Behind the Scenes of Property Inspections: What I Do and Why It Matters

When people think about real estate, insurance, or mortgages, they usually picture agents, lenders, and homeowners. But there’s a lot happening behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly—like insurance underwriting inspections and mortgage occupancy field inspections. That’s where I come in.

What’s an Insurance Underwriting Inspection?

Before an insurance company decides to cover a property, they need to know exactly what they’re insuring. That’s my job—I check out homes and businesses to make sure everything is in good shape and there aren’t any major risks hiding in plain sight.

What I Look For:

✔️ Roof, siding, and overall condition of the property

✔️ Potential fire hazards or structural issues

✔️ Liability risks (think pools, trampolines, or aggressive dogs)

✔️ Whether the property meets insurance guidelines

A lot of times, people don’t even realize the risks they have until I point them out.

A Fire Waiting to Happen

One time, I was doing an inspection and noticed a space heater sitting right next to a stack of newspapers in a garage. Talk about a disaster waiting to happen! I mentioned it to the homeowner, and they looked shocked—"I never even thought about that." A few days later, they actually called me to say they moved it and thanked me for bringing it to their attention. That’s the kind of thing that makes me feel like these inspections really do make a difference.

What’s a Mortgage Occupancy Field Inspection?

For banks and mortgage companies, it’s important to know what’s going on with the properties they finance—especially if the homeowner has stopped making payments. That’s where I come in. I check on properties to see if they’re occupied, vacant, or in trouble.

Why It Matters:

🏡 Confirms if a property is occupied or abandoned

📸 Documents property conditions for lenders

📍 Helps banks decide their next move (foreclosure, maintenance, etc.)

🔍 Flags potential risks like vandalism or serious neglect

The “Vacant” House That Wasn’t

I once pulled up to a house that was marked as vacant. But when I got there, I saw fresh tire tracks in the driveway, lights on inside, and even a barking dog. Didn’t seem very “vacant” to me! I knocked on the door, and after a long pause, someone answered—completely confused about why I was there. Turns out, the bank had outdated records, and the homeowner had no idea their house had been flagged as empty. If I hadn’t checked, they could have faced a nightmare situation with their mortgage.

Why These Inspections Matter

Most people don’t think about these inspections, but they play a huge role in keeping things fair and functional. They help insurance companies set accurate policies, protect homeowners from surprise coverage issues, and make sure lenders aren’t acting on bad information.

And here’s something a lot of people don’t realize—our inspections can directly impact your insurance rates and mortgage decisions. It’s not just about taking photos and answering questions. The details we report—like the condition of your roof, the age of your home’s systems, or whether your property has certain risk factors—can influence whether your policy gets renewed, your rates go up or down, or whether a bank decides to take action on your loan. That’s why it’s always a good idea to keep up with maintenance and be honest about your property’s condition, as well as answering all the questions truthfully. The inspection doesn't end with the inspector - the insurance underwriter or the bank will dig deeper.

So if you are in the insurance or mortgage industry and don't feel like dealing with some big corporation for your OKC Metro inspections, give me a shout! I'd be happy to help!