When the Unexpected Happens
The First 72 Hours

If you just had a loss, start here. This guide walks you through the most important actions to take in the first 72 hours — what to do, why it matters, and exactly how to do it.

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Inside the guide

What you will walk away with

What to do before you touch anything

The documentation step most people skip — and why it costs them later.

How to report your claim the right way

What to say. What never to say. Word for word.

The serial number protocol

Before items move and labels disappear forever.

The contractor estimate strategy

Why you need 3 to 5 estimates now — not later.

10 Actions - Three Phases

In the Order That Matters

Every item is a specific action, not general advice. The why behind each step is included so you understand what you are protecting.

Phase 1

The First Hour

1

Safety first — do not enter until cleared

Fire, gas, structural damage: call 911. Turn off utilities if safe. Document before entering.
2

Video walkthrough before you touch anything

Record every affected area. Wide shots first, then close-ups. Narrate what you see. Email to yourself immediately.
3

Protect from further damage — but save everything

Tarp roof. Board windows. Extract water. Do not dispose of any damaged materials until documented and the adjuster has visited.

Phase 2

The First 24 Hours

4

Report the claim and collect specific information before you hang up

Get: claim number, adjuster name, direct phone and email. Be factual. Do not estimate costs or speculate about cause.
5

Create your claim email folder right now

Label it: Claim [Number], [Date of Loss]. Every document gets emailed to yourself and filed here.
6

Start your claim diary and send recap emails after every conversation

Date, time, every contact. What was said. What was promised. Send a recap email within 2 hours of every adjuster conversation.
7

Request ALE if you are displaced

Coverage D starts day one. Call and request an advance. Save every hotel receipt, meal receipt, and incidental expense from day one.

Phase 3

The First 72 Hours

8

Photograph every serial number before anything moves

Every damaged appliance and electronic. Photograph the label, the unit, and its location. Email to yourself same day.
9

Begin your contents inventory, room by room

Open Amazon order history, bank statements, and phone photo library. Do not rely on memory alone. Loss changes what we remember.
10

Get 3 to 5 licensed contractor estimates, written and itemized

Not lump sums. For your documentation, not for the carrier. This window closes fast once cleanup begins. Do not delay.

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Start with the guide.
It is free. It is one page.
It protects everything.

The first 72 hours matter more than any other phase of your claim. What you do right now either protects everything that follows — or creates problems you cannot undo.

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Already past the first 72 hours?

Already past the beginning of your claim and need help with the next step?

The Claim Blueprint gives you the complete framework for navigating your property insurance claim with confidence — a step-by-step guide from documentation through final settlement.

Continue with The Claim Blueprint

When the Unexpected HappensThe First 72 Hours

What you will walk away with

In the Order That Matters

Start with the guide.It is free. It is one page.It protects everything.

Already past the beginning of your claim and need help with the next step?

When the Unexpected Happens
The First 72 Hours

Start with the guide.
It is free. It is one page.
It protects everything.