Toolkit for following a drying job
Use these worksheets while a loss is happening or before one does. They help you locate shutoffs in an older house, log moisture readings yourself, photograph what an adjuster needs, compare estimates, and decide which wet materials can stay and which usually have to go.
- Shutoff locator worksheet for an older house
Most people look for the main water valve for the first time while water is spreading. This worksheet turns that search into a ten-minute walk-through you can finish on a calm day.
- A moisture log you can keep during drying
Keeping your own log means you can see whether drying is working, spot a lagging corner and keep records an insurer can read. This template shows what to track and how to read the trend.
- Photo checklist for documenting water damage
Photos taken before cleanup tell the story an adjuster needs. This shot list covers each room, the failed part, wet materials, equipment and belongings.
- Comparing water mitigation estimates line by line
Two estimates for the same flood can look very different. Putting them in one table shows what each includes, where scopes differ and which questions to ask before choosing.
- Decision guide: keep or remove wet materials
Whether a wet material stays depends on its type, how long it was wet and what kind of water reached it. Use these if-then rules to organize decisions, then check them against readings and your insurer.
- A glossary of drying and mitigation terms
Estimates and logs use jargon that sounds more complicated than it is. This glossary translates the common terms so you can follow a drying job and ask clearer questions.
- Questions to ask before hiring a drying contractor
These questions help you compare companies on how they work, not only on what they say. Ask each one the same set, write down the answers and confirm availability for your address directly.
- The first day after a water loss, hour by hour
The first day sets the course for the rest of the job. This timeline orders the steps so safety, shutoff, records and calls happen in a sensible sequence.
- Checklist for each daily drying visit
Drying jobs run for days, and each day brings a visit or a check. This checklist shows what to look at so you can tell progress from drift and speak up early.