Before the Adjuster Arrives: What to Do in the First 72 Hours
The first few days after a fire, storm, or water loss are chaotic, and that chaos works against you. Insurance companies move fast; the initial inspection often happens before you've had time to think clearly about what you're documenting or why it matters. What you do — and don't do — in that window can affect how much your claim is ultimately worth.
1. Stay safe before anything else
Before you document anything, make sure it's actually safe to be there. Don't re-enter a structure with fire, storm, or flood damage until you've confirmed there's no structural instability, downed power lines, or a gas leak — a damaged roof, floor, or ceiling can look stable and not be. If you're running a generator during a power outage, keep it outdoors and well away from windows or doors to avoid carbon monoxide buildup. None of the documentation and paperwork below is worth doing before your own safety is confirmed.
2. Document before you clean up
It's instinctive to start cleaning, drying out, or removing damaged materials right away. Resist that instinct until you've documented everything. Photograph and video every affected area from multiple angles, including things that don't look obviously damaged — smoke residue, water lines on walls, warped flooring. Once materials are removed or repairs begin, that evidence is gone, and a dispute later about "how bad was it really" becomes much harder to win.
3. Prevent further damage, but keep records of what you do
Most policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage — tarping a roof, extracting standing water, boarding a broken window. Do this, but keep receipts and photos of the mitigation work itself. It's both a policy obligation and, often, a reimbursable expense.
4. Don't give a recorded statement without preparation
Insurers routinely ask for a recorded statement early in the process. You're generally required to cooperate with the investigation, but "cooperate" doesn't mean "answer off the cuff." Take time to think through the sequence of events and stick to what you know firsthand rather than guessing or speculating about cause.
5. Don't sign anything you don't fully understand
Proof of loss forms, releases, and repair authorizations all have consequences. If a document is presented for signature during the initial visit, it's reasonable to ask for a copy to review before signing rather than signing on the spot.
6. Keep a written timeline
Note the date and outcome of every call, email, and inspection — who you spoke with, what was said, what was promised. Claims that go on for months are won or lost on details that are impossible to remember accurately after the fact.
7. Know that the first number isn't the last number
An initial estimate from the company adjuster is a starting point, not a final offer, especially on anything beyond a minor loss. If the scope looks incomplete or the numbers look low relative to what repairs will actually cost, that's a reasonable thing to question — and a reasonable time to get a second, independent set of eyes on the claim before you accept anything.
If you're facing a fresh property loss in New York, New Jersey, or Indiana and want a second opinion before the company's adjustment is finalized, reach out — the earlier a public adjuster gets involved, the more of the claim there usually is to work with.
Gabriel Antoine is a licensed Public Adjuster in New York (PA-1819103), New Jersey (3002844026), and Indiana (Certificate of Authority No. 4242786). Request a consultation.