State Office of Risk Management
Insurance Appraisals – Why Bother?
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Changes in Underwriting
State Office of Risk Management
 Improved underwriting discipline dictated by the markets
 Increased emphasis on a consistent, disciplined approach to underwriting:
• Exposure data analysis (valuation and COPE data)
• Loss experience analysis
 Increased focus on geography
 Appraisal requirements for insured properties
 Ever-changing catastrophe models affect expected loss predictions (PML and AAL)
 Carriers are requiring more data and many standard markets are cutting back capacity,
especially in high hazard areas.
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Questions to Ask Yourself
State Office of Risk Management
 Are you confident that your statement of values accurately reports all of your insurable
property?
 Have you kept pace with the change in assets within your facilities?
 Do you know where your properties’ data came from?
 How well was your statement of values received when last marketed? Did you receive
pushback from underwriters?
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Cost Trends
State Office of Risk Management
 1986-2003 (2% inflation/increases per year)
 Significant construction inflation in 2004 (10.5%)
 Slowing from 2005-2007
 Commodities caused drastic increases in 2008
 Prices fell back with economy in 2009
 Inflation stabilized in 2010-2011
 Most recent 12 months: 3%
 Outlook for remainder of 2014: 2%
 25% - 30% inflation in seven years
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COPE Data Defined
State Office of Risk Management
 Underwriters are interested in receiving more than just a valuation, they also want
COPE data:
• Construction (frame, brick, masonry, masonry veneer, etc.)
• Occupancy (how the building is being used)
• Protection (quality of the responding fire department, adequacy of water pressure
& water supply, the presence or absence of smoke alarms, etc.)
• Exposure (risks of loss posed by neighboring property or the surrounding area -takes into consideration what is located near the property, such as an office
building, a subdivision or a fireworks factory)
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Why is COPE Data Important?
State Office of Risk Management
 Used in catastrophe modeling programs
• Applied to individual insureds and insurance company property portfolios
• Uses historical data
‐ Financial
‐ Meteorological
‐ Engineering
• Estimates losses for catastrophic (CAT) events
• Adopted by insurers and rating agencies in CAT management and financial analysis
models
• Defaults to worst-case scenario if data is not available
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CAT Risk Modeling: True Impacts
 The entire insurance industry is impacted by CAT Modeling, no matter which software
package is used:
State Office of Risk Management
• RMS
• AIR
• EQECAT
• Proprietary/blended models
 Models are constantly updated
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How do Insurance Companies use CAT Modeling?
State Office of Risk Management
 The goal of CAT modeling is to lend consistency to the overall cost of risk
 Manage aggregate exposure over their entire portfolio of risk
 Purchase re-insurance protection
 Underwrite individual risks (impact on the overall portfolio of risk)
 Charge the appropriate premium for the risk
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How do Insureds use CAT Modeling?
State Office of Risk Management
 See how the insurance industry views your risk
 Have an idea of your expected losses and/or your Probable Maximum Loss (PML)
 Identify high hazard locations
 Aid in determining/purchasing “adequate” limits
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Primary COPE Data – most crucial information
State Office of Risk Management
 Occupancy type
 Number of Stories
 Class of construction
 Year of construction
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Secondary COPE Data
State Office of Risk Management
 More detailed structural / location specific data elements, specific to
• Windstorm/Hurricane
• Earthquake
 Primary COPE data must be reported for the Secondary factors to apply and matter
 The concern relates to maintenance of the building envelope during an event to
protect the contents:
• How solid are the walls?
• How strong is the roof & covering?
• How susceptible to peril are the contents?
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Benefits of Accurate COPE Data
State Office of Risk Management
 CAT modeling for hurricanes and earthquakes has become an essential resource for all
parties in the property insurance marketplace
 Proper inclusion of data has significant impact on modeling results
 Detailed info about a building’s construction and usage provide a predictive image of
how the building will react in the event of a catastrophe
 Accurate data can help the underwriter, broker and insured better understand true
exposures
 This knowledge of expected losses helps insureds and insurers set acceptable program
structure and sublimits
 Better data leads to better decisions
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Actual Renewal Results
State Office of Risk Management
 Additional underwriting data has produced significant reductions in the PML and AAL
estimates and lower premiums for many accounts
 Additional underwriting data and has made it easier to buy more insurance coverage
for many accounts
 Additional underwriting data can make accounts more attractive to insurance carriers
– increased competition can yield better results
 Increased data can also help significantly post-loss: Eliminates argument on building
valuations or condition of building
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Insurance Appraisal of Buildings – Methodology – How it’s done
Unique Structures
 Universities (stadiums, libraries, hospitals, research facilities, historically significant)
 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants
 Airport Facilities
 Historic Properties
State Office of Risk Management
Component-Based Appraisal Methodology
 Conduct an on-site inspection and appraisal of every structure
 Measure dimensions/perimeter
 Review as-built plans
 Obtain GPS coordinates
 Gather descriptive and locational details
 Determine construction components
 Review building services, interior and exterior finishes, etc.
