Winter claims in Rhode Island have a documentation problem: the evidence melts. Ice dams disappear in a thaw, snow slides off and stains dry. Good records made in the moment are what keep the claim intact.
Outside
- Photograph ice ridges along the eaves and icicles from the ground, with something for scale.
- Photograph every side of the house after the storm, including damaged gutters, shingles and siding.
- Note the storm’s date and name if it had one, and keep weather reports.
Inside
- Photograph stains, drips and wet insulation as soon as you see them, then again as they spread.
- Use a moisture meter if you have one, or ask the mitigation company for readings.
- Photograph the thermostat setting if pipes froze.
Receipts and invoices
Keep invoices for roof raking, ice-dam steaming, snow removal, tarping and water extraction. Reasonable mitigation costs are often part of the claim.
Write a short timeline
When did the storm hit, when did you notice the leak, what did you do and when did you report it? A one-page timeline written while it’s fresh is worth more than memories months later.