The short answer
A PropDiagram report records each building's outline, dimensions, footprint square footage and position on the lot, along with the name it was insured under and its valuation basis. Saved in the file when the policy is written, it is a pre-loss record of what stood on the property. If no report was saved, one can often still be run after the loss, because the building outlines and aerial photo usually predate it. Either way it takes about a minute.
Where does a pre-loss diagram help in a claim?
| Situation | What the diagram settles |
|---|---|
| Total loss of a building | Its shape, length, width and ground-floor area, to start the scope and the valuation |
| A disagreement about size | A measured footprint both sides can look at, laid over the aerial photo |
| Which building is which | Numbers and names on the diagram that match the schedule: Building 3, Machine Shed |
| Several outbuildings damaged | One drawing of all of them, each measured, to match against the policy |
| Was the building insured? | ACV, RCV or N/C beside every building on the schedule |
| Fire spread between buildings | Distances between buildings, measured on the aerial view and kept on the diagram |
| Fuel or heat source involved | Tanks and outdoor wood boilers placed on the diagram, each with its distance to the nearest building |
The strongest version: a report saved at inception
A diagram made when the policy was written does more than show a building. It shows what the insurer and the insured both understood to be on the property on that date, building by building. When that record is in the policy file, the adjuster starts with agreed facts and the conversation is about the loss, not about what used to be there.
Reports stay on PropDiagram for 7 days, or 6 months with the monthly subscription. The copy that helps years later is the PDF saved to the policy file, so download it when the report is finished.
Running a report after the loss
- Enter the loss address. The buildings on file for the property are outlined and measured.
- Check the aerial view. Building outlines and the aerial photo are usually older than a recent loss, so the building is shown as it stood. Confirm that the photo shows the building in question.
- Match it to the policy. Name each building as the schedule names it and mark ACV, RCV or N/C.
- Measure what matters. Use Measure for the distance between buildings or to a tank, and keep the lines on the diagram.
- Download the PDF for the claim file and to share with the insured or the contractor.
What it does not do
- No roof measurements. PropDiagram measures the footprint at ground level. It does not give roof area, pitch or facets; use a roof measurement report for a roofing estimate. See how PropDiagram compares.
- No interior or upper floors. The footprint is the 1st floor. Upper-floor area is whatever you enter.
- No date on the photo. The aerial photo can be a few years old. A building that went up after it was taken will not appear until you draw it.
- Not a valuation or a scope of loss. It supplies the dimensions those start from.
Who uses it in claims?
- Staff and independent adjusters, to open a file with a drawing of the property before the first site visit.
- Agents, to hand the adjuster and the insured the same record of what was insured. See reducing E&O exposure.
- Insureds and risk managers, to keep a record of their own buildings for the day it is needed.
Common questions
How does a diagram help after a total loss?
It records each building's outline, dimensions, footprint square footage and position on the lot as they were before the loss, which is the starting point for scope, valuation and settlement.
Can I run a report after the loss has happened?
Often, yes. Building outlines and the aerial photo are usually older than a recent loss, so the building is still shown as it stood. Check the aerial view to confirm.
Does PropDiagram measure roofs?
No. It measures the building footprint at ground level. It does not give roof area, pitch or facets; use a roof measurement report for a roofing estimate.
How long is a report available?
Reports stay on the site for 7 days, or 6 months when ordered with the monthly subscription. Download the PDF and keep it in the policy or claim file so it is there when it is needed.
Can I measure the distance between buildings?
Yes. The Measure tool draws a line between any two points on the aerial view and shows the distance; you can keep the line on the diagram and in the PDF.
A PropDiagram report is a diagram and reference record. Measurements are approximate ground-footprint estimates from aerial-imagery-derived building outlines. A report is not an appraisal, survey, replacement cost estimate or insurance valuation; verify anything a decision depends on.