What to expect when the insurance underwriter inspects your home?
After 28 years in my home, I got a notice that the insurance company is sending someone out to photograph, measure and report back on my house. What should I expect? If they come up with a punch list of things to repair, can you dispute any of it?
homeowners insurance
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when an insurance company inspects your home, what do they look for?
We just changed homeowners insurance companies and they sent someone out to do the same thing. They walked all around the house, did measurements with that roll on the ground tape measure, and took some photos. He thanked me and left.
They did not have a ‘punch list’ so I can’t really speak on that.
They may just be verifying the size and construction.
It really depends on the age of your home. With older places, they could inspect the electric, plumbing, HVAC, roof, smoke detectors and general maintenance levels of the house. They’ll want to see that it’s been updated since Reagan was elected. They’ll also take some measurements to see if your replacement cost is in the ballpark of what they’re insuring it for. If you’ve been there 28 years, it probably isn’t, especially if it’s a much older home.
Also if you’re getting discounts (home security, smoke detectors, non-smokers ect) they’ll verify you actually have this stuff they’re giving you a discount for.
A punch list? Not quite, if something is in violation of underwriting guidelines, you’ll get a cancellation notice. In most states it’s 30-60 days notice before you’re insurance cancels, so in a way, you do get a opportunity to address the shortcomings and get your policy reinstated.
Can you dispute it? No.
They come out to look for anything that may be a source of loss. Does your roof need to be replaced? Is there frayed wiring? Do your steps show signs that they may cause a fall? Is the sidewalk cracked? Are trees hanging over property?
They will probably measure your home to ensure you are covered adequately. Most companies use many factors to determine how much you need to be insured for. If you have not raised your coverage in 28 years, I would say you would be grossly underinsured.
They also look for things done right that could give you discounts. Have you cleared your brush for fire hazards? Have you strapped your water heater to the wall? Do you have hardwired and battery operated smoke detectors? Do you have a security system? Is the pool fenced off?
Technically, the insurance carrier has the right to inspect at will. If they find things that need to be corrected to mitigate a loss, they will give you a report and give you a certain amount of time to comply. Usually, if you show good faith effort to comply with their recommendations, they will work with you–especially if there is a lengthy list. If you do need ot do somehting, providing photos, invoices, or receipts is sufficient to show compliance.
If they find something that they claim is a recommenation(as has been the case with some of my insureds) you can dispute it. It doesn’t mean you will win, but you can plead your case. I had one client who had a 4-unit apartment that was built prior to the city ordinance showing hand rails required. He lived in an area where neighborhood children run amok, and use his stairs for skate boarding. He wrote a letter to the insurance company explaining that his property was grandfathered in and exempt from the ordinance, and given the propensity for the property to be used for extreme sports, adding a handrail would actually make the liability hazard higher. They waived the requirement.
I was an underwriter for an insurance company that sent home care reps to the property.
The home care rep will inspect the property for hazards and measure the home to come up with a more accurate reconstruction cost.
You can contest their decision if they say you need to make repairs or they want to increase the amount you are insuring your home for.
It probably will result in no changes to your policy, but if it does contact your agent. They will be the point of contact and will call the home care rep and state why you disagree. The repairs are usually minor and beneficial for you to get completed. If you can’t right away, you can also ask for an exception to complete it within the next year.
If you disagree with the amount of coverage for your home, you are free to change that to any amount you want. Your agent will probably have you sign a waiver stating you disagree with their coverage determination. If you have any questions after the inspection, let me know! I can help you decide your best options!
Dispute. Well, if they say, your roof is 20 years old and has shingles missing and should be replaced or repaired, you’re going to dispute that shingles are missing? Or you’re going to dispute that your pool isn’t fenced in? Or that your house hasn’t had the wiring updated?
Kinda hard to dispute the items they’re looking for. They are checking for updates, and hazards. Handrails, railings, maintenance issues, things that can cause a claim, or contribute to a claim.
They’re probably ALSO going to recalculate the cost to rebuild your home.
YOUR AGENT should be able to give you more specific information.