Shoot first, clean up after
Once drying starts or flooring comes up, the original condition is gone. Spend twenty minutes with your phone before anyone touches the damage. Wide shots show where the damage is in the room; close-ups show how bad it is.
Turn on the timestamp in your camera settings if it has one, or include a dated note in the first photo of each room.
Whole-house shots
Room-by-room shot list
| Room | Wide shot | Close-ups | Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallway | From each end | Warm or damp floor, baseboards | |
| Kitchen | From the doorway | Floor at sink and dishwasher, cabinet toe-kicks | |
| Bathrooms | From the doorway | Floor around tub, shower and toilet | |
| Bedrooms | From the doorway | Carpet edges, baseboards on shared walls | |
| Laundry | Whole area | Floor and wall behind washer | |
| Garage or water heater closet | Whole area | Floor near heater, any cracks |
During and after repair
- Opened areas.Photograph any floor or wall opening before the pipe is repaired.
- The failed pipe.Ask the plumber to photograph the damaged section or keep it for you.
- Removed materials.Photograph wet carpet pad, drywall or flooring before disposal.
- Drying.Photograph equipment in place and any moisture readings you are shown.
- Finished work.Photograph each restored area when complete.
Labeling files
- Folder
- One folder per room
- File name
- Date, room and subject, for example the hallway baseboard on a given day
- Backup
- Copy to cloud storage or email them to yourself
- Timeline
- Keep a short dated list of events alongside the photos
Common questions
Is video better than photos?
Both help. A slow walk-through video plus still close-ups covers most needs.
Does my insurer need these?
Requirements vary. Ask your insurer what they want, but having photos never hurts.
What if damage was already removed?
Photograph what remains and write down what was removed, when and by whom.
General information for Yorba Linda, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.