Do home insurance companies, come to properties to value them or Check them out??

Galeeno

When getting some new quotes for home insurances, from online compare sites,

(or even if we get quotes over the phone)

then with the home insurance companies which we choose, then do they send somebody out to come out to visit/view the property?

and if the property has huge cracks, in the walls then will they insure us? or they might insure us but NOT cover us for any subsidence/movement damage?

and do they come to your property to check it for other reasons ?, to check brickwork? trees near by? etc ?


Added-
On the comparison sites, they DONT ask for any flooding questions, or any Structural movement questions.? or don't they ask atal? - but only if a claim is made ?

McKneff

No, they dont come out.

You answer a barrage of quesitons when you apply for insurance including flood risk, is it in good order etc, etc.

It's when you make a claim that all the investigation would go on.

If you said you had not ever been flooded and then you did have a flood from say a river, they would investigate the flood history in the area.

Same with subsidence, etc. etc.

It is a case of being completely honest when you answer the questions, its as simple as that.

Galeeno

Added-
On the comparison sites, they DONT ask for any flooding questions, or any Structural movement questions.? or don't they ask atal? - but only if a claim is made ?

hugoshavez

Galeeno wrote: »

Added-
On the comparison sites, they DONT ask for any flooding questions, or any Structural movement questions.? or don't they ask atal? - but only if a claim is made ?

There will be a question, or an assumption you must agree with along the lines:

"Is the property to be insured in a good state of repair?"

System

If the property has any unusual features they may come out to inspect.
I was visited once after I asked how I should list outbuildings. They said it depended on various things, and they needed to inspect.

In commercial premises it's standard practice to inspect before accepting the risk. Sometimes they then impose conditions, such as upgrading security or fire safety.

*Scarlett

An insurance company will generally not come to inspect a building before insuring it. It's up to you to tell them about any issues before signing up to the policy.

If you are getting quotes on the comparison sites they will perhaps not ask all of the relevant questions.

If you decide to purchase the policy there will be a list of questions / assumptions about the property and yourself. There will be questions about cracking, subsidence, flooding, etc. You need to read these carefully, understand them and answer honestly or the insurance could be void.

If you're not confident doing it online then ring the insurer and go over it on the phone.

Does your home have cracking, subsidence issues? If so you would need to get this sorted with your present insurer before contemplating moving to another.

POPPYOSCAR

Galeeno wrote: »

Added-
On the comparison sites, they DONT ask for any flooding questions, or any Structural movement questions.? or don't they ask atal? - but only if a claim is made ?

Usually at the beginning they make certain "assumptions" about the property which if they are wrong you are duty bound to tell them.If you do not tell them, if you then make a claim they may reduce the claim or even refuse to pay out at all.

Most of the comparison sites I have been on ask if you live within a certain distance of a water course and/ or have you ever suffered a flood etc.

We do live near a river but are so high up it would have to be a flood of biblical proportions to reach us, however some insurers will not even quote us just based on the postcode because they see it as falling in a flood risk area.

forgotmyname

Also to the above i would say they. If anything is incorrect, Especially if it gets the quote lower.

Like failing to declare flood risks etc.. You will put a claim in and they will say sorry your insurance is void.

Leaving you with a huge bill or homeless.

Galeeno

*Scarlett wrote: »

If you are getting quotes on the comparison sites they will perhaps not ask all of the relevant questions.

If you decide to purchase the policy there will be a list of questions / assumptions about the property and yourself. There will be questions about cracking, subsidence, flooding, etc. You need to read these carefully, understand them and answer honestly or the insurance could be void.

so in otherwords, the comparison sites don't give you the full questions, about flooding, cracking, subsidence,

but when you click the APPLY now link, and get insured with the company (eg barclays) then they will ask more detailed questions on your property?

*Scarlett

Galeeno wrote: »

so in otherwords, the comparison sites don't give you the full questions, about flooding, cracking, subsidence,

but when you click the APPLY now link, and get insured with the company (eg barclays) then they will ask more detailed questions on your property?

Yes - the comparison sites supply quotes from many companies whose requirements will all be different so cannot deal with every underwriting criteria or question on the initial quote. There may be a few screening questions in order to generate quotes but you must always check the individual insurers requirements.

They will usually have a section that deals with "assumptions" about the insurance - flooding, subsidence, claims history, your personal circumstances, etc.

I don't know if you have to click to buy the policy to see these but you can always hit the "back" button anytime.