Why Your Insurance Agent Suddenly Cares About Your Roof

Jul 29, 2025 12:04 pm

Why Your Insurance Agent Suddenly Cares About Your Roof (and Plumbing, and Wiring…)

If you’ve lived in your home for a while and have had insurance through various companies over the years, you might be surprised by how much more detailed the process has become when you shop around for a new policy. You’re not imagining things — many insurers today are asking for information they never used to.

You might be wondering:

“I’ve been insured with multiple companies in the past 11 years and none of them needed all this info. Why now?”

That’s a great question — and one we’re hearing more and more. The short answer is: the insurance industry is changing. And like it or not, that change means insurers are asking for more details before they’ll commit to covering your home.

Let’s break down why that’s happening — and why, ultimately, it can be a good thing for you.

A Changing Risk Landscape

Over the past decade, insurance companies have faced mounting losses due to:

More frequent and severe storms and natural disasters
Escalating repair and rebuilding costs
A sharp increase in claims frequency related to water damage, fire, and roof issues

In response, underwriters (the people who evaluate insurance risk) have tightened their guidelines and are no longer comfortable making assumptions. They want specifics — especially about the big four systems in your home:

Roof
Electrical
Plumbing
Heating (HVAC or furnace)

Why? Because these are the systems most likely to cause serious, costly damage when they fail.

What They’re Asking — and Why

Today, most insurance carriers want to know:

The year each system was last updated
Whether the update was full (replaced entirely) or partial
What materials were used (e.g., copper vs. galvanized plumbing)
If the work brought the system up to modern safety or code standards

Take the roof, for example. Even if it “looks fine,” the carrier may decline to offer a policy — or charge a higher premium — if the roof is over 20 years old, isn’t made of hail-resistant materials, or lacks documentation.

Your neighbor (especially if they're a roofer!) saying “it’s in good shape” is helpful, but the carrier needs specifics to plug into their underwriting model.

Why It Feels Different Than Before

It’s true that some companies never asked for this before. Ten years ago, many insurers were still relying on general property data and outdated assumptions. But with the rise of big data and more advanced risk modeling, carriers are now scoring homes much like they score drivers.

The result? Even a well-maintained home might be flagged if the insurer doesn’t have solid data on its key systems. If you can’t provide it, they may assume the worst — or simply decline coverage.

What Happens If You Skip the Details?

Without the update info, you’re more likely to:

Receive limited or less favorable quotes
Miss out on discounts or preferred pricing
Get stuck with last-minute coverage gaps or midterm cancellations if an inspector later flags an issue

Worst case, you might not be able to secure coverage at all — especially if you’re buying a new home and the closing is approaching.

But What About Auto Insurance?

Thankfully, the auto insurance side is a lot simpler — especially if your profile looks like this:

You drive under 5,000 miles a year
You have no accidents or tickets
Your credit score is strong (800 FICO or better)

That combo puts you in a great position for lower rates and possible discounts, including usage-based pricing, safe driver rewards, and multi-policy bundles if you insure both home and auto together.

What You Can Do

If you’re not sure when your systems were last updated, here are a few tips:

Check your home inspection report (especially if you bought in the last 10–15 years)
Look for permits or contractor invoices
Ask your previous owner if you’re still in touch
Talk to a professional (like a roofer or electrician) who can give you an informed opinion

When in doubt, send over what you do know — even partial info helps.