Getting Home Insurance Without an Inspection

Home Insurance Advice Home Home Insurance Without an Inspection

WRITTEN BY: Julia Matseikovich

UPDATED: APRIL 19, 2023 | 1 MIN READ

A home is the biggest purchase you’re likely to make, so it’s important to protect your investment — with homeowner’s insurance. If you’re purchasing a policy, your insurance company will most likely require a home inspection. Keep reading to learn more.

Can You Get Home Insurance Without an Inspection?

There are a few exceptions, but you can generally expect a home inspection. If you’re looking for an insurance policy without an inspection, keep in mind that this will likely increase your rate. This is because the insurance company has no way of knowing if your home has any problems. After all, they are the ones who will be paying out for those issues.

In some cases, you can send a home appraisal to an insurance company to replace the home inspection.

What’s the difference between a home appraisal and an inspection?

An appraisal is a process that determines the value of your home. Home inspections, on the other hand, are when professionals look for defects in a home’s structure or systems. A home appraisal is about cost, while home inspections focus on the condition of your house.

Can you use an appraisal to get home insurance?

Yes, some insurance companies will allow you to use an appraisal, rather than get a home inspection. Plus, a home appraisal is important anyways. It helps you understand how much coverage you need, and what kind of deductible to pay.

What Happens During a Home Inspection?

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What’s a 4-point home inspection?

The 4-point home inspection helps insurers spot outdated or faulty systems. They’ll be looking at these key categories:

Plumbing
HVAC
Electrical
Roof condition

If your home has outdated systems, it will be a bigger risk to insurance companies. Your premium will be higher.

Roof condition

If your roof leaks, your home is at risk for floods and water damage. Water damage can lead to mold and mildew growth, which causes health problems. All of this is going to cost insurance companies.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is one of the most important parts of a house. This system provides heat and air conditioning to the house. The HVAC system also removes humidity from the air and filters dust particles from it.

Your insurance company will inspect your HVAC system. Issues with this system can cost them a lot of money.

Plumbing

Your insurance company will want to inspect the plumbing system. It can cause floods and water damage, and it’s costly to fix. A bad plumbing system can also cause flooding.

Electrical

Faulty electrical systems can cause fires, putting your home at increased risk. Your insurance company will inspect your electrical system, so they can accurately assess your risk of fires. If you’re at increased risk, you’ll have a higher rate.

What other things might be inspected?

Here are some more areas of your home that are subject to inspection:

Chimneys
Pests
Lead paint
Material made out of asbestos
Water damage
Mold
Shingles

6 Tips For Passing Your Home Inspection

Here’s how to increase your chance of passing an inspection:

Make sure your yard is in order. Clean it up, cut any branches that are too close to the house, and make sure dirt and shrubbery are far enough away from your house.
Inspect the outside of your house for any damages. Ensure all siding, weather strippers, and foundations are healthy. Make sure the gutters are clean and working.
Replace old filters in air conditioning or heating systems.
Test your plumbing and inspect for water damage.
Test your electrical systems, including lights and outlets.
Thoroughly clean your home.

What Happens If Your Home Fails Its Inspection?

If your home fails its inspection, you’ll need to fix the damages. Then get your home inspected again. Here are some common issues you might face:

Roof repairs
Updated wiring
Replacing the water heater
Leaks

High-risk insurance policies

If your home inspection deems your house to be high-risk, you’ll be paying for a high-risk policy. You can just pay the high-risk insurance policy premium. Or you can choose to fix the issues they found. Then get another inspection, and get a new quote.

Excess and surplus market policies

This market includes insurance companies that aren’t licensed by the state. This means states do not back these companies financially. These insurance companies don’t have to follow the same regulations. They might be willing to take on more risks.

Fair access to insurance requirements (FAIR) plans

Your state has a FAIR plan that you have assess to. These policies are more expensive. However, if you can’t get a private insurance policy, you can still get a FAIR plan. For example, if you live in an area prone to natural disasters, you’ll likely need a FAIR plan.

FAQs

Why would you be refused home insurance?

There are a number of reasons why you might be refused home insurance, including:

You’ve been involved in too many claims.
Your house is in a high-risk area, such as a flood zone or an earthquake zone.
You live in a building that’s been deemed unsafe by the government.

However, you can still get a policy through your state’s FAIR plan.

Is it hard to get homeowner’s insurance after being dropped?

If you file too many claims, you may get dropped by your insurance company. It can be challenging to find a new company, but it is possible. Claims only stay on your record for 5 to 7 years.

Why does the insurance company want pictures of my house?

The insurance company wants pictures of your house. This is so they can get a better idea of how much it will cost them to rebuild it. Make sure you submit high-quality photos.