Most insurance carriers require an inspection of your home before they finalize your home insurance policy. An inspection helps them assess the level of risk they are taking on by insuring your home. Keep reading to learn how to prepare for a home insurance inspection.
What is a home inspection
The goal of a home insurance inspection is to determine the age, condition and replacement cost of a home, as well as any risk factors that may cause future claims. Your home insurance company needs this information to make sure you have the right amount of coverage and to set your insurance premium.
When inspections take place
Similar to a buyer’s inspection, most insurance inspections take place right before you buy a new home. There are other times when a home insurance inspection can take place, too. Your home insurance company may schedule an inspection in these scenarios:
You are buying a home
you are switching home insurance companies
You live in an older home (typically, more than 40 years old)
A home inspection hasn't been completed in 10 years or more
To reiterate, home insurance inspections are scheduled and performed at the discretion of your insurance company. As a result, you usually won’t have to pay for it.
What’s the difference between a home insurance inspection and a home buyer’s inspection?
A buyer’s inspection is a critical part of the home buying and selling process. Before you close on a home, you should hire a licensed inspector to give the property a detailed top-to-bottom inspection. They’ll inspect every nook and cranny of the home to make sure you’re fully aware of all potential issues.
Insurance inspections are typically less thorough. The goal is to confirm you have enough home insurance and to identify any glaring issues. The inspector won’t be checking every detail of your home like they would during the buyer’s inspection.
What a home inspection covers
A home insurance inspector may be sent out to inspect the exterior, the interior or all aspects of your property. If you’re moving into a new home, chances are that only an exterior inspection is needed. If it’s an older home, however, your insurance company may want the home inspector to check out the inside as well.
| Interior of Home | Exterior of Home |
| Basement, attic, crawlspaces | Age and condition of roof |
| Plumbing systems | Drainage systems, such as gutters |
| Electrical systems | Foundation |
| HVAC systems | Driveway, walkways |
| Fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors | Chimney |
| Safety features and security systems | Overhanging tree branches |
Exterior inspections
Often with newer houses, an inspector will only do a brief exterior inspection to make sure everything is as expected. Since the inspector doesn’t need to be let into the house, you don’t even need to be there. In fact, you might not even know they’re coming.
Oftentimes, the inspector will simply walk around your home, take photos and complete their report on their own time. If this happens, you should find a notification on your door that they have completed the inspection.
Interior inspections
If your home insurance company wants to perform an interior inspection, the inspector will contact you to get your consent and schedule a date and time. You must be home for an interior inspection. Also, because there’s much more to look at, an interior inspection usually takes longer than an exterior-only inspection.
A home inspector won’t enter your house without your permission. So, if you’re not home at the scheduled inspection time, your insurance company may issue a cancellation or choose not to renew your home insurance policy.
Will an insurance inspector take pictures of my home?
Yes, it is common practice for an insurance inspector to take pictures of your home—both inside and outside—as well as your surrounding property during the home inspection. Some inspectors may even take videos, too. This type of visual documentation helps the insurance company determine if there are any issues that could impact your coverage. Plus, if you need to file a home insurance claim later, these pictures will show what your home looked like before the damage occurred.
How to prepare for a home inspection
Even though home insurance inspections are usually brief, it’s still a good idea to prepare for it. After all, a smooth inspection process will ensure that you have the right home insurance—at the right cost—for your needs. Here are some ways you can prepare:
Make any needed repairs
Chances are, you already know about your home’s problem areas. If not, the best way to discover them is to inspect the home yourself. Try to tackle these to-do’s before the home inspector arrives:
- Look for any exterior damage (e.g., siding, roof)
- Make sure your gutters are free of debris
- Arrange for any overhanging branches to be removed
- Test all door and window locks
- Look for signs of water damage, especially in your basement
- Check for electrical issues, such as loose outlets
- Check pipes, toilets, walls and ceilings for leaks
- Test your fire and carbon monoxide detectors
Please don’t try to fix major issues on your own, as it might be dangerous. It’s better to have them addressed by a professional.
Declutter your property
Make sure your yard and the area around your dwelling are clear of obstacles such as trash cans and foliage. Inside your home, be sure to remove any clutter under sinks and in your basement. These simple steps will allow the inspector to have easy access to your entire property.
Have documents ready
Gather any documents that are relevant to your home and share them with your inspector. Examples include a floor plan with your home’s square footage, information on recent renovations, and a list of updates to your plumbing, heating and electrical systems. You should also gather documents related to your fire or security alarm systems, as they may help get you a discount on your insurance.
What happens after an inspection
The information collected during the home insurance quoting process is quite detailed, so it’s unusual for inspections to reveal anything new. As a result, most home insurance inspections don’t yield any action items. Here’s what usually happens after a home inspection:
If everything checks out, your insurance provider will either begin your home policy or continue your current one. In a best-case scenario, you may even see a decrease in your existing premium—for example, if you replaced the shingles on your roof or made some other significant home improvement.
Alternatively, the inspector can also give your home a failing grade. This might happen if they find a damaged roof, dry rot, tree branches overhanging your home, missing stair railings or anything else that might lead to costly claims.
What should I do if my home fails the inspection?
If your home fails the insurance inspection, all is not lost. Your insurance company may offer you a certain period of time to make the necessary home improvements. If you can fix those issues, you should be able to maintain your home insurance coverage with that company.
On the other hand, your insurance provider may cancel your insurance coverage altogether. In this worst-case scenario, you should try to replace your coverage as quickly as possible, especially if you have a mortgage. If no company will cover you, you can apply for a state-subsidized FAIR Plan. These plans are specifically designed to protect homeowners with tricky properties.
