Home › Homeowner Toolkit › Storm Inspection Checklist

Storm Inspection Checklist

A printable walk-around checklist for after the storm: every surface to check and photograph, from the ground, in one pass around the house.

Print this before you walk the property. One pass around the house, from the ground — check each item and photograph anything you mark. Wide shot first, then close-up.

Storm date & time
Largest hail size seen / measured
Date of this walk-around

Safety first (before anything else)

No downed power lines near the home (if any: stay away, call the utility)
No gas smell
No water actively entering the home (if so: contain, photograph, tarp)
No broken glass underfoot where you’re walking

Roof — from the ground only

Missing, cracked, or lifted shingles visible from the ground
Dark spots or exposed black substrate (zoom in with your phone)
Dented or damaged roof vents, flashing, chimney cap
Granules collecting in gutters, downspout splash areas, or driveway
Damaged or displaced skylights

Soft metals (hail’s fingerprint)

Gutters and downspouts — dents or dings
AC unit — dented condenser fins
Garage door — dents
Metal fencing, railings, mailbox

Around the house

Window screens — tears or dents
Window glass, frames, and sills
Siding — cracks, chips, or holes (check the storm-facing side closely)
Painted surfaces — chipped paint from impacts
Deck or patio surfaces
Outdoor furniture, grill, play equipment
Shredded plants or stripped branches (corroborating evidence)
Vehicles left outside — roof, hood, trunk, in raking light

Evidence

Photographed hailstones next to a coin or ruler
Saved a few hailstones in a freezer bag
Photographed all four sides of the house
Noted storm date/time and SkyVision alert (if received)
All photos backed up to one folder

Ground rules: No ladders, no roof-walking, no leaning out of windows. Anything that needs a closer look than your feet-on-the-ground camera can get is a job for a professional inspection.