Adjuster inspection checklist: what to do before, during, and after

By the Storm Repair Pro editorial team · Reviewed by Dana Whitfield · Last updated July 2026

Short answer

The adjuster inspection is where your claim is decided, so prepare for it. Before: gather your policy, storm date, dated photos, and a contractor's scope, and schedule your contractor to be on-site with the adjuster. During: walk every slope and elevation together, point out documented damage, note collateral (gutters, screens, AC fins), and get the adjuster's findings. After: get the estimate in writing, review it line by line against your contractor's scope, and file a supplement for anything missed or underpaid. The single highest-leverage move is having your contractor present during the inspection so damage is verified together, not disputed by phone weeks later.

General information, not advice. This guide explains how storm claims generally work. It is not legal, insurance, or financial advice. Coverage, deductibles, and deadlines depend on your specific policy and state, verify with your carrier and your state insurance department.

Before the inspection

Have your contractor meet the adjuster on-site. This is the whole game, verified together, nothing missed.
Assemble documentation: dated photos/video of every slope and the interior, your independent inspection report, and the storm date with a weather/hail-map reference.
Print your policy declarations: deductible (flat or wind/hail %), RCV vs. ACV, and coverage limits, so you can discuss settlement accurately.
List collateral damage: gutters, downspouts, screens, vent hoods, AC condenser fins, siding, skylights, detached structures.
Don't repair yet (beyond mitigation). The adjuster needs to see the damage; keep receipts/photos of any tarping.

During the inspection

Walk every slope and elevation, hail and wind damage are directional; a missed face is a missed scope.
Point out documented hits and let your contractor and the adjuster mark test squares together.
Cover the full envelope, not just the roof: siding, gutters, and soft metals from the same storm belong on the claim.
Note interior damage: ceiling stains, attic moisture, and water tracks tie to the roof opening.
Ask the adjuster their findings on-site and where they landed on repair vs. replacement, and why.
Be present and cordial but thorough; take your own photos of anything discussed.

Why on-site beats after-the-fact

When your contractor is on the roof with the adjuster, disagreements get resolved in real time and every slope gets documented together. When they're not, you're left arguing line items by phone weeks later with no shared record, the single biggest reason legitimate damage gets left off a scope.

After the inspection

Get the estimate in writing (the adjuster's scope/Xactimate report) and your claim summary.
Review it line by line against your contractor's scope, check quantities, materials, code upgrades, and unit prices.
Flag what's missing or underpaid: missed slopes, omitted collateral (gutters/siding), understated squares, drip edge, underlayment, code-required items.
File a supplement for corrections, initial estimates are frequently short, and supplements are routine.
Confirm depreciation recovery (RCV): understand what's withheld and how to get it reimbursed after completion.
If it stalls, escalate, re-inspection, appraisal, or a state DOI complaint (see the denied-claim guide).

You don't have to do this alone

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Written by the Storm Repair Pro editorial team · Reviewed for accuracy by

Dana Whitfield, Editorial reviewer, property-claims content

Dana leads editorial review for Storm Repair Pro's insurance-claim guides, with a background in property-claims coordination and restoration operations. Every guide is checked against current state insurance-department guidance and standard homeowners-policy mechanics before it publishes, and re-checked when reforms change the rules.

Last reviewed July 2026. This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, insurance, or financial advice. Coverage, deductibles, and deadlines depend on your specific policy and state; verify with your carrier and your state insurance department.

Frequently asked questions

Should my contractor be there when the adjuster inspects?

Yes, it's the single most important thing you can do. When your contractor is on-site with the adjuster, damage is verified together, test squares are marked jointly, and disagreements are resolved in real time. Without it, legitimate damage gets missed and you're left disputing line items by phone weeks later.

What should I show the adjuster?

Your dated photos and video of every slope and the interior, your independent inspection report, the storm date with a weather reference, and all collateral damage (gutters, screens, AC fins, siding). Have your policy declarations handy so you can discuss deductible and settlement accurately. Walk the full roof and envelope together rather than relying on a ground-level look.

What do I do if I disagree with the adjuster's estimate?

Review it line by line against your contractor's scope and file a supplement for missed or underpaid items, that resolves most disputes. If the disagreement is over coverage or the carrier won't correct a clearly short scope, you can request a re-inspection, invoke your policy's appraisal clause, or file a complaint with your state insurance department.

How long after the storm should I schedule the inspection?

Promptly, both to stay within your policy's reporting/suit-limitation deadline and because fresh, well-documented damage is easier to tie to a specific storm. Mitigate active damage immediately, get your documentation together, and schedule the adjuster (with your contractor present) as soon as the claim is filed.

Does the adjuster work for me or the insurance company?

A company (staff or independent) adjuster works for the insurer. That's not a reason for distrust, but it's why your own documentation and having your contractor present matter, they ensure your side of the loss is fully represented. A public adjuster, by contrast, is one you hire to represent your interests, typically for a percentage of the recovery.

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