Insurer wants to inspect my house

[MoneyGuy]

Anyone here ever have this happen? We've been with our house insurer (Morgex) for years. They've called to say that they need to inspect our house. It's a requirement, they say, for everyone. Is it a tactic to sell us more insurance (maybe auto insurance, for example)?

[DuffMan]

Never heard of this, but I'd let them do it, and if there was a problem, take your business elsewhere.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Anyone here ever have this happen? We've been with our house insurer (Morgex) for years. They've called to say that they need to inspect our house. It's a requirement, they say, for everyone. Is it a tactic to sell us more insurance (maybe auto insurance, for example)?

Did your home just hit some type of benchmark year?

I bought a century home before and the insurance company had a policy for any home 85 years or older, they would need to complete an inspection.

[MoneyGuy]

The house is only 35 years old.

[Canehdianman]

pretty standard when things are slow at the brokerage.

I'd expect it to be 75% sales call, 25% actually checking things out though.

[OMG!WTF!]

It's probably a good thing. If you need different coverage then it's best you find out now then when you're not covered in a claim.

[Gundo]

We had this happen at our last place and it was a good thing. We actually realized we were grossly undercovered for our home insurance and were running with a policy we had from an older house, the old policy wouldn't have covered half of our current contents. We also realized things like my wife's jewelry, my gun colllection and a few memoriablila items required special insurance which was a minimal payment increase but ensures we have nothing to worry about.

[pseudoreality]

I had this happen to me. It was mainly because the replacement cost was initially pegged at almost double what I paid for the house. So they wanted their guy to do a detailed assessment. I never got a copy of his report. We'll see if my premiums change at all when it's up for renewal in a few months.

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

The house is only 35 years old.

Is this sarcasm??

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

Is this sarcasm??

Um, no. Are you suggested 35 years is old? I was replying to a post from someone who bought a century-old house.

[iggy_oi]

When I bought an older home the insurance company came for an initial inspection, which makes sense as they wanted to ensure that the home was properly maintained. But if you've been with them for a while and haven't had any major issues this just seems like an excuse to raise your premiums. I would tell them not to bother since you will be switching carriers, see if they all of the sudden change their minds about whether they need to do an inspection or not.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Gundo

We had this happen at our last place and it was a good thing. We actually realized we were grossly undercovered for our home insurance and were running with a policy we had from an older house, the old policy wouldn't have covered half of our current contents. We also realized things like my wife's jewelry, my gun colllection and a few memoriablila items required special insurance which was a minimal payment increase but ensures we have nothing to worry about.

Most of these things can be done over the phone though. Insurance companies seem to like denying claims at any given chance. If they take pictures of minor shingle wear and tear on your roof that is 5-10 years old and we have a bad(average) hail season which seriously damages your roof, I wouldn't be surprised if they try to deny your claim saying the roof should have been replaced earlier.

[Locke]

They probably want to sell you Radon Insurance.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Locke

They probably want to sell you Radon Insurance.

More likely overland flooding coverage, but only if their house is located nowhere near any rivers or lakes.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

Is this sarcasm??

The whole world isn't acres of 5 year old vinyl siding Jordon

According to the latest 2013 American Housing Survey (AHS), published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the median age of owner-occupied homes is 37 years old

http://eyeonhousing.org/2015/08/the-...using-stock-2/

[Jordan!]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Um, no. Are you suggested 35 years is old? I was replying to a post from someone who bought a century-old house.

It's certainly not new! if that's your basis on the need of their inspection

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

It's certainly not new! if that's your basis on the need of their inspection

I didn't say it was new.

[CaptainYooh]

This could be related to the new provisions dealing with sewer backup insurance clauses. After the 2013 flood, some insurers initiated cancellations of the sewer backup insurance clauses on all of the residential policies, since it was used by people to recover flood related damges that would not have been covered otherwise. Others started offering it for additional premiums. Mine was just cancelled on notice at renewal time (take it or leave it kinda, which was not very nice). Your insurer might want to see if the house is at an increased risk of sewer backup. Just a thought.

[Slava]

They're going to find all that Oilers and Eskimo paraphernalia and determine that you're too much of a moral risk for coverage!

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

They just want to check the rumours about your basement.