Before the storm
Before-the-storm photo checklist
A room-by-room list of what to photograph and video before a hurricane, so you have a clear record of your property's condition if you ever need to file a claim. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes for most homes.
Room-by-room checklist
Exterior: all four sides
- Stand back far enough to show each full side of the home: front, back, left and right.
- Close-ups of siding, stucco, trim, soffits, fascia and gutters.
- Driveway, walkways and landscaping, including any cracks that already exist.
Roof, from the ground
- Never climb the roof. Shoot each slope from the ground or a safe window and zoom in on shingles or tiles, vents and flashing.
- Note the roof's age or install year if you know it.
Windows, doors and shutters
- Every window and exterior door, plus the seals and frames.
- Shutters or impact glass in place, with any labels or stickers visible.
- The garage door, its tracks and its rating label if it has one.
Fences, pool and screen enclosure
- Every run of fence and each gate.
- Pool, deck, pump and heater; screen enclosure panels and frame.
- Sheds, docks, outdoor kitchens, A/C condensers and generators.
Every interior room, in a slow video pan
- Walk each room slowly: walls first, then contents, then the floor.
- Say the date, the address and the room name out loud as you record.
- Open closets and cabinets so the contents are visible.
Ceilings and floors
- Photograph every ceiling, including stains that are already there, so new damage is easy to tell apart.
- Floors (wood, tile, carpet), baseboards and transitions.
Appliances, with model and serial numbers
- Photograph the label on the refrigerator, washer, dryer, range, dishwasher, water heater, A/C air handler and TVs.
- Take a wide shot of each appliance where it sits, too.
Valuables and receipts
- Jewelry, electronics, art, collectibles, tools and bikes.
- Receipts, appraisals and warranty cards. A photo of a receipt is better than none.
Garage and vehicles
- Garage contents, shelving, tools and freezers.
- Each vehicle on all sides, plus the VIN plate and the odometer.
Your policy declarations page
- Photograph or scan every page of the declarations page, and any separate windstorm or flood policy.
- Write down the hurricane deductible dollar amount; Florida insurers must show it on the declarations page.
Protect the photos
Back it up to the cloud
- Turn on automatic backup (iCloud Photos, Google Photos, Dropbox or OneDrive) and confirm the upload finished before the power goes out.
- Email a few key photos to yourself as a second copy.
Add a date stamp
- Leave your phone's date and time set automatically; the capture time is saved inside each photo file.
- For video, say the date out loud at the start of each clip.
Keep the originals
- Do not edit, crop or filter the originals. Share copies if needed and keep the original files as they came off the phone.
Safety first: finish this well before conditions worsen, and follow your local emergency officials. Educational checklist, not legal advice. Every policy and loss is different.