The adjuster walk is the single most important meeting in your claim. Walking through unprepared is the most common reason claims settle low. Here is the homeowner's checklist for documenting storm damage before, during, and after the walk.
The single most important meeting in your storm-damage insurance claim is the adjuster walk — the on-site inspection where the carrier's representative documents the loss and writes the initial estimate. Walking through that meeting unprepared is the most common reason storm claims settle low. Walking through it prepared, with documentation already in hand, is the most reliable way to anchor the initial estimate to the actual scope of the loss.
Before the adjuster walk: photo and video documentation
Document the property top to bottom before the adjuster arrives. Wide shots of every elevation of the home from the ground. Close-ups of every damaged area — missing shingles, dented gutters, broken windows, damaged siding, water stains on ceilings, and any interior damage. A slow video walk-around of the exterior and interior narrating what you see. Time-stamp everything by using your phone's camera with location and date stamping enabled.
Before the adjuster walk: written damage list
Write a room-by-room and elevation-by-elevation list of every damaged item, in plain language. This is not a scope — it is a checklist for the walk-through. The list ensures nothing gets overlooked during the inspection, which is the single largest source of low initial estimates.
Before the adjuster walk: get a contractor scope
Have a qualified rebuild contractor walk the property and write a preliminary scope before the adjuster arrives. The contractor scope identifies hidden damage, code-required upgrades, and matched-finish requirements that an adjuster doing a standard walk-through will miss. Bring that scope to the adjuster meeting.
During the adjuster walk: be present
Walk the property with the adjuster. Point out every documented item. Climb to the attic with them if access is safe. Open every cabinet, every closet, every basement and crawlspace. Do not leave the adjuster to walk alone — adjusters work quickly, and items not pointed out are items not captured.
During the adjuster walk: ask specific questions
- Are you measuring the full slope of the roof or just the visibly damaged sections?
- Will the estimate include matching coverage for the siding and trim?
- Does my policy include Ordinance and Law coverage for code-required upgrades?
- What is my deductible for this specific peril (wind/hail vs. all-other)?
- When will I receive the written estimate, and how do I submit supplementals for hidden damage?
After the adjuster walk: review the written estimate carefully
The adjuster delivers a written estimate within 7 to 21 days of the walk. Review it line by line. Compare it to your contractor's preliminary scope. Identify gaps — items missed, line items underpriced, scope characterizations that exclude what was actually lost. Document the gaps in writing and submit them as a supplemental claim immediately.
After the adjuster walk: document hidden damage as it appears
Hidden damage exposed during demolition or repair must be documented and filed as a supplemental claim the same day it is discovered. Photos, written description, and a Xactimate-formatted scope addition go to the carrier immediately. Waiting until the end of the project to batch supplementals is the most common reason hidden damage does not get paid.
Bottom line
The adjuster walk sets the floor for your claim. Walk it prepared, with photos, a written damage list, and a contractor scope already in hand. Be present for the entire walk. Submit supplementals immediately as hidden damage is exposed. The difference between a claim that settles for what you actually lost and a claim that settles for half of it is almost always the documentation discipline of the first week.