Kanetix Forum

Can my insurer request improvements after an inspection? Do I have to make them? What if they are vague and unrealistic?



We have been insured for our house since 8 months (new purchase). It was inspected by the insurance company 6 months ago and just recently we received a notice that the as a result of the inspection a list of 'recommendations' were made. They are requesting that the 'recommendations' are completed in the a little over a months time, which is about a month away from our renewal date.



While some of the 'recommendations' are reasonable and have been completed since the inspection (e.g. cover plates on unfinished basement eletrical switches, foam insulation covered by drywall), some are either very costly (e.g. repair exterior brick work)or vague and unnecessary(e.g. install some kind of dust collection system in detached garage).



What are my options?

Hi,

That is a very good question. This situation is faced by a lot of homeowners since this is a fairly regular occurrence nowadays. I also recently went through the very same process when my home was inspected by my insurance company last year. This was a very interesting process for me as an insurance broker and I have picked up a couple of pointers. Many insurance companies will make similar recommendations but some are mandatory and others are just helpful recommendations to prevent losses. You should ask your broker to highlight for you which ones are absolutely necessary to do in order for your insurer to issue your renewal and keep insuring you vs. which ones are nice to get done.

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To me it seems like the brick work and dust collection may be nice haves and not absolutely necessary although I am not in the position to say as I do not know the inherent risks in your home. You will want to assess if dust collection will help prevent fires and whether the brick work will help prevent water damage and weigh it with the cost associated. Your insurer will assess what risks they are willing to live with and which ones you should bare on your own. Communication with your broker and insurer in these situations is crucial to help with loss prevention, safety and cost associated for all parties involved in keeping your home safe.

Best regards,

Sean Graham, Principal Broker at KTX Insurance Brokers