First Notice of Loss: How to Report a Home Insurance Claim

What is a first notice of loss?

It is the report that tells your insurer a loss has happened and starts the claim.

FEMA's flood claims handbook calls it your notice of loss, and asks flood policyholders to file it with their insurance agent or insurer promptly and to include the policy number. The Texas Department of Insurance describes the same step as filing a claim, and tells homeowners to do it as soon as possible.

The first report does not need to be complete. Its job is to put the loss on record so the insurer can assign an adjuster. The detail, including a full list of damaged or lost items, follows as the claim moves forward.

How soon do you have to report a home insurance claim?

As soon as you reasonably can; the exact deadline is set by your policy and, in some states, by state law.

The Texas Department of Insurance notes that most companies have deadlines for filing a claim, and that some policies have a one-year deadline unless you can show good cause for the delay. For flood, FEMA says all flood insurance policy forms require prompt, written notice of flood-related damage.

Some states also set a limit in law. In Florida, state law says notice of a property insurance claim must be given to the insurer within one year after the date of loss, and notice of a supplemental claim within 18 months.

Treat those as outer limits, not targets. Check what your own policy says about notice, and report as soon as you reasonably can.

Should you report a loss you're not sure is covered?

If you are unsure, you can usually ask whether a loss is covered before opening a claim, as long as the question does not run past your policy's notice deadline.

The Washington insurance commissioner's office says you can tell an insurance representative that you do not want to file a claim and only want to know whether a potential loss is covered. It also notes that insurers generally consider your claims history when deciding whether to keep covering you or how to set premiums, and that if a repair costs only slightly more than your deductible, you may want to pay for it yourself.

Flood works differently. FEMA's handbook asks flood policyholders to file their notice of loss promptly even if they are unsure whether the loss is covered or exceeds the deductible.

What information do you need to report a claim?

Your policy number, how to reach you, when and how the loss happened, and a first description of what was damaged.

Have these ready: your policy number; a phone number and email where you can be reached, plus a temporary address if you cannot stay at home; the date of the loss and what caused it, as far as you know; and which parts of the home and which belongings were affected.

For a burglary or other crime, the Washington insurance commissioner's office says to notify the police and keep a copy of the report. If flooding from a nearby waterway caused the damage, it says to contact your flood insurer too, whether that is the National Flood Insurance Program or another company.

Photos and video help, but they do not need to be complete before you call. If you made a list of your belongings before the loss, keep it handy: the Texas Department of Insurance says a complete list of your property will make filing claims easier.

How do you report a home insurance claim, step by step?

Make the property safe, take photos, contact your insurer, and write down what you are told.

Step 1: Make sure everyone is safe. Then protect the property from more damage with temporary repairs only, such as boarding a broken window or putting a tarp over a damaged roof, and keep the receipts.

Step 2: Where it is safe to do so, take photos and video of the damage before any repairs or cleanup.

Step 3: Find your policy number and your insurer's claims phone number, website, or app. Your agent can also take the report.

Step 4: Report the loss. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that you can call the company, file a claim online, or use the company's mobile app. Say what happened, when, and what was damaged, and stick to what you know. If the cause is not clear yet, say so.

Step 5: Write down the claim number, who you spoke to, and when. Once an adjuster is assigned, get their name, phone number, and email address.

Step 6: Ask what information the insurer needs from you, send it promptly, and keep copies of everything you send.

What should you avoid before the adjuster sees the damage?

Avoid permanent repairs, and avoid throwing damaged items away unless safety requires it.

The Texas Department of Insurance says not to make permanent repairs, because the insurance company might deny your claim if you make them before it sees the damage. Temporary repairs that stop the damage getting worse are different, and their receipts are worth keeping.

For flood losses, FEMA asks policyholders not to discard anything before the adjuster sees it unless the item is a health hazard or local law requires it, and to photograph anything that has to go first.

What happens after you report a claim?

An adjuster reviews the damage and estimates the cost to repair or replace it, and the insurer may then ask you for more detail.

The Texas Department of Insurance says the adjuster will decide how much damage you have and estimate the cost to repair or replace your property, and may visit in person or look at pictures of the damage. For flood claims, FEMA says the adjuster generally contacts you within one to two days of receiving your notice of loss, though it can take longer after severe flooding.

Deadlines for the insurer depend on your state. In Washington, for example, the insurance commissioner's office says the insurer has 30 days from the date you filed the claim to inspect the damage. Your state insurance department can tell you the rules where you live.

The insurer may also ask for a signed proof of loss with a list of your damaged or lost items. The Texas Department of Insurance reminds policyholders to include small items like kitchen utensils and bathroom accessories. This is the detailed part of the claim.

How does a home inventory help when you report a claim?

It gives you a list of what you owned to start from, instead of rebuilding one from memory after the loss.

A useful inventory goes room by room, with photos or video, rough ages and values, and the make, model, and serial number of appliances and electronics. FEMA asks flood policyholders to write down or photograph those details for appliances and electronics when they document a loss.

Preloss builds that record from a video walkthrough of each room: an itemized, timestamped inventory with estimated replacement-value ranges that you can export as a PDF or a claim packet. It is a starting point for your own list; your insurer decides what your policy pays.