Adjuster inspection checklist: what to do before, during, and after
By the Storm Repair Pro editorial team · Last updated
Short answer
Before the visit, organize dated images, your policy documents, repair receipts, and the contractor’s written scope. During the visit, share observations and questions from a safe location; leave roof access to qualified professionals. Afterward, request the written findings, compare the proposed scopes, and ask how to submit supporting documentation for any unresolved differences. Coverage and payment depend on the policy and claim facts.
General information, not advice. This guide explains how storm claims generally work. It is not legal, insurance, or financial advice. Coverage, deductibles, and deadlines depend on your specific policy and state, verify with your carrier and your state insurance department.
Before the inspection
- Ask about a joint visit. If your contractor and adjuster can attend together, prepare a shared list of questions and keep the answers in writing.
- Assemble documentation: dated photos/video of every slope and the interior, your independent inspection report, and the storm date with a weather/hail-map reference.
- Print your policy declarations: deductible (flat or wind/hail %), RCV vs. ACV, and coverage limits, so you can discuss settlement accurately.
- List collateral damage: gutters, downspouts, screens, vent hoods, AC condenser fins, siding, skylights, detached structures.
- Confirm cleanup and repair instructions with your insurer. Keep photographs and receipts for temporary work; do not delay necessary safety measures to preserve an inspection scene.
During the inspection
- Ask qualified professionals to inspect roof slopes and elevations. Stay in a safe accessible area and use the photographs and report to discuss findings.
- Point out documented hits and let your contractor and the adjuster mark test squares together.
- Ask about other visible damage: siding, gutters, and other exterior items may need inspection. Do not assume every damaged item is covered.
- Record interior observations: note ceiling stains and visible moisture. Ask a qualified professional to assess the source rather than assuming a roof opening caused them.
- Ask the adjuster their findings on-site and where they landed on repair vs. replacement, and why.
- Be present and cordial but thorough; take your own photos of anything discussed.
Why on-site beats after-the-fact
A shared visit can give the contractor and adjuster an opportunity to explain different scopes. Record what each person observed and which questions remain unresolved. Attendance alone does not establish coverage or resolve every disagreement.
After the inspection
- Get the estimate in writing (the adjuster's scope/Xactimate report) and your claim summary.
- Review it line by line against your contractor's scope, check quantities, materials, code upgrades, and unit prices.
- Flag what's missing or underpaid: missed slopes, omitted collateral (gutters/siding), understated squares, drip edge, underlayment, code-required items.
- Ask how to submit additional documentation for a scope difference, including the insurer’s process and applicable deadlines.
- Confirm depreciation recovery (RCV): understand what's withheld and how to get it reimbursed after completion.
- If it stalls, escalate, re-inspection, appraisal, or a state DOI complaint (see the denied-claim guide).
You don't have to do this alone
Before hiring a contractor, confirm whether inspection documentation and adjuster meetings are included in the written scope. A referral or contractor report does not guarantee insurance coverage or a particular settlement.
Build a damage record the next person can follow
Use one row per location or damaged item. Photograph only from a safe, accessible position; do not climb onto a roof or enter an unsafe structure to complete the record.
- Location and image
- Room or exterior area; a wide view and a close view; original filename and date.
- What you observed
- Visible staining, displaced material, or damaged contents. Keep observations separate from a contractor’s diagnosis of cause.
- Action and receipt
- Who performed temporary work, when it happened, what they did, and the matching invoice or receipt.
- Follow-up
- Question sent to the adjuster or contractor, date sent, response received, and the next agreed step.
Example entry and file naming
Example only: “Bedroom ceiling, stain beside window; photographed before cleanup; roofer inspection requested; cause not yet confirmed.” Pair it with files such as bedroom-ceiling-wide-01.jpg and bedroom-ceiling-detail-02.jpg. Retain originals and keep annotations in a separate copy.
At the handoff
- Share the location list, original images, receipts, and written scope; keep a copy of the packet you sent.
- Record which questions remain open and who will answer them. Request a written explanation when the contractor and adjuster describe different repair scopes.
- Ask your insurer about documentation, cleanup, and any policy-specific deadlines. A complete record does not establish coverage or guarantee payment.
For flood losses, NFIP documentation guidance recommends photographs before cleanup and retaining repair receipts. Its flood guidance does not determine coverage for wind or hail damage. Do not retain hazardous items solely as evidence; follow official safety and insurer instructions.
Next: organize the claim steps or review an unresolved or denied claim.
Documentation worksheet updated September 5, 2026.
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Written by the Storm Repair Pro editorial team
Last reviewed August 2026. This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, insurance, or financial advice. Coverage, deductibles, and deadlines depend on your specific policy and state; verify with your carrier and your state insurance department.
Frequently asked questions
Should my contractor be there when the adjuster inspects?
Ask whether a joint visit is possible and what it costs. It can provide an opportunity to discuss inspection findings, but it does not guarantee agreement. Keep written reports and unresolved questions either way.
What should I show the adjuster?
Your dated photos and video of every slope and the interior, your independent inspection report, the storm date with a weather reference, and all collateral damage (gutters, screens, AC fins, siding). Have your policy declarations handy so you can discuss deductible and settlement accurately. Leave roof access to qualified professionals. Discuss their photographs and findings from a safe location.
What do I do if I disagree with the adjuster's estimate?
Review it line by line against your contractor's scope and file a supplement for missed or underpaid items. Ask the insurer to explain its response in writing. If the disagreement is over coverage or the carrier won't correct a clearly short scope, you can request a re-inspection, invoke your policy's appraisal clause, or file a complaint with your state insurance department.
How long after the storm should I schedule the inspection?
Promptly, both to stay within your policy's reporting/suit-limitation deadline and because fresh, well-documented damage is easier to tie to a specific storm. Mitigate active damage immediately, get your documentation together, and schedule the adjuster (with your contractor present) as soon as the claim is filed.
Does the adjuster work for me or the insurance company?
A company (staff or independent) adjuster works for the insurer. That's not a reason for distrust, but it's why your own documentation and having your contractor present matter. Keep your own copies and ask about anything you do not understand. A public adjuster, by contrast, is one you hire to represent your interests, typically for a percentage of the recovery.
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