Working as an on-call insurance inspector can be a good option for those who don’t want to be trapped behind a company desk from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A freelance inspector visits various locations to gather property and vehicle information for damage claims and insurance eligibility determinations. This position does not necessitate any specialized training or certification.
In many cases, anyone interested in working in this field can apply online at an insurance company’s website. Typically, anyone who applies in this manner is added to a database, and when a company requires an inspection, the appropriate person at the insurance company can contact an inspector at the top of the list or near the top of the list. The faster an inspector submits his reports to the companies for which he works, the higher his name and contact information will likely appear on the list. He will usually have more opportunities to make a good living in this manner.
Every insurance inspector should have his or her own digital camera in order to photograph damaged properties and automobiles. These images, along with the inspector’s detailed reports, aid insurance companies in making decisions about requested coverage and/or the extent of potential damages. In the case of home inspections, the individual will almost certainly need to purchase a surveyor’s wheel and/or a laser tape in order to measure the size of properties and conduct an assessment. The inspector submits his photographs and reports to the contracting insurance company after each assignment is completed. A person who works in a densely populated area typically completes 12 to 20 reports per day.
The inspector is compensated for each completed report. Because he is an independent contractor, the insurance companies for which he works usually do not deduct taxes from his pay. In the United States, a company will send a 1099 form with a statement of earnings at the end of the year. Tax deductions are available for the cost of any necessary equipment as well as mileage incurred while moving from site to site. A freelance insurance inspector is, in essence, running his or her own small business.