Accidents happen, and they can cause extensive damage to your property. The good thing is, your property is covered by insurance, so you do not have to worry about spending too much on repairs and replacements.
However, making an insurance claim for your damaged property could be quite stressful if there are gaps in your documentation. The worst-case scenario is, your claim will be rejected as not having sufficient evidence.
Your insurer will mostly have an assessor or a claims adjuster come to visit and inspect your property. They will investigate the extent of the damage to your property and will also come up with recommendations on the necessary repairs and replacements needed to restore your property.
Although your insurance company will make its own assessment of the damage, it is smart to hire an independent building inspector to assess your property and prepare an inspection report. Your insurance company’s claims adjuster will often make conservative observations and assessments. So, that they do not need to pay you beyond the minimum coverage.
Benefits of Hiring an Independent Building Inspector
Here are the reasons why you need to hire an independent Hunter Valley building inspector to assess the damage in your property.
- They will do the inspection without bias.
Independent building inspectors do not work for the insurance company, so you can be sure that they will work for the best interest of fairness. They will be looking at all angles of the damage incurred by your property.
The building inspector hired by your insurance provider will most likely work for the interests of your insurance company. They are likely to generate a report that is more favourable to your insurance provider. Hiring a trusted independent building inspector for your insurance claim assessment ensures that you will get a fair and thorough inspection report that will reflect the true condition of your property.
- They are insured and protected.
Sometimes, a Lake Macquarie building inspector can make a mistake which can cause you further financial loss. Independent building inspectors have professional indemnity insurance that will cover these costly mistakes and errors in judgment. The professional indemnity insurance ensures that you are covered and protected for any misjudgement that the inspector commits during the inspection.
Should the recommended repairs end up in more problems for you, your property will be covered by your inspector’s insurance. You will have peace of mind that your property is in good hands with a licensed and insured building inspector.
- They are registered and licensed builders.
Hiring an independent building inspector allows you to choose inspectors who are also licensed builders. These inspectors have a wider range of experience in the building codes and standards, making them the perfect choice to inspect your property.
- They have the right men for support.
Your insurance company will have an assessor, but it is likely that they will not have an engineer or even a builder to correctly assess the repairs needed. An independent building inspector in Newcastle usually works with an engineer or is a professional builder himself.
You can be sure that the recommendations you will have in your reports come from the perspective of an experienced professional. They will also be able to provide you with an estimate of the recommended repairs and replacements, so you will have a fair idea of how much it will cost.
- You will get a detailed and fair report.
Since your inspector is independent of your insurance provider, you will be more confident with the details of your inspection report. Your independent building inspector will have no reason to hold back and will be more thorough in including the extent of the damages that were incurred by your home. Damage to your outdoor fixtures, such as your decks, sheds, garage, and carport will also be assessed in detail.
You will also receive detailed recommendations on what is needed to return your property to its original state.
Your insurance claims adjuster will be working on the side of the insurance company which is not to your best interest. With only the claims adjuster report as a basis, they may end up paying less than what is needed to repair all the damage incurred by your home.
Coverage of your property insurance
The coverage of your property insurance may differ from policy to policy. However, here are the most common inclusions for property insurance.
- Protection against fire
- Coverage in the events of theft or burglary
- Protection against impact damage
- Protection against damage due to acts on nature
- Legal liability cover
- Protection against flood
It is important to note that not all insurance products are the same. When choosing your property insurance, make sure to read its product description and its included coverage.
What can you expect in your inspection insurance report?
Your building inspection report will most likely contain information about the following:
- The interior of your home
- The exterior of your home
- Roof space
- Under-floor space
- Roof exterior
It will include details of the damage to each of these parts. It may also include your garage, carport, sheds, and toilet.
The report will give a summary of the overall condition of the building. It will also summarise the major faults and problems found in the property. It will list all of the issues that will need repairs, along with any recommended repair and replacement. Through a detailed report, you will be able to do the necessary repairs to ensure the safety and integrity of your home.
However, your independent building inspector will not check the following:
- Electrical wirings
- Plumbing and drainage
- Air conditioning
- Watering systems
- Fireplaces
- Alarm systems
Why you should choose Exceptional Building Inspections
Exceptional Building Inspections have over thirty years in the building industry, so you are getting only the best services from the experts. From pre-purchase building inspection, timber pest inspection, defect inspection, maintenance inspection, to insurance inspections, you can trust us to provide prompt, thorough, and comprehensive inspection reports.
Our team can conduct building inspections in the area of Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie, and its surrounding areas. Contact us now if you have any questions, and we will be happy to assist you.