A RESIDENT owned his home for 40 years before his insurance randomly informed him of property issues after adopting new tech.
The Malden, Massachusetts homeowner said his longtime insurer had never notified him of any issues before insurance companies began using drones for aerial photos for policies.
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“I felt like I was blindsided,” John D’Entremont told local Fox News affiliate WFXT.
“If you look at the things they asked me to do, it was a significant amount of money.”
He maintained homeowners insurance through the same insurer the entire time he owned his house but hadn’t faced any problems until August 2023.
It was then that D’Entremont received a letter from his insurer highlighting pricey repairs the home insurance company claimed he needed to make.
The notice also stressed the insurer needed a plan from him within 60 days.
“Get the moss off the roof, trim the tree back that had branches hanging over the house,” D’Entremont recalled of the demands.
“And get some, in their case, they said get some shingles.”
In a rush to comply, D’Entremont started gathering estimates for the repairs requested.
The resident got the tree work done that the insurer told him to and even reached out to his insurance agent to keep her updated on his progress with taking care of the noted issues.
But it wasn’t enough.
By early November, he said the company took action.
“I get a notification that they have decided to cancel my homeowners policy,” D’Entremont admitted.
Insurers in Massachusetts have the right to not renew policies for properties.
This is as long as they provide a homeowner with a 45-day written notice before the policy’s expiration along with specific reasons for the decision.
How do insurance companies use drones?
Drones are becoming an important method used by home insurance companies to assess damaged properties.
- Drones are a cost-effective way for companies to get high-quality images immediately after insurable events.
- The drones are meant to assist insurers and loss adjusters.
- They accurately assess damage as well as ensure the validity and value of a homeowner’s claim.
- Drones used by insurers capture both still photos and full-resolution videos.
- Companies use GPS systems to capture images with accuracy.
- Insurers use drones as a safe way of capturing images of damaged properties – they’re especially helpful when a building has been severely damaged.
SOURCE: Advanced Buildings and Restorations
While all of the proper steps were taken, D’Entremont was left baffled as to why had never been notified of the defects at his home before.
His daughter shared an unconfirmed idea that aerial images may have been used to catch his noted problems.
That isn’t unusual since home insurance companies have adopted use of the tech, according to Emily Rogan with the consumer advocacy organization United Policyholders,
“There were a lot of big changes during COVID where there were more satellite inspections, different ways,” Rogan explained.
“And you know, a lot of industries really leaned into the technology. And what we’re seeing now is that it’s becoming more commonplace, whether a drone image or from a satellite.
“They have more access to data about you as a policyholder and about your property. And they’re using that to choose their customers.”
Alice J. Roden started working for Trending Insurance News at the end of 2021. Alice grew up in Salt Lake City, UT. A writer with a vast insurance industry background Alice has help with several of the biggest insurance companies. Before joining Trending Insurance News, Alice briefly worked as a freelance journalist for several radio stations. She covers home, renters and other property insurance stories.