Bill Layne Insurance Agency

1283 N Bridge St, Elkin, NC 28621 | (336) 835-1993

Getting Started

A Quick Photo Guide for Your Home Insurance

Welcome! To complete your NC Grange Mutual application, we just need a few photos of your property. This is a standard requirement for homes built more than 80 years ago, and this secure guide will walk you through exactly what to photograph.

Don't worry - this is easy! It only takes about 10-15 minutes.

How it works: Use your phone's camera to take the pictures for each step. All photos will be saved to your phone's photo gallery. At the end, we'll show you how to send them to us.

Step 1 of 8: The Outside of Your Home

What we need:

Walk around your house and take 4 photos, one of each side:

  • The Front
  • The Back
  • Left side & Right side

Tip: Stand back far enough to get the whole side of the house in the photo, from the ground to the roof.

Example collage showing the front, back, left, and right sides of a home.

Step 2 of 8: Photo of Your Roof

What we need:

Please stand back from your house and take one clear photo that shows a large section of your roof's surface. This helps us see its condition.

For your safety, please do not use a ladder or get on the roof. A photo from the ground is perfect.

Tip: If you can safely take a picture from a second-story window to get a better angle, that is very helpful.

Example photo showing a clear view of the roof from the ground.

Step 3 of 8: Outbuildings & Yard

What we need:

Take one photo of any other structures on your property, like detached garages, sheds, or workshops.

Liability Check: If you have a swimming pool, trampoline, or dog kennel in your yard, please include a photo of those as well.
❓ What if I don't have any of these?

No problem! Just click the "Next Step" button to continue.

Example collage showing a detached garage and a trampoline.

Step 4 of 8: Main Living Room

What we need:

Take 1-2 photos of your main living or family room. We are not judging your housekeeping, just checking the general condition.

Tip: Stand in a corner of the room to get a wide shot that shows the floor, walls, and ceiling.

Example collage showing different angles of a living room interior.

Step 5 of 8: The Kitchen

What we need:

Take 1-2 photos showing the overall condition of your kitchen. Try to show:

  • Cabinets
  • Countertops
  • Flooring

Tip: Turn on the lights to get a bright, clear picture.

Example collage showing the cabinets, countertops, and flooring of a kitchen.

Step 6 of 8: Under the Sinks (Plumbing)

What we need:

This is important to check for potential leaks. Please take a clear photo of the plumbing underneath:

  • The kitchen sink
  • All bathroom sinks

💡 Tip: The most important one! It is usually dark under the sink. Use your phone's flashlight to get a bright, clear photo of the pipes.

Example collage showing clear plumbing under a kitchen sink and a bathroom sink.

Step 7 of 8: Your Home's Systems

What we need:

Please take two final photos of your home's main systems:

  • Your main heating/AC unit
  • Your water heater

These are often located in a basement, garage, or utility closet.

Tip: If you can safely get a clear photo of the manufacturer's label on each unit, that is very helpful for our underwriters.

Example photos of an HVAC unit and a water heater.

Step 8 of 8: The Electrical Panel

What we need:

Please locate your electrical panel (breaker box), open the metal door, and take one picture of the breakers inside.

Safety First: Do not touch anything inside the panel. Just open the door, take the photo, and close it.
Example showing the correct way (open door) vs the incorrect way (closed door) to photograph a breaker box.

You're Almost Done! Let's Submit Your Photos.

Great work taking the photos! Now for the final step: sending them to us. Please choose your preferred method below.

Final Check - Did you photograph:

  • ✅ All 4 sides of the house?
  • ✅ The roof?
  • ✅ Any outbuildings, pools, or trampolines?
  • ✅ The living room and kitchen?
  • ✅ Under ALL sinks?
  • ✅ The HVAC unit and water heater?
  • ✅ The electrical panel (with the door OPEN)?

Option 1: Secure Online Upload (Recommended)

This is the easiest and most secure method. Click the button below to open our submission form, where you can upload all your photos at once.

Important Note: The form allows up to 10 photos per submission. If you have more than 10 photos, please submit the form a second time with your name and the additional photos.
Open Secure Photo Upload Form
Show Other Options (Text or Email)

Text Your Photos

  1. Open your phone's text message app.
  2. Start a new message to:
    336-850-6906
  3. Attach all the photos you just took.
  4. Type your name and property address.
  5. Press send!
Open Text App

Email Your Photos

Attach your photos to an email and send them to:

Save@BillLayneInsurance.com

Open Email App
📞 Need Help? Call Us!