How to File a Water Damage Insurance Claim: A Step-by-Step Guide

After a water damage event, most Idaho Falls homeowners face two simultaneous problems: dealing with the immediate physical damage to their home, and navigating an insurance claim process they've likely never done before. Doing both at once is stressful, and mistakes in the claim process can affect your coverage.

This guide walks you through the claim process step by step — what to document, when to file, how adjusters work, and how a restoration company makes the process easier.

Step 1: Stop the Water and Stabilize the Property

Before anything else, stop the source of water damage — shut off the main supply for burst pipes, tarps for roof damage, sandbags for flooding. Insurance policies require that policyholders take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after an event. Failure to do so can reduce your coverage. This is called your "duty to mitigate."

Emergency protective measures — tarps, board-up, water extraction to prevent additional damage — are covered by most policies as part of the claim, even before the adjuster has seen the property.

Step 2: Document Everything Before Cleanup Begins

Thorough documentation is the foundation of a successful claim. Before moving anything or beginning cleanup:

• Photographs: Every affected room from multiple angles. Capture standing water, wet materials, damaged contents, and the source of the water if visible. Date-stamp your photos.
• Video walkthrough: A slow video walkthrough of all affected areas provides context that photographs alone don't capture.
• Contents inventory: List damaged personal property with approximate purchase dates and estimated value. Keep any receipts or records you have.
• Moisture readings: A restoration professional can provide calibrated moisture meter readings that document the extent of saturation — this is objective evidence adjusters rely on.

Step 3: Contact Your Insurance Company Promptly

Call your insurance company or agent as soon as possible after the event — ideally the same day. Most Idaho policies have a prompt reporting requirement. When you call:

• Describe the cause and general extent of damage
• Ask about your deductible and approximate coverage limits
• Ask about additional living expenses (ALE) coverage if your home is uninhabitable
• Ask for your claim number and your adjuster's contact information
• Ask about their preferred process for getting a restoration company started

Most insurance companies allow — and many encourage — policyholders to contact a restoration company before the adjuster arrives. Restoration work can begin as soon as you have a claim number.

Step 4: Understand What Is and Isn't Covered

Standard Idaho homeowner's insurance policies cover sudden and acciden

tal water damage. This typically includes:

• Burst or frozen pipes
• Appliance failures (water heater, washing machine, dishwasher)
• Roof leaks from storm damage
• Accidental overflow from plumbing fixtures

Standard policies typically do not cover:

• Flooding from external sources (requires separate NFIP or private flood policy)
• Gradual damage from slow leaks that went unreported
• Sewage backup (requires separate sewer/water backup endorsement)
• Ground seepage or hydrostatic pressure

If your cause of loss falls into a gray area, the documentation quality and how the claim is presented to your adjuster matters significantly.

Step 5: The Adjuster Inspection

After you file, an adjuster will inspect the property — usually within a few days for significant claims. The adjuster's job is to assess the cause of loss and estimate the cost of repair. A few things to know:

• You have the right to have your restoration company's representative present during the adjuster inspection
• Initial adjuster estimates frequently miss items — particularly hidden damage in walls and subfloors identified later
• The first estimate is not final — supplements can be filed when additional damage is discovered

Step 6: The Supplement Process

Water damage restoration often reveals damage that wasn't visible at the time of the initial adjuster inspection — mold under flooring, damaged subfloor revealed when carpet is removed, wet insulation behind drywall. The supplement process allows your restoration company to submit additional scope to the insurance company as it's discovered.

An experienced restoration company manages this process on your behalf, submitting supplements with proper documentation — photographs, moisture readings, written scope — that supports coverage for the complete damage. Home Pride handles insurance supplement negotiations for Idaho Falls clients as a standard part of our restoration service.

How a Restoration Company Makes This Easier

Working with an IICRC-certified restoration company from the beginning of a claim provides several practical advantages:

• Professional documentation from the first day — moisture readings, photographs, written scope — in the format adjusters require
• Direct communication with your adjuster on your behalf
• Supplement management as additional damage is discovered
• Accurate scope of work that ensures coverage for the complete restoration — not just the visible surface damage

Home Pride Restoration and Cleaning works with all major insurance carriers in Idaho and has 40+ years of experience managing Idaho Falls water damage claims. Call us at (208) 604-4411 — we can walk you through the process from the first call through final payment.