What is a home insurance roof inspection?
Insurers inspect roofs for two very different reasons, and knowing which one you are facing tells you how to respond.
Underwriting inspections
These happen when a policy is new, coming up for renewal, or under review. An inspector photographs the roof from outside, sometimes with a drone, or a reviewer studies aerial imagery. Many homeowners never know it happened until a letter arrives. The inspector notes roof age and material, missing or curling shingles, granule loss, moss, tarps, patches, sagging, and branches touching the roof. Results range from no action, to a request to repair specific items by a deadline, to a switch to actual cash value coverage for the roof, to a nonrenewal. Georgia requires insurers to give advance written notice before a nonrenewal takes effect, so read the dates in any letter carefully.
Claim inspections
These follow a damage report. An adjuster schedules a visit, walks the property, gets on the roof or uses a ladder assist crew or drone, counts hail hits in test squares, looks for wind creases and missing shingles, and checks soft metals like vents and gutters. The result is an estimate and a coverage decision.
How to tell which one you are getting
- A claim number in the letter or email means a claim inspection.
- A policy number with words like "property inspection," "risk survey" or "condition" usually means underwriting.
- If you are not sure, call your agent and ask directly.
Protect yourself either way
Keep your own dated photos of every slope, receipts for past repairs, and proof of the roof's installation date. Older roofs draw the most scrutiny; see how roof age affects insurance. For a claim visit, use the adjuster inspection prep guide.