Home Home insurance Home Insurance Basics Home insurance inspection: how to prepare a checklist Home insurance inspection: how to prepare a checklist Written by: Daniel Bortz | Reviewed by: Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service. | Updated on February 1, 2023 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. Having a checklist for a homeowners inspection will help you better prepare and get the best results for a claim. Many homeowners insurance providers perform a home insurance inspection before issuing a policy, renewing an existing policy, or processing a claim. But that doesn’t mean an inspector can barge into your home anytime they please. A home insurance inspection is when your insurance provider sends a professional inspector to your home to assess the company’s risk of insuring the property. It could be something as simple as a drive-by inspection, where an inspector looks at your home’s exterior, or it could entail an interior inspection of your whole home. Not all insurance providers conduct home insurance inspections. Many perform them on a case-by-case basis, depending on the age of a home, as well as its size and location. Why do insurance companies want to inspect your house? Typically, insurers perform a home insurance inspection for three main reasons: To evaluate how much it would cost for your home to be rebuilt To determine the value of your belongings To assess any existing risks that need to be addressed before offering you a homeowners insurance policy Essentially, a home insurance inspection helps insurance companies mitigate their liability exposure. In turn, inspections can have several outcomes: you may be required to repair property issues before an insurance policy can be issued, you may be assessed a higher insurance premium, or you could be denied coverage altogether. What does a home insurance inspector look for? Home insurance inspectors have a checklist they go through when evaluating homes. That checklist typically includes the following items: Exterior inspection checklist: Roof Chimney Doors Windows Siding/paneling Exterior walls Garages Exterior structures, such as a shed or detached garage Yard Fencing Driveway Pool Gutters Porches/decks Hazards, such as overhanging trees Interior inspection checklist: Walls and ceilings Fireplaces Attic Crawlspace Flooring Basement Doors Windows Kitchen appliances Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors Plumbing Electrical system HVAC Drainage system Security system How to prepare for a home insurance inspection A home insurance inspector must obtain your permission before stepping onto your property or entering your home; they aren’t allowed to trespass. These steps will help you pass a home insurance inspection: Exterior: Check your roof. Repair any loose, damaged, or missing shingles. Clear out gutters. Remove leaves, twigs, and other debris. Also, make sure gutters and downspouts are securely attached to your home. Prune trees. Trim branches so that nothing is touching your house or hanging over your home. Fix cracks or loose bricks in a chimney. These can be a fire hazard. Seal cracks and leaks around windows and doors. This can also improve your home’s insulation and lower your energy bill. Interior: Test the HVAC system. Change air filters to improve performance, if needed. Look for signs of waters leaks. Check under sinks and around toilets, washing machines, and dishwashers. Also keep an eye out for wall discoloration or bubbling paint. Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Replace batteries if necessary. Check the basement. Keep an eye out for pests, mold, and cracks in the foundation. Survey the attic. Check for water damage and rodents. Examine walls and ceilings. Look for cracks, stains, or other damage. 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To prepare for a four-point inspection, make sure your HVAC system is functioning properly, inspect the condition of your roof, look for signs of leaking around plumbing fixtures, and check for any exposed wiring (all electrical outlets should be grounded properly). Frequently asked questions Can I get home insurance without a home inspection? Yes. Some insurance providers don’t require a home inspection before issuing or renewing an insurance policy. This is more common for newer homes. If you have an older house (think 30+ years), an insurer likely requires your home to pass an inspection. How often does a house need to be checked for insurance purposes? Although it can vary by provider, most insurance companies perform home inspections once every 10 to 12 years. Insurance companies may also perform an inspection when you file a claim, but that’s technically an appraisal, where a representative comes to your home to assess the damage and determine if your property is eligible for coverage under your policy. What should I do if my homeowners insurance policy is canceled after an inspection? If your home fails an inspection, you can do one of three things. You can either request permission to make necessary repairs to maintain or renew your insurance policy; dispute the report’s findings (and provide supporting evidence), or find a new insurance provider. The ball is in your court. In case you missed it What is HO-6 insurance? Average home insurance cost in 2023 What is dwelling coverage and how much do you need? 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