How to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim

Doug Sibor is a former insurance writer for NerdWallet. He holds a bachelor's degree in English and Classics from Colby College and an MBA in finance from Boston University. His work has appeared in The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Brenda J. Cude
Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia

Brenda J. Cude is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics at the University of Georgia. Dr. Cude has served in various consumer-focused roles for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners since 1994. She has also been a member of the Advisory Council for the Center for Insurance Policy and Research; a Board Member of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud; a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance; and a Board Member for the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association. Dr. Cude’s primary research interest is consumer decision-making, with an emphasis in personal financial literacy.

At NerdWallet, our content goes through a rigorous editorial review process. We have such confidence in our accurate and useful content that we let outside experts inspect our work.

Caitlin Constantine
Assistant Assigning Editor | Home insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance

Caitlin Constantine is an assigning editor at NerdWallet, focusing on homeowners, renters and pet insurance. She has more than 15 years of experience in digital media, including as the deputy managing editor at The Penny Hoarder and as a digital producer for a 24/7 news station based in the Tampa Bay area. Caitlin enjoys exploring the ways technology can help people become better informed about the world. She currently lives outside Asheville, North Carolina.

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

Maybe it's a loud crash overhead. Maybe it's shattering glass. Maybe it's a steady drip of water from your kitchen ceiling. Any of these sounds could mean you quickly need to learn how to file a home insurance claim.

You can't just kick back and wait for your insurance company to pay up. You’ll have to report the issue promptly, keep track of all expenses and communicate with the insurer to make sure you get paid in full for your homeowners insurance claim. Here are seven tips to help make the process easier.

A person who evaluates insurance claims. Your insurance company will assign an adjuster to decide how much it will pay in response to your claim.

A request for reimbursement under the terms of your insurance policy.

The amount your insurance company will subtract from your claim payout.

1. File your home insurance claim immediately

Depending on your insurer, you may be able to submit home insurance claims online, through an app, via your agent or by calling the company. No matter which method you choose, reporting a claim right away can put money in your pocket faster.

Once your insurer receives your claim, it will assign a claim number and send an adjuster to assess the damage. Shortly after, the insurance company will issue an initial payment — minus your deductible — to cover the estimated cost of repairs.

If your claim occurred because of storm damage, it's likely other homes in the area were also affected. That means there will be more claims and greater demand on your insurer. Submitting a claim immediately can help get you close to the front of the line.

2. Document the damage

Taking photos and creating an inventory of damaged items gives you and your insurer a record of everything that needs to be repaired or replaced. The more information the insurer has, the better — so try to get pictures of labels and model numbers, especially for more expensive items. Here’s how to create a home inventory .

3. Make temporary repairs

If you have a hole in your roof, you don't have to live with it until the adjuster arrives. Once you've documented the damage for your insurer, you can make temporary repairs if it's safe to.

Whether it's stopping a leak or boarding up a broken window, stopgap repairs can prevent further issues and save time and money. If you don't take steps to fix an immediate problem and the insurer thinks you could have, you might not be fully covered. Say you don't board up a broken window and someone climbs through and steals a TV. Your insurance company might not pay for it.

As long as you keep receipts and can document why the repairs were needed, you can submit the expenses to your insurer as part of the claim.

4. Communicate with your adjuster

Your insurance company will appoint an adjuster to handle the claim, and that person will be your primary point of contact throughout the process. You'll want to detail the damage for them, answer any questions they have, provide documentation of expenses and update them on the status of repairs.

You’ll need to be your own biggest advocate. Remember, the adjuster represents the insurance company's interests, not yours.

"Be politely assertive" with the adjuster, says Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a nonprofit and advocate for people with insurance. "Don't come in with boxing gloves ready to fight."

You also can hire a public insurance adjuster; they'll manage the claim for you as the policyholder and advocate on your behalf with the insurer. In exchange for their expertise, you'll typically pay a public adjuster a percentage of the final claim amount. This can range from 5% to 20%, depending on where you live and the size of the claim.

