Why Is My Insurance Company Asking About My Roof and the Age of My Knoxville Home?

Knoxville and the surrounding towns have plenty of older homes: Victorians in Fourth and Gill and Old North Knoxville, Craftsman bungalows in Parkridge and Happy Holler, mid-century homes in Fountain City and Sequoyah Hills, and wartime cemesto houses in Oak Ridge. If you own one, your insurer has probably asked about your roof or the age of your systems. Here’s why.

Why insurers look so closely at older homes

Wind and hail are among the most common and costly homeowners claims in Tennessee, and older homes are more likely to have roofs, wiring, and plumbing that lead to expensive claims. Underwriters want to know what condition your home is in before they write or renew a policy.

What are they checking?

Many carriers now review aerial images of your roof, and some send an inspector or ask for photos. They usually focus on four systems:

1. Roof: age, material, condition, and signs of wear or leaks.
2. Electrical: panel type, wiring, and capacity.
3. Plumbing: pipe material, water heater age, and any active leaks.
4. Heating and cooling: age and working condition.

What can cause problems?

• Roofs near the end of their life, or with visible hail or wind damage
• Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or fuse-box electrical panels
• Knob-and-tube or cloth-insulated wiring
• Polybutylene or galvanized steel plumbing
• Water heaters past their expected lifespan
• Large trees overhanging the roof, common on Knoxville’s wooded ridges

How roof age affects your coverage

Some carriers pay older roofs on an actual cash value basis instead of replacement cost, or set a separate wind and hail deductible as a percentage of your dwelling coverage. That can mean a much bigger out-of-pocket cost after a storm, so it’s worth reading the roof terms on your policy.

What should I do if my home is older?

• Keep receipts and permits for roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC updates. They matter to underwriters.
• When you replace your roof, ask about impact-resistant shingles, which some carriers credit.
• If you’re buying an older home, get insurance quotes before your inspection period ends so a surprise doesn’t derail your closing.

Buying or insuring an older East Tennessee home? Call us before you close. We can tell you which carriers work well with older homes and what they’ll need from you.

This article is for general educational purposes only. Coverage, eligibility, discounts and pricing vary by carrier and policy. Talk with a licensed Tennessee insurance agent about your specific situation.