Should I make temporary repairs before the adjuster visits?

Yes, temporary repairs before the adjuster visits are permitted. Most homeowners policies actually require them. After a covered loss, policyholders carry a duty to mitigate, meaning they must take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Damage that worsens while waiting for inspection can give the carrier grounds to deny the additional harm that timely action would have stopped.

What is the difference between a temporary and a permanent repair?

Temporary repairs stop damage from spreading. Permanent repairs restore the property to its original condition. The distinction matters because making permanent fixes before the adjuster documents the original damage can complicate a claim and make it harder to verify what happened. Reasonable temporary measures include tarping a damaged roof, boarding up broken windows or doors, shutting off water to stop an active leak, removing standing water, pulling up soaked carpet, and running fans to slow mold growth.

Why should you document damage before any repair work begins?

Photographs and video taken before any cleanup or repair serve as the adjuster’s view into the condition of the property at the time of loss. Capture close-up shots of individual damaged items and wide-angle shots showing the full scope of damage. Photograph debris before removing it, because once it is gone, the visual record is gone with it. This documentation protects the claim and gives the carrier a clear basis for payment. For context on how that payment is calculated, see how replacement cost vs. actual cash value affects claim settlements.

Are the costs of temporary repairs reimbursable?

The reasonable cost of emergency temporary repairs is generally reimbursable as part of the claim. Keep every receipt and note the date, the vendor, the amount, and why the repair was necessary. For example, after a storm tears shingles off a roof in Augusta, a homeowner photographs the damage and pays a contractor $600 to tarp the roof that afternoon. That tarp prevents thousands of dollars in interior water damage over the following rainy days. When the adjuster arrives, the original damage is documented and the $600 tarp cost is included in the claim. The deductible still applies to the total loss, but the tarp cost counts toward the covered amount.

What happens if permanent repairs are completed before the adjuster inspects?

Replacing structural elements or gutting rooms before the adjuster can verify the original damage may limit the insurer’s ability to assess the loss accurately. In some cases it gives the carrier grounds to dispute line items it cannot independently corroborate. For example, a homeowner who replaces a water-damaged subfloor the day after a pipe bursts, before the adjuster visits, may find that the carrier accepts the invoice but questions items it cannot verify against the original condition. Holding off on permanent repairs until after the inspection protects both the claim and the settlement process.

When the right boundary between temporary and permanent is unclear, contact the carrier before spending to confirm a repair qualifies. A coverage review can clarify the mitigation and emergency repair provisions in a specific policy. Understanding how carriers are selected can also help set expectations for how different insurers handle claims documentation. For details on what a coverage review includes, read what a free coverage review involves.