. The Public’s Adjuster has worked hundreds of property damage claims across Connecticut. We know how insurers assess damage. We used to work for them.

Contact us before you accept anything.