When enlisting a drone to help with a property inspection, insurers are especially interested in checking out parts of the property that are difficult to see from ground level. In particular, this is a great way for an insurer to get a bird’s eye view of the roof.
“They would see if there’s any patches or cuts into the roof that will lead to a claim tomorrow,” Mike Koba, of Koba Capital Insurance Brokerage, said.
Insurance companies have often used Google Maps to assess properties — but while those images may be several years old, a drone allows for real-time views of a property’s current condition. Koba says insurers will sometimes perform an aerial inspection before deciding whether to insure a property at all — this is especially common with large commercial properties — but may also use this as part of the routine ongoing process to decide whether to renew an existing policy.
In addition to checking out the condition of the roof or other major components, drone inspections can also reveal something on the property that your insurance company didn’t know about.
“While the focus is primarily on roof condition, aerial inspections may also capture unreported additions to homes such as swimming pools, gazebos, and trampolines,” says Friedlander. “In some cases, this type of discovery could result in a premium adjustment or disqualify your property from being insured if it no longer meets the carrier’s underwriting criteria.”
