If you may file an insurance claim after property damage in Minnesota, document the loss before cleanup when safe, contact your insurer, keep photographs and receipts, and distinguish temporary board-up from permanent repairs. Coverage decisions belong to the insurer and policy.
What should you photograph?
Start with wide views showing the affected side of the building, then photograph each damaged window, door, storefront, or other opening. Capture the surrounding frame and visible interior damage when it is safe to do so. Do not enter an unsafe structure or handle loose glass solely for documentation.
What records should you keep?
Keep the claim number, insurer contact information, written estimates, invoices, material receipts, photographs, and a log of major conversations. Record dates and the names of people you speak with. Save copies of emails and text messages about the scope or timing of temporary work.
Why should temporary and permanent repairs be separated?
Temporary board-up is intended to reduce further exposure while the permanent repair is arranged. Glass replacement, door replacement, structural repair, roofing, water mitigation, and reconstruction are different scopes. Keeping them separate makes it easier to understand what was done and what still needs to happen.
What does Minnesota recommend after a loss?
The Minnesota Department of Commerce advises property owners to make sure the area is safe, document damage, contact their insurance company, and make temporary inexpensive repairs to prevent further damage. It also recommends keeping receipts. Review the full Minnesota residential claim guidance for current instructions.
Should damaged property be discarded immediately?
Not unless safety or another authority requires it. The state advises avoiding unnecessary disposal before the adjuster has had an opportunity to review the loss. If something must be removed for safety, photograph it first when possible and keep a record of why it was removed.
Can a board-up provider guarantee reimbursement?
No. A service provider can document its work and provide an invoice, but insurance coverage depends on the policy, cause of loss, deductibles, exclusions, and insurer review. Avoid promises that a particular board-up expense “will be covered.” Ask the insurer what documentation it wants.
What should the board-up invoice describe?
It should identify the property, date, openings secured, temporary materials or work performed, and charges. If there were unusual access conditions, emergency timing, glass cleanup, or additional visits, those details should be clear enough to understand later.
For local temporary securing information, visit Emergency Board-Up Services. To describe the property and request a written estimate, use Get an Estimate.
Who published this guide?
Shoreview Emergency Board Up Pros publishes this guide as general educational information. It is not legal, insurance, or claims-adjusting advice.