That’s solid advice on not overdoing the repairs before insurance gets a look. I’ve been tempted to patch things up “just right” myself, but I learned the hard way that hiding damage can backfire. The photos really do help—my adjuster actually thanked me for sending clear shots of the mess and my quick tarp job. It saved time and probably kept my claim from getting delayed. It’s tough not to stress about the mess, but keeping receipts and documenting everything has saved me more than once... especially when money’s tight and you’re trying to avoid taking out a loan just to fix a roof.
The photos really do help—my adjuster actually thanked me for sending clear shots of the mess and my quick tarp job. It saved time and probably kept my claim from getting delayed.
That’s spot on. I’ve had claims drag out just because the “before” and “after” pics weren’t clear enough, or I didn’t bother snapping a shot of the temporary fix. Insurance folks seem to appreciate it when you make their job easier, even if it means showing off your ugly blue tarp handiwork.
But I’ll admit, sometimes I get impatient and want to patch things up myself before anyone comes out. It’s tough staring at a mess on your roof, especially when rain’s in the forecast. Still, I’ve learned that jumping the gun can bite you later—one time, I replaced a few shingles myself and the adjuster said it muddied up the claim.
Curious if anyone here has ever had an adjuster push back because you did too much DIY before they arrived? Or maybe even got denied because of it? I wonder how much is too much when it comes to emergency repairs versus “fixing” things for real.
I’ve run into the same dilemma—how much is too much before the adjuster gets there? In my experience, insurance companies expect you to do “reasonable emergency repairs” to prevent further damage (like tarping a roof or shutting off water), but anything beyond that can cause issues. I had a tenant once who replaced a whole section of drywall after a leak before I could get photos. The adjuster flagged it and said it made it harder to confirm the extent of the original damage, so the claim payout ended up lower than expected.
Here’s what I stick to now: 1) Take a ton of photos from every angle, before touching anything. 2) Do only what’s necessary to stop things from getting worse—think tarps, buckets, shutting off utilities. 3) Save receipts for any materials used in the temporary fix. 4) Leave the real repairs until after the adjuster’s visit, unless they specifically tell you otherwise.
It’s tempting to just fix it all, especially when you want things back to normal, but I’ve learned it’s better to let the claim process play out. The insurance folks seem to appreciate the documentation, even if it means living with a mess for a bit longer.
That’s pretty much how I handle it too. I learned the hard way after a pipe burst in my basement—jumped in and started patching things up before snapping any photos. Ended up with a smaller payout than I expected because the adjuster couldn’t see the original mess. Now I just do the bare minimum to stop more damage, take a bunch of pics, and keep every receipt. It’s not fun living with the mess, but it’s better than getting stuck with a bigger bill later.
I get why you’d want to document everything before touching a thing, but sometimes waiting can make things worse—especially with water leaks. I’ve had adjusters tell me it’s fine to do emergency repairs to prevent further damage, as long as you keep a record. Maybe it’s a regional thing, but I’d rather patch up a roof leak fast than risk mold or rot. Just my two cents...