Landlords and property managers: what would you want in an insurance-readiness package before a loss?

I recently helped some people pull their insurance documents together and built a personalized readiness package. It left me with at question for landlords and property managers.

You pay for insurance. When something happens, do you have the documents, photos and records you need? Do you know which ones to ask for?

Here's what we put together for her.

1. An inventory of insurance documents

We went through the homeowners, and umbrella documents, noted the policy periods, and listed every form and endorsement included or referenced.

Each document landed in one of two piles: what we had, and what we couldn't find. We also has a separate flood policy, but none of those documents were on hand.

They just weren't in the records on almost every person in the pilot program

2. A plain-English report

One readable report with her deductibles, dates, conditions and exclusions, each linked back to the page it came from.

3. Requests for the missing documents

Copy-and-paste emails insured can send their agent or carrier, with the exact questions written out.

4. Documenting the property before a loss

A photo routine: a wide shot of the room, a medium shot of the item, then a close-up of the model and serial number. Those photos tie back to an inventory and her receipts.

5. Documenting a loss

Photograph damage when it's safe, keep the original files, and log every temporary repair and expense. When things go sideways, she has steps to follow instead of guessing.

6. Questions for the carrier and contractors

Written questions on estimates, repair scope and payments, so the answers come back in writing.

7. A master file

Folders for policies, photos, inventory, contractor records, living expenses and communications. Plus a simple log of what she sent, when, and to whom.

8. The rights as an insured

A short reference section, with a reminder to keep every request and answer documented.

I've developed this process

For homeowners, landlords and property managers:

• How do you handle this today, especially across multiple properties?

• Which parts would help, and which would you skip?

• If you've had a loss, what document or photo do you wish you'd had beforehand?

• What did we miss?

If you know a service that already does this well, I'd like to hear about it too.

Is this something of interest and would you recommend this to your clients