Every report in DiaspoOps carries an assurance level, and the vocabulary is deliberately strict. Declared means someone asserted it, with nothing attached. Documented means photos, quotes or receipts were submitted. Corroborated means two or more independent sources agree. Independently verified means a party independent of the reporter confirmed it.
A caretaker's photo of a leak makes the report documented — not verified. That is not distrust of the caretaker; it is honesty about what a photo can prove. A platform that stamps 'verified' on self-submitted evidence is selling you comfort, not proof.
In practice, documented is enough for most day-to-day decisions: you can see the leak, the quote and the receipt on one timeline, and every item is timestamped and unchangeable. What the strict vocabulary buys you is knowing exactly how strong the record is if you ever need to rely on it — with family, with a tradesperson, or in a dispute.
The rule behind all of this: DiaspoOps records and proves. It never decides who is right — that authority stays with you.