Evidence categories
Visual (photos + video)
- Every affected area
- Multiple angles per area
- Wide + medium + close-up
- Date-stamped (EXIF)
- Before-mitigation if possible
Measurement
- Room-by-room square footage
- Specific damage extent measurements
- Sketch to scale
Scope documentation
- Xactimate estimate
- Contractor quote
- Line-item detail
Expert reports
- IH report (water, mold)
- Engineer report (structural, causation)
- Plumber statement (water source)
- Fire investigator
- Electrician
Contents
- Inventory with descriptions
- Photographs
- Values with replacement-cost research
- Receipts where available
Mitigation records
- Contractor invoices
- Drying logs
- Emergency repair receipts
Communications
- Written confirmation of loss notice
- Prior carrier communications
- Expert report delivery records
Prior-condition evidence
- Pre-loss photos (family events, social media)
- Recent inspection records
- Prior insurance inspection photos
- Maintenance records
Organization
- Single folder per claim
- Chronological
- Labeled and captioned
- Cloud-backed
- Named by date and subject
Tactical presentation
- Claim narrative cover letter
- Specific exhibit labels
- Tie each piece of evidence to scope
- Response to likely carrier positions
- Statute citation where applicable