Glossary

Reasonable repairs

Coverage for the cost of temporary steps you take to stop covered damage from getting worse, such as tarping a roof or boarding up a broken window.

Also called: emergency repairs, emergency mitigation, protecting the property

Reasonable repairs are the emergency steps you take after a covered loss to keep the damage from spreading: tarping a hole in the roof, boarding a broken window, shutting off water or pumping out a flooded room. The standard ISO form does two things here. It pays the reasonable cost of those protective measures as an additional coverage, and it makes them a duty, since you must protect the property from further damage and keep a record of what you spend.

The cost is paid as part of the claim, typically inside the limit for the damaged property rather than on top of it, and the deductible generally applies. Say a storm tears off part of a roof and you pay $650 for an overnight tarp (hypothetical). Save the invoice, photograph the damage before and after, and send both with the claim.

The word "reasonable" does the work. Temporary protection is expected; permanent repair before the insurer has seen the damage is a risk. Doing nothing is a risk too, because added damage can be denied under neglect or your duties after loss. Call in the claim first if you can, keep every receipt, and hold on to damaged materials the adjuster may want to inspect. The guide reasonable repairs: what you can fix before the adjuster comes has a checklist.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

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Related terms

Duties after loss The steps a homeowners policy requires after damage occurs: reporting it, protecting the property, documenting the loss and cooperating with the insurer. Mitigation of damages Your duty to take reasonable steps after a loss, such as tarping a roof or shutting off water, to keep damage from spreading; the policy usually pays for it. Neglect Failure to use all reasonable means to save and protect property at and after the time of a loss, which the policy excludes to the extent the damage grows. Scope of loss The written list of damaged areas and repairs an adjuster decides are needed and covered, which becomes the basis for the estimate and the payment. Adjuster The person who investigates a reported loss, decides what the policy covers and how much it will pay, and negotiates the settlement.

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