Fire & Property Claims: Documenting the Loss Correctly

Fire and property damage claims are won or lost on documentation. The first 72 hours after the loss are the most important.

Within the first 24 hours

• Inform the insurer in writing (email + courier).
• File an FIR if there is suspicion of arson, theft or third-party negligence.
• Take photographs and video — wide shots, room-by-room, close-ups of damaged items.
• Get the fire department report.

Within 7 days

• Prepare an inventory of every damaged item with quantity, age, original purchase value and current replacement cost.
• Pull all purchase invoices, GST bills and bank statements.
• Engage a chartered accountant for loss-of-profit cover.

During the survey

The insurer will appoint a surveyor. You can — and should — engage your own loss assessor in parallel. They can build a structured "claim book" that the surveyor uses as the starting point.

What we have learned

Across hundreds of property claims, the difference between a poor settlement and a fair one is almost always paperwork — not the policy.