Before you clean anything
- Photograph and video everything — wide shots, then close-ups.
- Capture the source — the burst pipe, failed hose, or appliance.
- Keep the failed part.
- But don’t wait to stop the water — safety and mitigation come first.
Photo checklist
- The source of the water, up close.
- Each affected room from the doorway (wide shot).
- Water lines on walls, cabinets, and furniture.
- Ceilings with stains or sagging.
- Flooring — including lifted corners showing wet pad.
- Damaged belongings, one item or group at a time, with brand and model labels when visible.
- A short video walking through the whole area.
Records to keep
- Date and time you discovered the damage
- Names and dates of every call with your insurer
- Receipts for emergency purchases, hotel stays, and meals — see loss of use
- A list of damaged items with approximate age and cost
- Plumber’s invoice or report on the cause
What Vault adds
On every job we photograph the damage, map moisture, record daily moisture readings, and write the scope in Xactimate — the estimating software most insurers use. We bill State Farm, USAA, Allstate, Farmers, and Bear River Mutual directly. See what is Xactimate?
Need documentation done right?
Call (385) 250-2825 — answered live 24/7 by the Vault crew.
More guides: Your deductible, explained · ACV vs replacement cost
Related guides
Typical water mitigation runs $3,500–$8,500. See how we handle water damage restoration in Provo, or call (385) 250-2825.
The nine stages of every job: our water damage restoration process.
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