A thorough property inspection can reveal problems with the roof before the actual roof inspection even takes place. Water stains found on ceilings in the interior of the home are commonly seen signs of a potential roofing issue. Rotting wood or the growth of mold in key areas around the home can be the result of a leaking roof if all other sources are ruled out. Musty or otherwise offensive odors can be yet another clue that the roof may be damaged and has allowed water into the home. When examined separately, a seemingly minor roof issue may be underestimated. Therefore a roofing assessment should be part of any property inspection to develop a full picture of the state of the property including any previous damage.
Prompt Insureds To Schedule Routine Roof Inspections
Roofs are one of the biggest risks for insurance carriers, leading to some refusing to write policies for home and commercial buildings with old roofs. Poorly maintained or dilapidated roofs are another issue, and require action on the part of the insured once revealed via an insurance inspection. While residential buildings can often get away with a lax roof inspection schedule of every three years, commercial buildings require a more frequent level of inspection.
The current recommendation for any commercial-grade roof is twice a year, preferably during spring and fall. The reasoning behind this is fairly obvious, by detecting and repairing any deficiencies before the major weather seasons begin, you reduce the chance of compounding damage and need for total replacement. The importance is heightened in states that have higher incidences of severe weather such as hail. Communicating this issue to insureds should be a focal point in any strategy set on reducing risk.
Minimize Risk With Insurance Risk Services
The inspection reports provided to your underwriting team are only as reliable and accurate as the inspection team that supplies them. Knowledge, experience, and an eye for detail all play a part in separating a skilled inspector from an amateur. Having an extensive quality assurance process is another degree of protection that ensures you only receive comprehensive and verifiable information to aid you in the underwriting process. Our insurance inspection teams know the critical importance of the state of a property’s roof and exhaustively scrutinize every aspect to provide the details you need to make profitable underwriting decisions. As a failing roof can have major damage implications on the rest of the home, this is one area that shouldn’t be neglected. We utilize technology to supplement and enhance our inspection capabilities without sacrificing the benefits of an experienced in-person physical inspection for properties and rooftops. With Insurance Risk Services, you never need to choose one or the other and risk missing out on key data.
Insurance Risk Services has been delivering the best in insurance inspection and underwriting support services to our partners for nearly 40 years. Contact us today to see how we can help you minimize risk with our residential and commercial property inspections.
