To obtain or keep a homeowners insurance policy, your home may need to have a home insurance inspection. Insurance companies use inspections to identify any liability issues with your property and determine the amount of risk associated with its condition or features.
If you take some time to prepare, you might be able to identify some of these issues and fix them before the inspection happens. This can result in a better report, but also help you avoid any unpleasant surprises. Here are some things you can do to prepare for a home insurance inspection:
Examine exterior features
There are several outside portions of your home you can check before an inspection. Some possible issues include:
- Loose or missing roof shingles.
- Cracks in the chimney.
- Unsecured or clogged gutters.
- Hanging tree limbs over the roof or other home structures.
- Uneven driveway or walkway pavement.
Inspect your home’s interior
Examine the interior of your home to find and resolve any problems before they’re discovered during the inspection. Some things to make a note of include:
- Dead batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
- Pest or water damage in the attic, basement or crawl space.
- Leaky plumbing fixtures.
- Loose electrical outlets.
What happens if you fail a home insurance inspection?
Even with preparation, the results of your inspection may not be ideal. If the insurance company finds major issues with your home interior or exterior, they might give you a deadline to resolve them to keep your coverage. If your home is too risky, you may be denied coverage entirely.
Regardless of inspection reports, the more you know about the condition of your home, the better. Remember to check for these issues periodically to ensure your home remains in the best possible condition, regardless of your insurance coverage.
About the Author
Robin Anderson Real Estate
“My Passion is people and relationships and I promise to provide my clients with exceptional service tailored to their individual needs.” -Robin Anderson
Georgia native, Robin Anderson brings her passion for people and her love of homes to work for her clients. She and her husband, Andy, have been married for over 30 years and have two adult children, Ellen and Drew. They currently live in Fulton County, but Robin has lived and invested in properties throughout metro Atlanta as well as helped clients buy and sell. She has been integral to many real estate endeavors including designing and building several custom homes, remodeling homes, subdividing land, managing rental properties, and buying and selling properties. She spent her first 3 years in real estate working with a new home builder, and she has spent the last 6 years working with buyers and sellers in her own community. Robin is highly motivated but sensitive to the fact that buying and selling homes can be an emotional experience, so she makes it a priority to keep clients closely informed throughout the process and strives to produce quick results. She appreciates the opportunity to help her clients navigate the real estate process, and she aspires to deliver quality customer service that is both informative and positive. She is driven to provide outstanding service for her clients and she is focused on building successful and lasting relationships with her clients. This personalized service earns her enthusiastic referrals from clients she is pleased to call friends.Edit
