At least one company uses computer models to inspect these photos and flag moldy roofs, askew tree branches and missing shingles. Insurers then notify homeowners their policies may not be renewed.
While it’s unclear how many homes are under surveillance, the number could be massive — and growing. One aerial imaging technology company common among insurers says it has eyes on 99.6% of the country’s population.
Faced with more extreme weather and costlier damage to homes, insurers are increasingly relying on new technologies like aerial images to evaluate policies — and in some cases, to forgo risk. Between 2020 and 2023, the rate at which insurers in Texas chose to not renew home insurance policies almost doubled.
Reminder that all insurance companies are in the business of collecting premiums, NOT paying out insurance claims.
They paying-out part is in their Loss Control departments. That’s how they see you and your problems.
Heh, they’re there for the shareholders.
Just snuck that right in there
One aerial imaging technology company common among insurers says it has eyes on 99.6% of the country’s population.
It’s ok, everybody. The insurance companies are contracting with 3rd party companies and using AI to make decisions, so we’re all good.
I remember when we moved in to our first home. It was just a couple days when I noticed a guy outside walking around the property with his phone on a long pole taking pictures around the house and peeking over the fence into the backyard. I get that they need to survey the house, but it feels really violating for some rando to turn up in an unmarked vehicle and start walking around your house taking videos and pictures without even notifying you first. A courtesy knock and quick explanation would’ve been appreciated.
Now they can do it without you knowing at all.
A bunch of people in California have already lost coverage due to this and claiming fire risk. Fucking bullshit.
And don’t think hiding your address on maps will help. We had a helicopter circle every neighborhood photographing houses earlier this year.
The insurance denial market is in full swing.
It’s not just helicopters. Commercial satellite imaging is good enough to detect mold and askew shingles (usually more through running the image over multiple angles and finding reflectance differences)
I worked for a company that does large scale construction updates based on SAR and Maxtor reflectance data, it’s pretty terrifying how accurate it is.
The rate on our house in the Houston Metroplex has more than doubled within the last year despite no historical damage or flooding since 1980.
The broader market in this region is not in good shape though since developers keep building homes in riskier areas and taking away natural grasslands and forests that can accept water.
We were shopping for insurance on some houses we were looking at and got quoted $16k/year on an average size/cost house out in Missouri City. This area is rapidly going the way of Florida/California with insurers pulling out or dramatically rasing rates. Our insurance broker specifically said companies have pulled out of Fort Bend County citing the risk.
While governments are in denial of climate change happening, insurance companies aren’t. They’re hedging their bets early.
They’re hedging their bets early.
The hour is later than you think. The climate is already changing. The 1.5C threshold has been left behind.
Free market climate change works both on the cause and effect side.
Geez Travelers has really gone to shit
