What do insurance inspectors look for at a house?
Short answer. Insurance inspectors look for anything that raises the chance or cost of a claim: the roof's age and condition first, then the home's overall upkeep, trees near the house, and liability hazards like broken steps, missing handrails, unfenced pools or trampolines. Some inspections also verify square footage and construction details to set the right dwelling coverage amount.
The roof gets the closest look
- Approximate age and material.
- Missing, curling or cracked shingles, bare spots and granule loss.
- Patches, tarps and mismatched repairs.
- Moss, debris, and limbs touching or hanging over the roof.
- Gutters pulling away and fascia rot.
Exterior condition
- Siding damage, peeling paint and wood rot.
- Foundation cracks visible from outside.
- Dead or leaning trees near the house.
- Debris, abandoned vehicles or signs of vacancy.
Liability hazards
- Broken steps, uneven walkways, and decks or stairs without handrails.
- Pools without fences or gates, diving boards and slides.
- Trampolines and other features some insurers restrict.
Interior items, when inspected
Some insurers send someone inside, mainly for higher value homes, to check the electrical panel, plumbing type, water heater age, heating system, wood stoves and smoke detectors.
Rebuilding cost details
Inspectors often measure the home and note the number of stories, garage size and finishes so the insurer can estimate rebuilding cost. Check your declarations page afterward, because a wrong square footage can leave you underinsured.
After the inspection
Most homes pass with no action. If repairs are required, you will get a letter with a deadline. Roof findings carry the biggest consequences, including possible ACV roof coverage or nonrenewal, so read roof age and insurance and whether insurance covers roof replacement.