5. Save your receipts

You could spend a lot of money on temporary repairs before receiving a payment from your insurance company. If you receive a check from the insurer upfront, you'll still need to save all receipts — estimates won't cut it. The initial payment typically doesn't cover the full cost of repairs. If you want to get paid back in full, you'll need to prove what you actually spent.

6. Consider your contractor

If your home is damaged, you don’t have to use the insurance company’s recommended contractor to do the repairs. Bach says insurers tend to bring in companies they frequently partner with. However, you can always get cost estimates from other contractors on your own.

Before you hire someone, we recommend doing your research by reading reviews from previous customers and checking their Better Business Bureau listing. You may also want to look up the contractor on your state licensing agency’s website. Depending on the state, licensed contractors may be required to have insurance, undergo certain types of training and comply with local building codes. (Note that not all states require contractors to be licensed.)

7. Get help with living expenses

If your home is so badly damaged that you can’t live in it, your insurance company may be able to help. Loss of use coverage is part of a standard homeowners policy and will pay for things like hotel stays and restaurant meals if you can’t live at home. Again, you’ll want to keep all receipts to make sure you’re fully reimbursed for this part of your homeowners insurance claim.

Filing a homeowners insurance claim often results in higher rates, but it depends on where you live and what caused the damage. For example, in Texas, homeowners insurance companies aren’t allowed to charge you more if your claim stems from a natural cause, such as weather. Check with your state’s department of insurance for specifics about where you live.

You have a few options. First, you can try appealing your case directly with the home insurance company. If that doesn’t work, you can file a complaint with your state’s department of insurance. You can also try hiring a public adjuster, lawyer or mediator to assist. Learn more about how to dispute a home insurance settlement or denial .

Wind and hail are the most common causes of homeowners insurance claims, according to data from the Insurance Information Institute [0]

Insurance Information Institute . Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and renters insurance. Accessed Feb 14, 2024.

. The Insurance Information Institute calculates that wind or hail claims are filed each year for one in 35 insured homes.

Whether a claim is worth making depends on a variety of factors. For instance, if the damage is minor, you might not get much of a payout once the insurer subtracts your deductible. Plus, filing a claim could lead to a higher premium, which could cancel out the benefits you receive for a relatively small claim. For these reasons, you might not want to file a home insurance claim unless the damage is significant.

Filing a homeowners insurance claim often results in higher rates, but it depends on where you live and what caused the damage. For example, in Texas, homeowners insurance companies aren’t allowed to charge you more if your claim stems from a natural cause, such as weather. Check with your state’s department of insurance for specifics about where you live.

You have a few options. First, you can try appealing your case directly with the home insurance company. If that doesn’t work, you can file a complaint with your state’s department of insurance. You can also try hiring a public adjuster, lawyer or mediator to assist. Learn more about

how to dispute a home insurance settlement or denial

Wind and hail are the most common causes of homeowners insurance claims, according to data from the Insurance Information Institute

. The Insurance Information Institute calculates that wind or hail claims are filed each year for one in 35 insured homes.

Whether a claim is worth making depends on a variety of factors. For instance, if the damage is minor, you might not get much of a payout once the insurer subtracts your deductible. Plus, filing a claim could lead to a higher premium, which could cancel out the benefits you receive for a relatively small claim. For these reasons, you might not want to file a home insurance claim unless the damage is significant.

You’re following Doug Sibor
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following.

Doug Sibor is a former insurance writer for NerdWallet. He holds a bachelor's degree in English and Classics from Colby College and an MBA in finance from Boston University. His work has appeared in The New York Times and The Washington Post. See full bio.

On a similar note.

Free homeowners insurance comparison

Compare top home insurance companies.

Download the app

Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific product’s site. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institution’s Terms and Conditions. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion® directly.

NerdUp by NerdWallet credit card: NerdWallet is not a bank. Bank services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust, member FDIC. The NerdUp by NerdWallet Credit Card is issued by Evolve Bank & Trust pursuant to a license from MasterCard International Inc.

Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.

NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539

California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812

Insurance Services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no.OK92033) Insurance Licenses

NerdWallet™ | 55 Hawthorne St. - 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105