How to File a Home Insurance Claim: Step-by-Step Guide

When your home suffers damage from a fire, storm, theft, or other covered event, knowing how to properly file an insurance claim can save you thousands of dollars and weeks of stress. The claims process varies by insurer and claim complexity, but following these steps ensures the best possible outcome.

See our full comparison at homebeehub.

Immediate Actions (First 24 Hours)

1. Ensure Safety First

Before documenting damage or calling your insurer, ensure everyone is safe. If there's structural damage, gas leaks, electrical hazards, or fire risk, evacuate immediately and call 911. Do not re-enter until authorities confirm it's safe.

For less severe damage like water leaks or broken windows, address immediate safety concerns: turn off water at the main valve if pipes burst, shut off electricity if there's water near outlets, and cover broken windows to prevent further damage or theft.

2. Mitigate Further Damage

Your insurance policy requires you to prevent additional damage when possible. This means placing tarps over roof damage, boarding up broken windows, turning off water to prevent continued flooding, or removing valuable items from areas at risk.

Save all receipts for emergency repairs. Most policies reimburse reasonable costs for temporary repairs like tarps, plywood, or emergency plumbing services. Typical reimbursement for emergency mitigation: $500-$2,000.

What NOT to do: Don't make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects (this can void your claim), don't throw away damaged items before documentation, and don't admit fault if someone was injured on your property.

3. Document Everything

Before cleaning up or removing anything, thoroughly document the damage. Modern smartphones make this easy:

Take photos of: Every damaged room from multiple angles, close-ups of specific damage, serial numbers on damaged appliances or electronics, the overall scene showing extent of damage, and before photos if you have them (this is why home inventories matter).

Take videos walking through damaged areas while narrating what happened and what's damaged. Videos provide context photos can't capture.

Write down: Date and time damage occurred, what caused the damage (storm, fire, burst pipe), immediate actions you took, and names of any witnesses.

4. Contact Your Insurance Company

Call your insurer within 24-48 hours of discovering the damage, even if it's a weekend or holiday. Most major insurers offer 24/7 claims hotlines.

When calling, you'll need: Your policy number, date and time of loss, description of what happened, extent of damage (estimated if unsure), and whether the home is habitable.

The representative will: Open a claim file and provide a claim number, explain next steps and timelines, schedule an adjuster inspection, and discuss your coverage and deductible.

Average time to schedule adjuster: 2-7 days for standard claims, 24-48 hours for severe damage requiring immediate attention.

The Claims Process (Days 2-30)

5. Meet with the Insurance Adjuster

The adjuster inspects your damage, verifies what's covered, and estimates repair costs. This typically happens 3-10 days after you file the claim.

During the inspection: Walk the adjuster through all damage areas, point out less obvious damage (water stains, ceiling cracks, etc.), provide your documentation (photos, videos, receipts), ask questions about coverage and timelines, and take notes on what the adjuster says.

Get contractor estimates: Before or after the adjuster visit, get 2-3 repair estimates from licensed contractors. If estimates significantly exceed the adjuster's assessment, you can negotiate.

6. Review the Settlement Offer

After inspection, the insurer sends a settlement offer, usually within 7-15 days. This details: What's covered and not covered, estimated repair costs, less your deductible, and payout amount.

Review carefully: Check if all damage is included, verify the repair cost estimates seem reasonable, confirm replacement cost vs actual cash value (if applicable), and look for items listed as "not covered" and understand why.

If the settlement seems low, you can dispute it. Provide your contractor estimates, get a second adjuster inspection (public adjusters charge 10-15% of settlement), or cite comparable repair costs in your area.

7. Receive Payment

Payment timing varies by claim size:

Small claims (under $10,000): Often paid within 10-15 days of settlement agreement

Medium claims ($10,000-$50,000): Typically 20-30 days

Large claims (over $50,000): May be paid in stages as repairs progress, 30-90 days total

For significant claims, insurers often issue an initial payment (minus depreciation if on ACV policy), then a final payment after repairs are completed and receipts provided.

Maximizing Your Claim Payout

These strategies help ensure you receive full compensation:

Keep meticulous records: Save every receipt, email, photo, and document related to the claim. Organization speeds processing and strengthens disputes.

Get multiple repair estimates: If the adjuster's estimate is $12,000 but contractors quote $18,000, you have negotiating leverage. Insurers often revise upward when presented with professional estimates.

Understand depreciation: If you have actual cash value coverage, the initial payment deducts depreciation. After completing repairs, submit receipts to recover the depreciation amount. Many homeowners forget this step and lose thousands.

Don't settle immediately: You typically have 1-2 years to file claims after an event. If you discover additional damage later (hidden water damage, foundation issues), you can reopen the claim.

Consider a public adjuster for large claims: For claims over $50,000, a public adjuster (who works for you, not the insurance company) can negotiate higher settlements. They charge 10-15% of the payout but often increase settlements by 20-30%, netting you more money.

Common Claim Mistakes to Avoid

Not reading your policy before filing: Understand your coverage, deductibles, and exclusions. Many denied claims result from misunderstanding coverage limits.

Waiting too long to file: Most policies require "prompt" notification. Waiting weeks to report damage can give insurers grounds to deny your claim. File within 48-72 hours when possible.

Admitting fault for liability claims: If someone is injured on your property, provide factual information to your insurer but don't admit fault or liability. Let the insurer's legal team handle liability determination.

Throwing away damaged items before inspection: The adjuster needs to see what was damaged. Keep everything until after inspection and approval.

Accepting the first offer without review: Initial settlement offers are often conservative. Don't hesitate to negotiate if you believe it's insufficient.

How Claims Affect Future Premiums

Understanding premium impact helps you decide whether to file small claims:

One claim: Expect 9-20% premium increase at renewal, lasting 3-5 years. A $1,500 policy might increase to $1,635-$1,800.

Two claims in three years: Expect 20-40% increase. Your $1,500 policy could jump to $1,800-$2,100.

Three or more claims: Many insurers will non-renew your policy, forcing you to find coverage elsewhere at significantly higher rates.

Strategic decision: For claims under $3,000-$5,000, calculate if paying out-of-pocket saves money versus filing and facing premium increases over 3-5 years. Often, it does.

Claims Processing by Insurer

Processing speed varies significantly by company. Based on 2026 industry data:

Lemonade: Simple claims resolved in minutes via AI, complex claims average 15-20 days

State Farm: 10-20 days average, strong local agent support

USAA: 10-20 days, excellent claims satisfaction

Farmers: 15-30 days average, personal agent assistance

Allstate: 15-25 days, large claim network

Liberty Mutual: 20-30 days, varies by region

For detailed comparisons of claims processing and customer satisfaction, see our best home insurance companies rankings.