Expert Advises Taking Home Photos Before Storms

Documenting your home and belongings can make a big difference when filing insurance claims after a disaster.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:07pm

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, with a small farmhouse or barn barely visible in the distance, dwarfed by the expansive, fog-shrouded sky above, conveying the overwhelming scale of the natural world.Documenting your home's condition before a storm can ensure you receive full insurance coverage for any damage.Oklahoma City Today

With severe weather season returning, experts recommend taking photos and videos of your home and belongings before a storm hits. This documentation can be crucial when filing insurance claims after a disaster, as it helps homeowners list everything they lost and get the full payout they're owed.

Why it matters

Many homeowners overlook this simple step, which can lead to insurance companies only paying about 60% of what's owed on a claim. Photos and videos of your home's interior, exterior, and contents provide proof of pre-loss condition, ensuring you get the full reimbursement you're entitled to.

The details

Public insurance adjuster Jeffrey Whitson recommends taking comprehensive photos and videos of your home, including furniture, electronics, closets, cabinets, and even junk drawers, at least once a quarter or annually. This documentation of your belongings, as well as your home's elevation, brick, siding, and attic framing, can help prove pre-loss condition if damage occurs.

  • Experts advise taking home photos and videos at least once a quarter or annually, before severe weather season.

The players

Jeffrey Whitson

A public insurance adjuster at Brown O'Haver who recommends taking comprehensive photos and videos of your home and belongings to document pre-loss condition.

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What they’re saying

“Maybe once a quarter or even once a year, really go around and take photos of the things that you got and not just the big stuff, the small stuff too.”

— Jeffrey Whitson, Public Insurance Adjuster

“You may not know how much stuff you have in your junk drawer. You may not know how many pairs of socks you have, or your cosmetics that you may have, your consumables, cleaners, paints and stains, tools that have been sitting in your garage or your workshop for some time.”

— Jeffrey Whitson, Public Insurance Adjuster

“On average, insurance companies only pay about 60% of what's owed for the claim.”

— Jeffrey Whitson, Public Insurance Adjuster

What’s next

Experts recommend uploading your home photos and videos to the cloud in case your phone is damaged during a disaster.

The takeaway

Taking comprehensive photos and videos of your home and belongings before severe weather strikes can make a significant difference in the amount of money you receive from your insurance company when filing a claim after a disaster. This simple step helps ensure you get the full reimbursement you're owed for your losses.