So the other day I received an email from USAA requiring me to submit to a home inspection. My choices are to do it myself with my phone or allow their paid for contractor complete the assessment at no cost to me. I've had my homeowners insurance through USAA for over 10 years and nothing about my property has changed other than a new roof about 3 years ago and I haven't submitted any claims. Allegedly this inspection is for my benefit so if my home has to be rebuilt I won't have any out of pocket expenses which really means they're looking for an excuse to raise my rates. I find this request intrusive so I'm wondering if anyone else has received a similar email. At the end of the notice there's a veiled threat they may not continue to insure my home if I don't complete the home survey. I'm inclined to tell USAA to pound sand since in my opinion they're no longer the same insurance company they were when I started with them back in the late eighties.

They did the same for my previous home (due to fire prone area) and current home (new build).

In both situations I allowed their contractor (previous home was just before we put it on the market, current home was just prior to us moving in).

In both cases it was helpful financially and knowledge wise

I've had that happen. Not USAA but State Farm. The agent came out to "look around" and said it's something they have to do periodically. He was looking at the general condition of the roof, fencing, etc. He never went inside the house.

While he was there I asked if SF would pay to have a tree removed that was leaning toward the house. Nope. They'll build a new house when the old one gets smashed, but preventative action? Huh uh.

We just switched homeowner's carriers.
A guy came out walked the outside, took a few photos inside (under sinks & water heater area)

Ended up lowering my premium as they adjusted some of the details [roof composition & attic venting, or something like that].

Lots of carriers are doing Drone inspections of home, looking for roof information, additions, other things that might change the coverage, lots are denying renewals when they find old roofing.

It's not uncommon to have happen I wouldn't put too much into it, however you might want to have an alternative sitting ready in the wings should they tell you they are not going to renew.

You don't want that on your insurance report card..

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So the other day I received an email from USAA requiring me to submit to a home inspection.

Scam? Have you called USAA to verify?

Yep- AAA did an inspection on our home to verify square footage.

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they're no longer the same insurance company they were when I started with them back in the late eighties.

Or 1967 when I got my auto insurance with them. Seems to me I received a simllat email but ignored it as a possible scam.

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Originally posted by 229DAK:

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So the other day I received an email from USAA requiring me to submit to a home inspection.

Scam? Have you called USAA to verify?

Not yet but I definitely will call and verify because the possibility of it being some sort of scam came to mind.

Let them do it but at the same time shop for other insurers. Tell them you want a copy of the inspection and use it while you are getting other estimates. Then take the best deal you are comfortable with.

It happened to me too. USAA wanted to inspect the house to establish a baseline and to ensure "I received my full replacement value" in case of a hurricane (Florida). Every year they wanted to raise the valuation, I finally had to underinsure the house because of the rate increases.

I know it was not for my benefit that they did this, but it seems to be a normal ongoing business decision. I am no longer in Florida but USAA was getting very selective about what residential property they insured in that state because of the hurricanes. I am still with USAA but. since moving to Georgia, my insurance premiums have plummeted. Florida is not the least expensive of states!!

Happened to me two years ago. Insurance company was ALFA. Being friends with the local agent made this just a friendly visit while he walked around and took his necessary pictures.

I have 40 years experience in the property and casualty insurance industry (now retired)including 15 years owning a predominantly personal lines agency. The remaining time I worked for insurance companies performing loss control and risk management consulting. All companies conduct inspections of properties they insure. Commercial risks can be visited annually if the hazards of the operations justify it. Personal lines inspections are less frequent and typically occur when a policy is initially underwritten. These inspections are routine and can vary in scope from company to company or the value of the dwelling.

State Farm has sent inspection teams at least two times in the 21+ years we have lived in this house. Last time it was a team of two women, very nice, rang the bell to let me know they were there, never tried to come in the house and let me know when they were done. No inconvenience for me.

I've had SF for 42+ years, just a bit longer than I've been married to Mrs. SS1.

Bob

Worked for an insurance company and did similar type visits but on the commercial insurance side. Think small to large businesses.
Our contract (the standard policy) required that the insured provide access if requested. If someone refused access they would be non renewed.
Benefits to you are they may see something that if fixed could prevent a claim and inconvenience to you. Like say a plumbing leak issue.
The downside is they may see something that is a concern to them like a dated roof that may get you excluded IF you refuse to fix it on their schedule.

During the building of my new house, the insurance man came by the home to check it out, he said it was really to get out of the office. Then about 2 weeks after we moved in a man showed up, said he was from my insurance and walked around the outside and looked at the roof. He said it’s about the hail claims they get here every five or so years. He never asked to go inside.
He was a third party inspector that gets hired by insurance companies all the time.

Appreciate everyone's input and advice, I suppose I will reluctantly complete the inspection.

We had an Insurance Inspector come by a few years ago. He came inside and took pictures of the shut off valves on the toilets and sinks , and a picture of my main AC panel in the garage.

They're looking for damage or deterioration to your home that could make it a more significant risk for loss. Bad roof, missing shingles, missing siding, broken windows, cracked walkways, peeling paint, etc.

It's done more often with new homeowners policies but some companies do it periodically as well. Stuff mentioned above can trigger a policy cancellation or non-renewal.