Milestones in a typical residential storm claim
Timing varies a lot after large storms, when adjusters and contractors are stretched thin.
- Storm day
- Safety check, photos, emergency tarping or board-up, buckets under drips.
- Within a day or two
- Report the claim. Write down the claim number and the name of the person you spoke with.
- First week or two
- Adjuster inspection, often with your contractor present if you choose.
- After inspection
- Written estimate arrives. Review it line by line against your own inspection.
- First payment
- Actual cash value minus deductible, possibly with your lender named on the check.
- Contract and scheduling
- Compare bids, sign a contract, and get on the schedule. Backlogs are common after big hail years.
- Work and inspection
- Permit, tear-off, installation and final inspection.
- Closing out
- Send final invoice and proof of completion to release recoverable depreciation and any supplements.
Worksheet: fill in as you go
| Item | Date | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date and approximate time of the storm | |||
| Claim reported (claim number) | |||
| Adjuster name and contact | |||
| Emergency work done (by whom) | |||
| Adjuster inspection | |||
| Estimate received | |||
| First payment received | |||
| Contract signed (contractor name) | |||
| Permit number | |||
| Work started and finished | |||
| Final inspection passed | |||
| Proof of completion sent | |||
| Holdback or supplement paid | |||
| Deadline to complete repairs under the policy |
Habits that keep a claim on track
- After every phone call, send a short email recapping what was said and agreed.
- Keep one folder, paper or digital, for every document related to the claim.
- Ask for every estimate, supplement and report in writing.
- Calendar the repair completion deadline as soon as you learn it.
- If a check is made out to your lender too, ask the lender early how their endorsement process works.
- Do not discard damaged materials until the adjuster says it is fine.
How to use the worksheet
Start the worksheet on storm day, even if you are not sure you will file. The date and time of the storm, written down while it is fresh, is the anchor for everything else. If you later learn that a neighbor's claim used a different date, you can check your notes rather than guessing.
Fill in names as well as dates. Adjusters change, call centers rotate, and contractors hand jobs between project managers. Knowing who told you what, and when, makes follow-up calls shorter and keeps disagreements focused on facts. Most homeowners who struggle with storm claims are not missing a document; they are missing the thread that connects the documents.
General information for Colorado Springs, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.