Why Does My Insurance Company Need Pictures of My Home or Business?

If your insurance company has ever asked you to provide pictures of your home or business, you may have wondered why they need them. You may be asked for photos of the exterior of the building, the roof, electrical panel, heating system, plumbing, or even specific areas of the property.

While these requests can sometimes seem excessive, there is usually a reason behind them. Insurance companies use photos as part of the underwriting process to better understand the property they are insuring, verify information, and identify conditions that could increase the likelihood of a future claim.

Understanding what insurance companies are looking for can make these requests a little less confusing.

Photos Help Verify Property Information

When an insurance company agrees to insure a home or business, it needs accurate information about the property. Some of that information may come from the application, public records, previous inspections, or other sources, but those records do not always tell the whole story.

Photos can help verify things such as:

• The condition of the building

• Exterior construction

• The type and condition of the roof

• The number of stories

• Attached and detached structures

• Other features of the property

  
  

For businesses, photos can also help confirm how the property is being used and whether the current operations match the information provided on the insurance application.

The more accurate the information is, the better the insurance company can evaluate the property and determine whether it meets its underwriting guidelines.

The Condition of Your Property Affects Your Risk

Insurance companies also use photos to look at the overall condition of a property.

For example, an underwriter may notice damaged shingles, deteriorating siding, missing handrails, damaged steps, overgrown trees, or other conditions that could contribute to a future loss.

This does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with your property or that your policy will be canceled. Depending on the concern and the insurance company, you may simply be asked to repair or correct something within a certain period of time.

Addressing these issues can benefit the property owner as well. A relatively small repair

today may help prevent more significant property damage or an injury in the future.

Why Do They Need Pictures of My Electrical Panel, Heating System, or Plumbing?

Sometimes an insurance company needs more than exterior photos, particularly with an older home or commercial building.

The electrical, heating, and plumbing systems can have a significant impact on the likelihood of certain losses. An outdated electrical system, for example, may present a greater fire risk, while older plumbing can increase the potential for water damage.

Photos may help an underwriter determine the type, age, and apparent condition of these systems and whether additional information or updates are needed.

This can be especially relevant here in Maine, where there are many older homes and commercial buildings that have been renovated or updated at different points throughout their history.

Insurance Companies Also Look for Liability Concerns

Not every photo request is related to the possibility of property damage. Insurance companies also evaluate conditions that could lead to someone being injured on the property.

Some examples include:

• Missing or damaged handrails

• Uneven or deteriorating steps

• Poorly maintained walkways

• Swimming pools

• Trampolines

• Certain fencing concerns

• Other visible hazards

  
  

These conditions can increase the potential for a liability claim, which is why an insurance company may want them corrected.

For a business, there may be additional considerations depending on the type of operation, customer traffic, equipment, and how different areas of the property are used.

Why Are They Asking for Pictures Now?

Another common question is why an insurance company suddenly needs photos when it has insured the property for years.

There are several reasons this can happen.

Insurance companies periodically review the properties they insure, and underwriting requirements can change. A carrier may request updated photos at renewal, after an inspection, when changes are made to a policy, or when it needs more current information about a property.

The property itself may also have changed since the policy was originally written. You may have replaced the roof, completed renovations, added a structure, changed business operations, or made other improvements.

Updated photos help make sure the information being used to insure the property is still accurate.

What Should You Do If You're Asked for Photos?

If your insurance company requests photos, try to provide exactly what is being requested and make sure the pictures are clear and current.

If you are unsure what needs to be photographed, ask your insurance agent before submitting them. It is much easier to clarify the request ahead of time than to go back and take additional pictures later.

It is also important that the photos accurately represent the property. Providing complete and accurate information allows your insurance company to properly evaluate the risk and helps your agent address any concerns that may come up during the underwriting process.

Your Insurance Agent Can Help

Requests for photos, inspections, repairs, or additional information are a normal part of insurance underwriting, but that does not mean you have to understand every request on your own.

At HB Insurance, we work with our clients and insurance carriers throughout the underwriting process. If a carrier requests additional information about your home or business, we can help explain what is needed, why it may be required, and what the next steps are.

Insurance companies are trying to understand the properties they agree to insure. Sometimes a few pictures provide information that an application simply cannot.

So, if your insurance company asks for a picture of your roof, electrical panel, heating system, or another part of your property, there is usually a purpose behind the request.

And if you are ever unsure why something is being requested, we are here to help explain it.