A useful claim review starts with a clear question. You may be deciding how to document newly discovered damage, trying to understand an estimate, or looking for an explanation of a coverage decision. The documents you bring should help answer that question—not bury it under a stack of unrelated paperwork.
You do not need every receipt or a finished inventory before contacting The Public’s Adjuster. Start with what you have, identify what is missing, and use the checklist below to make the discussion productive.
1. Write a one-page account of the incident
Record the property address, the date damage was discovered, the affected areas, and the people who have inspected or worked on the property. Distinguish what you personally observed from what someone later told you. “I saw water beneath the upstairs sink at 7 a.m.” is different from “the pipe had been leaking for weeks.”
If the cause is uncertain, say so. Add a short list of your open questions at the bottom. This gives the reviewer a useful starting point without requiring you to make a technical conclusion.
2. Bring the policy, not just the policy number
Include the declarations page, policy forms, and endorsements if available. The declarations page is a useful overview, but it is not the entire contract. If you have a separate flood policy or documents from a condominium association, label them separately.
Write down who owns the affected property. A building owner’s improvements, a tenant’s belongings, and an association’s shared property should not be treated as interchangeable. Include relevant leases or association correspondence when they help explain that distinction.
3. Make your photographs navigable
Organize images by room or area. A wide view establishes location; a closer view shows the condition. Use filenames such as “kitchen-ceiling-over-sink” instead of leaving every image as an unexplained camera number.
Keep original files and make a separate set for annotations. If a photograph was taken after emergency work, label it accordingly. Do not describe it as the original condition. Never enter an unsafe building, climb onto a damaged roof, or disturb hazardous materials to improve your documentation.
4. Separate repairs, belongings, and expenses
Use three simple folders. Put building estimates and work descriptions in the first, lists of movable property in the second, and receipts or invoices in the third. Add dates and a short explanation when the purpose of a document is not obvious.
For contents, describe individual items rather than writing only broad categories. Record model information, quantity, and available evidence of age or ownership. Mark uncertain details honestly. The aim is a file that another person can follow, not an artificially precise inventory.
5. Include the insurer’s version of the claim
Bring the itemized estimate, payment explanation, coverage letters, requests for information, and relevant emails. If you have received a payment, include the accompanying explanation rather than assuming the check represents the entire claim.
Make a dated list of documents you have already submitted. Note any stated deadlines so they can be reviewed promptly. Do not assume that requesting a review changes a deadline or pauses your obligations under the policy.
6. End with the decision you need help making
Choose two or three specific questions. For example: “Why is the bedroom absent from the estimate?” “What information supports this depreciation?” “Which documents are still being requested?”
This approach keeps the review tied to evidence. It also helps distinguish a repair-scope question from a coverage question, which may need different information.
A first conversation without the pressure to have everything ready
The Public’s Adjuster assists residential and commercial policyholders with fire, water, and storm property claims. Tell us where the property is located, what happened, and whether a claim has already been opened. We can discuss the available documents and whether our services fit your situation.
Request a free claim review or call 866-629-7291. You can also browse our New Jersey service areas.
Further reading
New Jersey’s Department of Banking and Insurance provides home insurance basics and information about the claim process. This article is an organizational guide; the facts of the loss and the policy determine coverage.