Loss Description Best Practices

The loss description is the first substantive thing a reviewing umpire, attorney, or carrier reads. If it is vague or opinion-heavy, everything else you wrote gets read with skepticism. If it is precise and factual, the rest of your conclusions land with weight.

A weak loss description costs you credibility you have to spend the rest of the report earning back. A strong one front-loads the facts, anchors your findings in observable conditions, and gives the reader a clear picture before they hit a single number.

This article distills what to include, what to leave out, and how to write it so it holds up under cross-examination if it ever has to.

What to Include

• Date and cause of loss
• Property type and construction
• Areas of the property affected
• Type and extent of damage
• Observations from your inspection
• Any pre-existing conditions noted

Writing Tips

• Be objective and factual
• Use specific measurements when possible
• Avoid opinions without supporting evidence
• Reference photos by number or location
• Note what you could and couldn't inspect