Event record
| Item | What to write down | Example of the detail an adjuster wants |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | Date, time and who found it | Found by the person doing laundry, early evening |
| Source | Which drain or fixture overflowed | Basement floor drain beside the furnace |
| Water use stopped | Time everyone stopped using water | Within minutes of discovery |
| Provider notice | Time, number called, reference number | City utilities after-hours line, reference given |
| Plumber | Name, time on site, what they found | Root blockage about forty feet from the cleanout |
| Affected rooms | Each room and floor type | Family room carpet, laundry vinyl, bedroom carpet |
| Water height | Highest level seen on walls or items | About an inch at the drain, a film elsewhere |
Photo list
Take wide shots first, then close-ups. Keep the original files with their dates.
- The overflowing drain and the water around it
- Each affected room from the doorway
- The water line on walls, furniture and boxes
- Labels, model numbers and serial plates on appliances and electronics
- Every item before it goes in the discard pile
- The plumber at work and any debris pulled from the line
- Open walls after removal, before rebuild
Building the contents list
- Work room by room.List items as you sort, not later from memory. Note quantity, description, brand and rough age.
- Separate discarded from cleaned.Cleaned items may still be part of a claim for the cleaning cost; discarded items are claimed for replacement.
- Attach proof where you have it.Receipts, order emails or photos of the item in use all help. Most people do not have receipts for everything; that is normal.
- Save samples if asked.Adjusters sometimes want a square of carpet and pad. Bag it, label it and store it outside the living area.
Contacts to keep on one page
- Insurer
- Claim number, adjuster name, how they prefer documents
- Sewer provider
- Reference number for your report
- Plumber
- Invoice and written findings
- Cleanup contractor
- Scope, moisture logs, photos and invoice
- HOA or landlord
- Who was notified and when, if applicable
Keeping the worksheet useful
Fill in the worksheet as you go rather than at the end. The first evening is when details are clearest: what time the drain overflowed, which fixtures were running, how deep the water got and who you called. Later entries record what the plumber found, what the cleanup crew removed and what was replaced.
In Thornton, many backups trace to roots or grease in the private sewer line between the house and the main, while others start in the city's line. The plumber's written findings, ideally with a camera inspection, help show which side the blockage was on. Keep that report with the worksheet; insurers and the city may both ask for it.
General information for Thornton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.