After the Storm, Document Before You Clean Up

When it's safe to go back inside, the instinct is to start cleaning up. Pause first. Your phone is your most important tool.

Tip 1: Photograph damaged items one by one before you move them. Give each damaged item its own clear photo, then take wider shots of the room and any water lines on the walls. Only make repairs needed to prevent further damage (like covering a broken window), and keep the receipts.

Tip 2: Don't throw damaged items away until your adjuster says it's okay. Your insurer may want to inspect them. If something must go for safety reasons, photograph it first.

This is where a before inventory pays off. A photo of each item from before the damage, with its value already documented, turns a stressful argument into a straightforward claim.

👉 Build your "before" record now, not after the storm. Snap a photo of each item, upload it to ask.lucille, and have an itemized, valued inventory ready if the worst happens. Create my inventory →