Documenting Damage for Insurance Conversations in Del Mar

This is not a post about what insurance will or won’t pay. That depends on the policy, the facts and the insurer, and we have no part in those decisions. It is about something narrower and more useful: how to make a clear record of structural damage so that whatever conversation follows, with an insurer, an adjuster or an attorney, starts from facts.

Our earlier note on keeping a structural file describes the long-term record every Del Mar home benefits from. This one is about the days right after something happens.

Which policy might be involved

It helps to know, before you call anyone, that structural damage can touch more than one kind of coverage, and that some causes are commonly excluded from a standard homeowners policy.

The California Department of Insurance’s residential guide lists perils that are usually excluded, including flood, earthquake, earth movement, water damage from seepage or leaks, mold, and wear and tear or maintenance. The same guide says insurers that write homeowners coverage must offer earthquake coverage for an additional premium, written by the homeowner’s insurer, a separate insurer, or through the California Earthquake Authority. The CEA’s own site says its policies are offered through participating residential insurance companies.

Flood is separate again. The Department’s guide notes that flood losses are generally not covered by a homeowners policy and describes the National Flood Insurance Program, which FEMA administers in participating communities. The City of Del Mar’s flood map page says Del Mar participates in the program, that the special flood hazard area is regulated locally as the Floodplain Overlay Zone, and that FEMA’s updated coastal flood map took effect in December 2019.

What this means in practice: a cracked slab after a storm, a shifted wall after a quake and a flooded crawl space in North Beach could each lead to different policies, or none. You don’t need to sort that out alone. You do need a record good enough that the people who will sort it out can see what happened.

The first day

The Department’s claims guide makes several practical points. Make reasonable temporary repairs to protect the property from further damage, such as covering openings with plastic sheeting or plywood, and keep the receipts. Do not make extensive permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage. And be careful not to put yourself at risk while doing any of it.

For structural damage, a few additions:

• If a wall, deck, stair or ceiling looks unsafe, stay off it and keep others away.
• If you smell gas or see damaged wiring, leave and call the utility.
• Do not jack, shore or cut anything structural yourself.
• Do not throw away damaged material until it has been photographed and, ideally, seen.

What to photograph

Take more photos than seem necessary. They cost nothing and cannot be recreated later.

1. Wide shots first. Each side of the house from the street or yard, so the damage can be placed in context.
2. Then the damage. Each crack, gap, tilt or stain, with a ruler or coin in frame for scale.
3. Then the surroundings. Where water came from, where it pooled, the condition of drains, gutters and grade.
4. Inside. Floors, door frames, ceilings and walls near the damage. A level laid on the floor in the photo is helpful.
5. Below. If the house is raised, the crawl space, with a flashlight.
6. Video. A slow walk-through, narrated with the date and what you see.

Keep the originals with their timestamps. Do not edit or crop them; make copies if you need marked-up versions.

What to write down

A short written log, started the same day, is worth a great deal:

• Date and time you first noticed the damage.
• What happened just before, if known: a storm, a tremor, a burst pipe, a neighbor’s excavation.
• Weather in the preceding days.
• Who you spoke with, when, and what was said.
• Any temporary measures you took, with receipts.

The claims guide notes that insurers may ask for a proof of loss, a formal statement of the loss. A log kept from the start makes that easier to complete accurately.

The before pictures

The most persuasive photos are often the ones taken months earlier. A dated picture of a wall with no crack, or a crawl space that was dry last spring, helps show that something changed and roughly when. If you have kept a structural file, pull those images out now and set them beside the new ones. If you haven’t, start today, so the next comparison is easier.

For owners who are not here

Many Del Mar homes are second homes or seasonal rentals. Damage may be found by a property manager, a tenant or a neighbor, sometimes days after it happened. Arrange in advance for whoever checks the house to photograph first and fix second, and to send you the date and time of discovery. Our remote owner checklist covers the broader routine, and the second-home monitoring page describes what regular visits can include.

Where an evaluation fits

A structural evaluation is not an insurance determination. It is an independent description of what is damaged, what the likely mechanism is, and what repair might involve. That description can help you, and others, understand the situation. It is also helpful if the cause turns out to be gradual rather than sudden, which matters for many policies.

When we evaluate damage, we photograph and measure what we see, note what is uncertain, and keep our language to observations. We do not advise on coverage or speak for any insurer. Where findings call for engineering judgment, we coordinate with licensed engineers as needed. Our foundation inspection page outlines the process, and our North Beach floodplain page covers foundations in the flood zone. After a storm, our post-storm note offers a calmer walk-through.

A short list

1. Make the house safe and stop further damage.
2. Photograph and film everything before changing it.
3. Start a dated log.
4. Keep receipts for temporary work.
5. Hold off on permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen it, if a claim is likely.
6. Ask for an independent structural description if the cause is unclear.

We work throughout Del Mar, from the beach to the hills. If something has shifted or cracked and you want it described clearly, request a Free Quote.