What should I do if my tiny home arrives damaged?

The short answer

Nobody wants a delivery problem, but knowing the reporting process in advance makes a difficult situation easier to manage. Before your tiny home travels, ask how its condition will be documented and what you should do if you notice damage at arrival.

Learn the procedure before delivery

Request the carrier's delivery inspection instructions and the seller's damage-reporting requirements. Ask about notification deadlines, who receives the report, and which documents should accompany it. Keep the carrier, seller, and insurance contacts available on delivery day.

For a kit or freight shipment, also ask about damaged packaging, missing components, and concealed damage discovered after opening. The relevant process may differ from delivery of a completed home.

Record what you can observe

When safe and permitted, photograph the accessible exterior and interior before transport and again at arrival. Include wide views and close views of any concern. Preserve the original files and note the date and circumstances.

Follow the agreed procedure for recording exceptions on delivery paperwork. Read before signing and ask how to note an area you could not inspect. Do not climb, enter an unsafe area, or attempt repairs simply to complete an inspection.

Report facts and preserve the evidence

Describe what you saw, when you saw it, and where it appears on the home. Send photographs and the delivery documents to the appropriate contacts promptly. Ask for written instructions about next steps before authorizing work that could affect a claim.

Damage documentation helps the parties evaluate what happened; it does not automatically establish fault or insurance coverage. Those questions depend on the evidence, agreements, and policy terms.

For a Snake River Tiny Homes purchase, discuss the arrival process as part of delivery planning. Understanding the reporting path before the home leaves gives you a practical way to respond if the delivery does not go exactly as expected.

Discuss your delivery questions with Snake River Tiny Homes.