Common Recommendations:

Your underwriter will look at the inspection photos provided through the app and may contact the agent with recommendations including but not limited to:

• Validating Policy Address- Address verification from self-inspection must match the policy address

• Brushfire concerns:

  1. Heavily forested area without the proper clearance (proximity to home)

     • Unlandscaped vegetation should be 30 feet away from the structure

     • Brush should be 50 feet away from the structure

• Exterior

  • Disrepair

    • Chimney should be flush with exterior wall/siding, no deterioration to mortar tuck-pointing, and chimney flue needs a cap

    • Foundation should have any cracks repaired

    • Sidewalks and driveways should have any cracks repaired

    • Property area should be free of debris and clutter in walkways

    • Eaves should not display signs of dry rot or water damage and eaves need a cover

  • Fire Pit must be more than 10 feet way and flammable objects must be at least 3 feet away from fireplace.

  • Gutters:

    • Must be free of debris and intact (no missing pieces of gutter)

    • Should be cleaned every 3-6 months to ensure your home is properly protected against water damage

    • Flow of water should be directed away from foundation or walkway to prevent trip/fall hazards

  • Railings

    • Space under/between slats should not exceed 4 inches vertically or horizontally from bottom of rail system to the floor surface below

    • Three or more steps require a hand-railing of at least 36’’ to 42” in height. \

  • Steps must be stable and securely attached so as not to pose as a trip/fall hazard

  • Siding:

    • Wood siding should not have any paint peeling/unpainted exterior walls

    • Trim tree branches and foliage within a 10 ft reach of the structure to prevent

  • Windows:

    • Free of bars, boards, or any other mechanism that could slow or prevent egress during an emergency

    • Glass must not be cracked and window frame should not have any signs of dry rot or paint peeling

  • Renovations / Under Construction – verify estimated completion date and extent of renovations.

  • Roof photos must be of good quality to ensure roof standards

    • Trim tree branches and foliage within a 10 ft reach of the structure

    • Asbestos shingles (noted by their scalloped shape) not acceptable

    • Wood shake shingles must be in good condition

      • Note: Generally, after 10 years’ exposure to weather, one-third of edge-grain and two-thirds of flat-grain shakes and shingles will have splits.

• Interior Concerns

  • Electrical Panel/Circuit breaker requires:

    • Manufacturers label or a statement from a licensed electrician (must be on company letterhead) stating that it is functioning as designed for the current policy term, but will be non-renewed if it is not replaced before renewal.

    • Certain panels have been recalled due to known fire hazards or failures Ex. fuses present, split-bus panels, Zinsco, Stab-lok, Sylvania

    • Knock-out, Faceplates, and Covers are required

    • Age of electrical panel should not be over 30 years

  • Plumbing:

    • Galvanized Steel or Polybutylene (PB) should be inspected by a licensed plumber inspect pipes and provide remediation.

  • Appliances:

    • Washing machine hookups: steel-braided hoses are recommended

    • Water heater age and model must be provided to ensure it is up to code

      • Note: As a general rule, a tank style water heater will last, on average, 8 to 12 years.

      • Water heaters are required to be double strapped in place (California only)

    • Furnace age should be less than 30 years

  • All wood-burning fireplaces must have a grate covering them and have a hearth separating the fireplace from the floor.

  • Interior stairs must be stable with railings so as not to pose as a trip/fall hazard

• Other common hazards must be noted on policy if present:

  • Hot Tub if present should be noted in the policy.

  • Jungle Gym if present must have a raised platform and be noted in the policy

  • Pool diving board if present should be noted on policy

  • Fence around pool - height of fence included for an inground pool must be 4ft. or greater

  • Lock on pool gate

  • Junk or unused vehicles or appliances should be removed from the premises

  • Solid Fuel Burning Appliance (SFBA) -differ from standard fireplaces and are more hazardous; examples include pellet stoves, fireplace inserts, free-standing stoves. Must be included on policy

As always, there are myriad situations that occur and it is up to the underwriter’s discretion. Please confirm with the underwriter if you have questions and upload any responses to recommendations to the portal: https://commercialinsurance.surefyre.co

TOP REASONS FOR A SELF INSPECTION

Insured becomes stakeholder of the loss prevention process from the beginning of the insurance policy term. The information is out there but insureds don’t always feel connected to the risks or a sense of urgency to avoid hazards.

50% less expensive than sending a person to physically visit the property and rush inspections to ensure your carrier doesn’t cancel your policy can be $300+

The self-inspection is a convenience we offer so homeowners don’t have to schedule a time with an inspector at the property location

Feels less intrusive than having a stranger in your home

Data is uploaded instantly to a secure server and the inspection team reviews it within 1-2 business days

Faster turnaround time from policy issuance to when underwriters receive inspection

Identify risks and receive recommendations for safety issues such as replacing substandard or recalled electrical panels. Many of our clients have been grateful for this awareness.

Offer recommendations related to life safety changes and other physical improvements which will increase property values.

One insured was doing the app outside their house and a neighbor inquired about the process and found out additional insurance options and called their agent for coverage too.

This helps keep the whole neighborhood safe and property values up. Self inspections are shaping brushfire awareness in places that have been near catastrophic losses.

Questions? Email Mary@cig-llc.biz and include the name of the insured and policy ID.

Commercial Insurance Group

Bigfoot Inspections has partnered with Commercial Insurance Group to provide a simpler inspection process for homeowners and property managers. To learn more about their program, click here: https://www.bigfoot.insure/products/homeowners

Please note that ALL policies bound in this program require an inspection. Once the policy is bound, the insured has two options:

Automatic Self-Guided Inspection App. (included in fees). The insured agrees to download the app and complete the inspection themselves or with the assistance of an agent, property manager, or tenant. They are automatically sent an inspection code at the time the policy is bound.

Request a traditional inspection (extra fees in excess of $200+ depending on the location and other variable). An inspector will schedule a time to come by the house and take photos of the exterior and interior of the home.

Once a policy is bound, a Bigfoot Self Inspection is instantly ordered. The agent receives notice of the inspection from the underwriting portal and the insured receives an inspection code as well as an invitation to download the Bigfoot Inspection App.

Please note that there is no additional cost to download the app but some app stores use terms like “get" or “buy.” Unfortunately we cannot provide technical support for the process of downloading the app from these stores but once the app has been downloaded, you have access to a chat bot along the way.

Please note that failure to complete an inspection within 30 days will result in a notice of cancellation. Questions? Email Garrett@cig-llc.biz

Once the inspection is completed, all future correspondence must be through the Insured to the agent and the agent to the broker. Bigfoot Inspections does not manage any underwriting details, cannot send or rescind notices of cancellation, or provide any feedback about recommendations to the insured.

Please send ALL required photos listed above in ONE Word Document or PDF to

Support@simpleinspection.com

with the Insured’s Name, Property Address, and Policy ID

ex. Mary Poppins, 123 Main St. Denver CO 80206 (IH-CA-3454539-2019)

The simplest way is to follow the prompts from the lighthouse Inspection application to ensure that all requisite photos are captured.

Please note that these sample photos are simply a guide but underwriting requirements may result in a request for additional photos.

The simplest way is to use the lighthouse self-inspection application to ensure that all requisite photos are captured.