How To Look At A House

McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of  

site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes

Could faulty work or lack of a building permit for home improvements cause an insurance company to deny a claim?

Friday, June 22, 2018

While there are plenty of good reasons to have any improvements to your home done with a building permit by a licensed professional, the possibility of a denied insurance clam because of incompetent or non-permitted work is not one of them. Insurance companies pay for perils listed in the policy, such damage from an electrical fire or plumbing leak, even if shoddy work resulted in the damage.  

    We occasionally hear stories to the contrary, but they appear to be the stuff of urban legends and there is no confirmed incident we know of. The insurance company will likely subrogate (go after) the person who did the improperly performed or non-permitted work and possibly cancel the homeowner’s policy, but it will not affect payment of the claim.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about INSURANCE:

Why is a fuse box/panel an insurance problem for homebuyers?

How is Citizens Property Insurance different from other Florida homeowners insurance companies?  

Do I need a home inspection to get insurance? 

Is the 4-point insurance inspection strictly pass or fail?

Is a wind mitigation inspection report (OIR-B1-1802) required for homeowners insurance in Florida? 

Which building permit date is used for the Building Code section of the wind mitigation form? 

What are the different roof deck attachment discount categories for a wind mitigation inspection?

What determines the year of a house? 

What is the difference between a toe nail, clip, single wrap, and double wrap for the wind mitigation form?

Should I give a copy of the home inspection report to the bank or insurance company? 

How do I get the hip roof discount for my homeowners windstorm insurance?

How do I get my home ready for a four point inspection for insurance?

Can I do my own wind mitigation inspection?  

Will a house without air conditioning pass a 4 point inspection?  

• What’s the difference between a gable and hip roof for my insurance? 

• Why does my homeowner's insurance want a four point inspection? 

• What is the wind mitigation inspection for homeowner's insurance? 

Which water pipes are an insurance problem and possibly uninsurable? 

• Why did I get no discounts or only a small discount from my wind mitigation inspection? 

Why does my homeowner's insurance want a roof inspection? 

• Is it common for an insurance company to require an inspection? 

• How do I get insurance if my home can't pass a 4-point inspection? 

• How does a repaired sink hole under a house affect its market value?

    Visit our INSURANCE page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.

Water Heaters

Water Heater Age

"What Are The

Signs Of..."

Septic Tank Systems

Structure and Rooms

Plumbing Pipes

Termites, Wood Rot

& Pests

Sinkholes

Stairs

When It First

Became Code

"Should I Buy A..."

Park Model Homes

Site

Shingle Roofs

Safety

Stucco

Remodeling

Wind Mitigation

Roof and Attic

"Does A Home

Inspector...?"

Pool and Spa

"What Is The Difference Between..."

Radon

Brick

Plumbing

Concrete and

Concrete Block

Metal Roofs

Foundations

Modular Homes

Rain Gutters

Mold, Lead & Other Contaminants

Condominiums

Older and

Historic Houses

Crawl Spaces

Mobile-Manufactured Homes

Building Permits

Life Expectancy

Clay Soil

Insurance

Floors

Insulation

Toilets

Exterior Walls

& Structures

Generators

Common Problems

HUD-Code for

Mobile Homes

Garages and Carports

Flat (Low Slope) Roofs

Electrical Panels

Sprinkler Systems

Electrical Receptacle Outlets

4-Point Inspections

Hurricane Resistance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Home Inspection

Heating and Air Conditioning

Building Codes

Fireplaces and Chimneys

Inspector Licensing

& Standards

Energy Efficiency

Washers and Dryers

Electrical

Kitchens

Doors and Windows

(placeholder)

Cracks

Electrical Wiring

Click Below  

for Links

to Collections

of Blog Posts

by Subject

Plumbing Drains

and Traps

Appliances

Smoke & CO Alarms

Aging in Place

Top 5 results given instantly.

Click on magnifying glass

for all search results.

Bathrooms

Lighting

AFCI, CAFCI,

DFCI, & GFCI

Sinks

Air Conditioner & Furnace Age/Size

Attics

Electrical Switches

Siding

Search

This

Site

Water Intrusion

Electrical - Old

and Obsolete

(placeholder)

Foundation Certifications

Tiny Houses

About McGarry and Madsen

(placeholder)

Wells

Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Check our price for a  team inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. In a hurry? We will get it done for you.

Moisture Problems

Crawl Spaces

Bedrooms

Closets