Filing a property insurance claim in Georgia has a sequence that matters. What you do first — and what you document, say, and sign — affects what you recover. This is a step-by-step guide to the process from the moment damage occurs through the first few weeks of the claim.
Step 1: Ensure safety and secure the property
Before you think about the claim, address immediate safety issues. If the property is structurally compromised after a fire or severe storm, don't enter until cleared by the fire marshal or a structural engineer. If water damage is ongoing, stop the source if safe to do so.
Your policy requires you to protect the property from further damage. Failure to take reasonable protective measures — boarding a broken window, tarping a damaged roof — can give the insurer grounds to limit coverage for damage that occurs after the initial loss. Document what temporary protective measures you take.
Step 2: Document the damage before anything is touched
Before cleanup, mitigation, or any temporary repairs, photograph and video everything. Walk through every room. Capture damage from multiple angles. Include establishing shots that show the full scope of damage, not just close-ups of the worst areas.
For personal property, photograph damaged items in place before anything is moved. If you have a water pipe failure, photograph the leak source before it's repaired. This pre-intervention documentation is among the most valuable evidence in your claim.
Step 3: Notify your insurer promptly
Most policies require "prompt notice" of a loss. In Georgia, this typically means within a reasonable time — though policies often specify a specific timeframe. Call your insurer the same day as the loss if possible, or the next business day for less urgent situations.
When you notify them, give factual information only: what happened, when, where, and that the property has been secured. Don't speculate about causes, don't estimate damage amounts, and don't accept any characterizations of the loss that you haven't verified. Write down the name of the person you speak with and the claim number they assign.
Step 4: Understand your immediate coverage — ALE
If the property is uninhabitable, ask your insurer immediately about Additional Living Expense (ALE) coverage. Get specific answers: what expenses are covered, what's the daily or monthly limit, and what documentation you need to keep. Start keeping receipts for hotel stays, meals, and any other expenses you wouldn't have incurred if you were in your home.
See the full Resurgens guide to ALE coverage for details on what it covers and how to document it.
Step 5: Cooperate with the adjuster — on your terms
The insurer will assign an adjuster who will contact you to schedule an inspection. Cooperate — your policy requires it. But also:
- Be present during the adjuster's inspection. You have the right to be there.
- Do not allow reconstruction or significant cleanup to begin before the adjuster documents the damage. Emergency mitigation is fine — removing standing water, boarding windows — but don't demolish damaged areas until they're documented.
- If asked to provide a recorded statement, you generally can — but understand that recorded statements become part of the claim record. Answer questions factually and don't speculate.
- Review the proof of loss form carefully before signing. This document formally states the claimed amount. Don't sign it if you haven't reviewed the estimate.
Step 6: Get an independent contractor assessment
Before accepting the insurer's estimate as the final word, get at least one independent contractor estimate on the scope of damage. A contractor who has physically walked the property will often identify scope that the insurer's adjuster missed — particularly for structural damage not visible during a brief inspection.
Compare the contractor's line items against the insurer's estimate. Significant gaps become the basis for a supplement. See how to read the insurer's estimate to know what to look for.
Step 7: Decide whether to hire a public adjuster
For a major loss — a substantial fire, significant structural damage, or a claim with coverage disputes — consider whether a public adjuster makes sense. The earlier in the process the better — PA involvement before positions harden is more effective than late-stage engagement.
For smaller, straightforward claims, you may be able to handle the process yourself. The threshold is roughly this: if the insurer's estimate covers the contractor's cost to do the work, you don't need help. If there's a significant gap and coverage disputes, professional help usually pays for itself.
Related: Georgia Homeowners Insurance: 10 Things to Review Before You Ever File a Claim — the coverage check to do before a loss, not after.