Reviewing a homeowner claim: a 20 minute method

Most claim reviews go long because they wander. This method fixes the order, not the effort. Twenty minutes is what a review takes when nothing is missing.

Minutes 0 to 5: the frame

Confirm the loss date sits inside the policy period, the peril matches the weather verification report, and the deductible and any roof schedule are noted. If the frame fails, stop. Nothing downstream matters until it is resolved.

Minutes 5 to 12: the evidence

Open the photo set and walk it in shooting order. You are checking for the sequence: elevations before close ups, scale references on every close up, test squares per slope. Gaps here are what create second site visits; flag them now, in one batch.

Minutes 12 to 18: the estimate

• Every line item traces to a documented damage point.
• Depreciation applied correctly for the roof age and material.
• Likely supplements noted up front, not discovered in phase 7.
• Numbers cross checked against the measurements, not the photos.

Minutes 18 to 20: the decision record

Write the decision, the reason, and the homeowner's next step while the file is still open. The claim review worksheet mirrors this method row by row. Keep it open during your first dozen reviews until the order is automatic.