🌀 Document Everything: Why Pre- and Post-Hurricane Photos Can Save You Thousands
When a hurricane threatens your home, your first thought might be plywood and sandbags. But trust me—your camera might be your most powerful tool.
After experiencing the long, exhausting dance with insurance companies, I’ve learned this the hard way: If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen—at least in their eyes.
📸 Step 1: Before the Storm — Photograph Your Entire Property
Before the first cloud rolls in, do a photo walk-through of your entire property. You need visual proof of what your home looked like before the storm.
What to Capture:
All windows and doors (inside and out)
Pool and pool enclosure, including anchors and screen condition
Roof, gutters, soffits, and visible flashing
Garage doors and exterior siding
Interior walls and ceilings (great for proving water intrusion later)
Driveway, fencing, sheds, and surrounding landscaping
📌 Tip: Use your phone’s timestamp or geotag feature. Upload these images to the cloud immediately.
🔐 Step 2: Prep Photos — Prove You Took Precautions
Once you’ve done your hurricane prep—shutters, sandbags, outdoor furniture—take a second set of photos showing those protections in place.
This can help in case your insurer tries to argue that damage occurred because you didn’t take “adequate preventive measures.”
🛑 Step 3: After the Storm — Assess, Photograph, THEN Secure, and Photograph Again
This order matters. Seriously. Once it’s safe:
1. Assess and Photograph Damage Immediately
Walk around your home and snap detailed photos of every issue.
Multiple angles. Wide shots. Close-ups.
If it’s water-related, show puddles, stained drywall, fallen insulation.
2. Secure the Property, THEN Take More Photos
Tarp the roof? Photograph it.
Boarded a broken window? Snap it.
Pulled soaked carpet? Document the damage and the removal.
This is how you show a clear timeline of events and efforts to mitigate further damage.
🗂 Step 4: Be Organized — Paperwork Can Be Your Lifeline
Photos are one piece of the puzzle. The other? Your hurricane paperwork checklist. Before the storm hits:
✅ Ensure your homeowner's insurance policy is current
✅ Upload a digital copy to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
✅ Print a hard copy and store it in a waterproof bag or case
✅ Have contact info for your agent, insurance company, adjuster, and local emergency resources
✅ Include copies of inventory lists, receipts for big-ticket items, and any recent repair invoices
This level of prep can shave weeks off your recovery—or determine whether your claim is even processed.
⚖️ Step 5: If You File a Claim and Hit a Wall — Get Legal Backup
Sometimes, even perfect documentation isn’t enough. You may:
Hear nothing for weeks
Get insultingly low estimates
Be told the damage doesn’t “meet your deductible”
Be accused of failing to mitigate damages
If this happens—don’t fight alone.
Hire a Law Firm That Specializes in Insurance Claims
Yes, it’s expensive. But sometimes, it’s the only way to get what you’re owed. These firms know the loopholes, the language, and the legal muscle needed to fight back.
⚠️ Warning: Insurance companies have armies of lawyers. If you try to negotiate without one, you're walking into a lion’s den with a paper sword.
💬 Final Thoughts: The Insurance System Is Not Designed to Help You
Let’s be real.
Insurance companies are not your friends.
They are profit machines trained to delay, deny, and discourage.
That’s why you need to:
Document like a crime scene investigator
Stay organized like a trial attorney
Be ready to fight like your financial life depends on it—because it does
And whenever possible, if the damage is minor—avoid filing a claim altogether. The moment you do, you're flagged, and in Florida, that can lead to higher premiums or being dropped entirely.
