Purchasing a home can be stressful. Between the inspection, appraisal and not to mention all the paperwork, most people are just ready to move in by the time they get the keys. What many people don’t realize is that after they write a new home policy for the property, the insurance company will also be doing their own inspection. Here are a few things we commonly see come up on the insurance inspection:

1. Tree contact with roof – Even just one little branch can cause the insurance company to recommend the owner trim the tree back and provide photos of the completed work.
2. Siding damage – From a small cracked section to deformed siding, the insurance company could require the siding to be repaired or you may face non-renewal when the term expires.
3. Steps missing railing – If there are 3 or more steps (depending on the height of the steps) that do not have a railing, it is likely that your insurer will request that one be added.
4. Roof damage – Shingles flipping, curing or losing their granulars would be a cause of concern for an insurance company, depending on how bad the shingles are. This could result in an expensive requirement from the insurer to have you replace the roof entirely, or the area in question.
5. Pets – Some insurance companies are limited in their appetite for certain dog breeds. Failure to disclose that you have a dog, especially if it is a breed in question, can result in something as severe as a 30-day cancellation notice from your insurance company. We have had this issue come up several times after an inspection was performed by the insurer.
6. Pool without a locking fence/gate – Most insurance companies will require that if you have a pool, it be fenced with a locking gate. Be sure to disclose if you have a pool to your agent when getting a quote.
7. Condition of outbuilding – Sometimes a shed gets neglected, and insurance companies may recommend that it be repaired or removed from the premises depending on how far gone an outbuilding is.
8. Occupancy – Insurers often notice if a home is not yet occupied from the inspection report. It is important to disclose when you are planning to move into the home if there is a significant delay from the date of purchase to the date you plan on moving in.

An inspection report is not something you will likely get directly from your insurance company, but that your agent may contact you if there are required repairs. Your agent can often provide a copy of the inspection report should there be any dispute on the repair in question.

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