How to prepare for a home insurance inspection

If you are purchasing a new home or want to switch homeowners insurance companies, your insurance underwriter may require a home insurance inspection to be completed before your policy is issued. An insurance inspection is used to determine loss risk and may be required if your home is older, has not been recently inspected, or has an existing loss history. The condition of your home is one of the factors homeowners insurance companies will use to determine your insurance rates, so it may be important to prepare for a home insurance inspection. Here is what you need to know about home insurance inspections and how to prepare for one.

What is a home insurance inspection?

In a home insurance inspection, a certified inspector will come out to your home to assess its risk potential for liability and future claims. The inspection will also provide specifics about the home to create a valuation, which is useful to ensure the dwelling coverage is adequate in the event of a major loss. After the inspector shares the results with your insurer, it will determine if coverage adjustments are needed and whether to continue writing your property insurance coverage.

Home insurance inspections differ from a standard home inspection. During a home insurance inspection, inspectors will assess the home’s structure and appliances to help determine risk. Just like you can use standard home inspection results to decide whether to purchase the property, an insurance company can use an insurance inspection to adjust your premium, require you to fix issues and even cancel the policy if it deems your home too risky to insure.

Who requires a home insurance inspection?

Insurance companies typically order home inspections for older homes and in areas more prone to major natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires, although it can be done for many reasons or even randomly. If you have been with the same home insurer and have not had your home inspected recently, you may be required to have one completed prior to the next policy renewal period. If you are switching carriers, the new property insurer may require a home insurance inspection be completed within 90 days of the effective date of the homeowners insurance policy.

Lenders

Though lenders do not technically require home insurance inspections, you are required to purchase home insurance coverage as part of the mortgage approval process. Before you settle on the home or refinance an existing mortgage, you have to supply proof of homeowners insurance. Purchasing a new property insurance policy or updating an existing policy could trigger a home insurance inspection.

Insurers

An insurance company will commonly require a home insurance inspection within the first 30-60 days of the policy effective date to ensure the application was completed truthfully and accurately to the value and risk of the home. The inspection results could be used to make changes to your dwelling coverage and may require you to address issues with your home identified during the inspection.

In some states, home insurance companies may conduct specified home insurance inspections. For example, if you live in hurricane-prone states along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, an inspector may need to complete a wind mitigation inspection. This type of home inspection could result in reduced insurance premiums or credits if you make your home more resilient to windstorms by installing roof tie-downs, a wind-rated garage door and storm shutters. While a wind mitigation inspection is not state-regulated, your insurer may require it depending on your location.

What a home insurance inspection covers

Some home insurance inspections do not require the homeowner to be present, like an exterior-only inspection. The inspector will take pictures and measurements of the home’s exterior to complete their report. An interior inspection requires you to be present and will include photos and measurements of your home’s interior as well. Your insurer’s underwriters will review the inspector’s report to determine next steps based on the condition of the home.

Home insurance inspections assess the condition of:

• Appliances (oven, stovetop, microwave, refrigerator, etc.)
• Attic
• Basement
• Carbon monoxide/smoke detectors
• Ceilings
• Chimney
• Doors
• Driveway
• Exterior structures (barn, garage, shed, pool, etc.)
• Fencing
• Flooring
• Garage doors
• Gutters
• HVAC
• Hot water heater
• Plumbing
• Porches/decks
• Roof
• Security system
• Signs of infestation
• Walls
• Windows
• Yard

The primary considerations of a home insurance inspection are what kind of maintenance upkeep and liability risk is present with the dwelling and property.

How to prepare for a home insurance inspection

There are several ways you can prepare for a home insurance inspection. Walking around the interior and exterior of your home, you may be able to spot issues that could come up and fix them before the inspection commences, or at least be aware so there are no surprises later.

Here are a few areas to assess when preparing for a home insurance inspection:

• Loose or missing shingles on the roof
• Unsecured gutters or debris inside and visible
• Cracks or loose bricks in a chimney
• Hanging branches over the home’s structures, especially dead limbs
• Cracks or leaks around doors, siding and windows
• Uneven sidewalks or chipped stairs, which could be a safety hazard
• Make sure carbon monoxide and smoke detectors work
• Pest or water damage in the attic or basement
• Any sign of leaks around plumbing fixtures
• Cracks or bubbling of the walls which could show water damage
• Changing the filter in your HVAC system and run it to make sure it works properly

What happens if you fail a home insurance inspection

If the inspector finds issues with your home’s interior or exterior after a home insurance inspection, your insurance company may give you a deadline to fix them to continue coverage. If it deems your home too risky, the insurance company may cancel your property insurance policy. You have options if this happens.

If the inspection identifies fixable issues, you will have a certain amount of time to have them fixed. The insurance company will want proof of repairs, which could include receipts from work completed and pictures showing the finished project. Some damage may require a follow-up inspection.

If the decision is made to cancel your home insurance, your insurer will provide a cancellation date, which will give you some time to find coverage elsewhere. If you cannot find a private insurer to insure your home, you may have to contact your state’s department of insurance to find programs available for high-risk homes. Some states have Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plans in place to help people who cannot get coverage in the voluntary market.

Frequently asked questions

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    Am I required to get a home insurance inspection?

    Not every insurance company will require you to complete a home insurance inspection before offering coverage, especially if the home is new or has recently had an inspection. However, your insurer may add a stipulation that requires an inspection before the next policy renewal date or within a certain time frame. And, an inspection requirement may be more likely if your home has a loss history, is older or requires an extensive amount of coverage.
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    How does a home insurance inspection impact my policy?

    A home insurance inspection is used to help the insurance company determine the risk level related to insuring your home. If the home you are insuring is in need of work or repairs, a home insurance inspection may result in higher-than-average insurance premiums. In some cases, your insurer may opt out of insuring your home. On the other hand, an inspection that finds few or no issues may result in a lower premium.
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    How thorough is a home insurance inspection?

    Each company has its own requirements for home insurance inspections. Some companies may require a full inspection of the homes they are insuring while others may require a less invasive inspection of the property’s exterior. Before purchasing an homeowners insurance policy, it may benefit you to ask the insurance company what type of inspection it will require.