Take these 10 photos of your house now—so an insurance claim is easier later

When a storm, fire, or break-in hits, the last thing you want is a fight over what your home and belongings were really worth. A few minutes with your phone camera today can spare you weeks of back-and-forth with an adjuster later, and can help you prove what you owned, what it cost, and what was damaged. By taking a focused set of photos now, you give yourself a visual record that can make an insurance claim faster, clearer, and far less stressful.

Think of it as building a photo-based home inventory: a simple, visual file that shows your rooms, your valuables, and the condition of your property before anything goes wrong. The goal is not to capture every sock and spoon, but to document the big picture and the big-ticket items so you can back up your claim with evidence instead of memory.

1. Wide shots of every room

Start with broad, wall-to-wall photos of each room so you can show how your home looked before any damage. Stand in each corner and take overlapping shots that capture floors, walls, ceilings, and the main furniture and electronics in view. These images help establish the overall condition of your home and give an adjuster context for what was there, how it was arranged, and how extensive any later loss really is.

Insurers and attorneys consistently recommend Taking a video or photo inventory of your home and belongings before a disaster, because those images can be critical when you are trying to prove the scope of damage from fires, storms, or theft. Wide shots are the backbone of that inventory, especially when you pair them with a slow video walk-through that captures each room from multiple angles. If you later need to reconstruct a list of what was in your living room or home office, those broad photos become a visual checklist you can zoom in on item by item.

2. Close-ups of high-value items

Once you have the big-picture views, move in closer on anything that would hurt to replace out of pocket. That includes jewelry, watches, designer handbags, artwork, collectibles, high-end electronics, musical instruments, and specialty tools. Photograph each item individually, front and back, and try to capture any brand names, serial numbers, or unique markings that distinguish it from a generic version.

Having clear photos of your valuable items can speed up the claims process because you are not relying on vague descriptions or faded receipts to prove what you lost. Detailed images of your jewelry box, your 4K television, or your vintage guitar can help an insurer verify both ownership and quality, which can shorten the time it takes to receive your property insurance benefits. Attorneys who work with policyholders stress that Having and Providing this kind of visual evidence often makes the difference between a smooth payout and a drawn-out dispute over value.

3. Exterior and structural details

Your home’s exterior is just as important to document as the inside, especially if you live in an area prone to hail, wind, wildfire, or flooding. Take clear photos of the front, back, and both sides of your house, including the roofline, gutters, windows, doors, decks, and porches. If you have a detached garage, shed, or fence, capture those structures too, along with any visible features like solar panels, satellite dishes, or security cameras.

Insurers that focus on catastrophe risk advise homeowners to document their property by photographing or recording all rooms and valuable items, and to keep those records in a safe place so they are available if physical documents are lost. When companies that specialize in wildfire coverage urge customers to document their property in this way, they are acknowledging how often exterior damage becomes a point of contention after a disaster. Photos that show your siding intact, your roof free of missing shingles, and your windows unbroken before a storm can help you prove that later cracks, leaks, or scorch marks were caused by a covered event, not preexisting wear and tear.

4. Entry points, locks, and security

Break-ins and burglaries often turn on one key question: how did the intruder get in, and what did they damage along the way. Before anything happens, take photos of your main entry doors, deadbolts, sliding doors, window locks, and any visible security devices like cameras, alarm panels, or smart locks. These images show that your home was properly secured and can help counter arguments that you were careless with basic protections.

If you ever experience a burglary, guidance for renters and homeowners alike is clear that you should document the scene thoroughly before cleaning up or moving anything. Experts advise that Before you touch the mess, you should Take pictures of forced entry points, broken locks, and disturbed areas to support your theft claim. Having “before” photos of intact locks and undamaged doors makes those “after” shots even more powerful, because you can show exactly what changed and how the intruder compromised your home.

5. Plumbing, appliances, and potential leak zones

Water damage is one of the most common and expensive home insurance claims, and it often starts in the same places: under sinks, behind toilets, around water heaters, and near dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators with ice makers. Photograph these areas while everything is dry and intact, including visible pipes, shutoff valves, and the floors and walls around them. If you can safely access your water heater, furnace, or HVAC unit, take clear shots of those appliances and any labels or model numbers.

When homes flood, emergency guidance stresses that the first thing you need to do when you are able to get back inside is take as many pictures and videos of the damage as possible. Experts urge you to Document the damage thoroughly so you have a clear record for your flood insurance claim. If you already have “before” photos of your basement walls, your laundry room floor, or the area around your sump pump, you can show exactly how high the water rose and what it ruined, which can be crucial when you are arguing over whether something is repairable or a total loss.

6. Serial numbers, receipts, and paperwork

Some of the most valuable photos you can take are not of the items themselves, but of the information that proves what they are worth. For big-ticket electronics like a Samsung QLED television, a MacBook Pro, or a PlayStation 5, snap close-ups of serial number labels and model tags. Do the same for appliances, power tools, and any specialty equipment you rely on for work, such as cameras, laptops, or audio gear. Then photograph receipts, appraisals, or warranty documents that show purchase dates and prices, even if the paper copies are already filed away.

Insurance specialists emphasize that thorough documentation protects you from having a claim denied or underpaid, because it shows both the condition of your property and the extent of loss. They recommend that you Store digital copies of important records in the cloud so they remain accessible even if your home is damaged by fire or another peril, and they note that this kind of Documentation can be decisive when you are trying to prove both ownership and value. A quick photo of a receipt or serial number today can save you from scrambling to reconstruct those details from memory after a loss.

7. How and where to store your photos

Once you have taken these ten core categories of photos, the final step is to make sure they survive the very disasters you are preparing for. Do not leave your only copies on a phone that could be lost, stolen, or destroyed in the same event that damages your home. Instead, back them up to at least one cloud service, such as Google Photos, iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox, and consider sharing a folder with a trusted family member so someone else can access the images if you cannot.

Insurance and records experts advise that you keep digital copies of your home inventory and key documents in secure online storage so they remain available even if physical files are ruined. They note that when you digitally preserve your photos and records, you reduce the risk of fading, discoloration, or loss that comes with relying on paper alone. Treat your home inventory the same way: label your folders clearly, update them after major purchases or renovations, and set a reminder to refresh your photos once a year so your visual record stays as current as your coverage.