 Photograph each building
 Develop replacement cost using local construction cost resources
 Report values and COPE (primary and secondary) data by building
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Primary and Secondary Windstorm Data that is Collected
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Occupancy
Address
Class of construction
Year of construction
Square feet of space
Number of stories
Average story height
Wall construction
Roof construction
Heating system
Cooling system
Fire alarm
Sprinklers
Entry alarm
GPS coordinates
Secondary COPE Data
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Construction quality
Roof covering and geometry
Roof age/condition
Roof anchor and equipment bracing
Basement
Appurtenant structures
Cladding type
Roof sheeting attachment
Frame/foundation attachment
Ground-level equipment
Opening protection
Flashing and coping quality
Content grade
Flood zone determination
RMS/AIR-specific construction codes
RMS/AIR-specific occupancy codes
State Office of Risk Management
Primary COPE Data
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Historic Structures
The most visible differences between historical and modern structures are the interior
and exterior finishes:
 Floors
 Walls
 Ceilings
 Windows
 Doors
 Special architectural features
State Office of Risk Management
Inspection and appraisal process is expanded for historical structures to identify and
record the nature of interior and exterior finishes during the inspection process for
consideration of the related costs during the final appraisal process.
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Valuation Solutions - Contents
State Office of Risk Management
 Appraisal Programs
‐ Contents/personal property valued by modeling approach
• Recommended when personal property is of much less significant value than
real property
• Based on appraisal company’s prior full surveys of similar occupancies
• $/SF used and adjusted when necessary by appraisal staff
• Typical for public-sector occupancies
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Valuation Solutions - Contents
State Office of Risk Management
 Appraisal Programs
‐ Detailed asset listing by comprehensive site inspection
• Recommended for capital-intensive manufacturing plants
• Inspected and inventoried
‐ Asset number, description, model number, serial number and manufacturer
• Predetermined equipment listing cut-off (greater than $100,000 suggested)
• Logical production lines and single assets with replacement cost greater than
$100,000 listed
• Asset below this cost grouped with like kind assets
• Assets repriced using a variety of sources
• Values reported by floor by building
• Typical for HPR (highly protected risk) occupancies
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State Office of Risk Management
Sample Appraisal Report
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How to Order an Appraisal
State Office of Risk Management
 Within the SORM program, discuss with Michelle Tooley and Chris Connelly/AJG to
identify the structures to be appraised
• Will realize volume discount pricing that has been negotiated between
SORM/AJG/American Appraisal
 Outside the SORM program, contact Lori Flemming to discuss appraisal needs at your
institution. Appraisal fees will be somewhat higher given the “one-off” nature
request.
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How to Prepare for an Appraisal
 Contact your departments to alert them to our site visit
 Provide name/contact details of department liaisons
• preferably plant operations or maintenance personnel who have knowledge
of the buildings’ history
 If blueprints or CADs are available, it would be useful for our staff to have access to
review prior to inspection
State Office of Risk Management
 Provide identification/badge or letter to let others know we have permission to be
on site
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Benefits of Insurance Appraisals through SORM
State Office of Risk Management
 Determine the adequacy of insurance coverage
 Improve risk management
 Create confidence in the accuracy of values
 Eliminate surprises at the time of loss
 Ensure preferential underwriting treatment
 Create a basis for preparation of “proof of loss” for clients
 Substantial discounts by working with American Appraisal within the SORM program
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American Appraisal’s Insurance Appraisal Practice
Established
Established in 1896 to provide independent property appraisals
for use in adjustments and settlements between insurance
companies and property owners
Full-time, permanent employees (no subcontractors)
Full-time
Serve numerous public entities (State govts, higher ed, healthcare)
Diverse
Dedicated Public Entity Practice Group
Dedicated
Inspect/appraise 30,000+ buildings annually for insurance purposes
Global
Regional access to American Appraisal’s global reach
Text Here
State Office of Risk Management
Accessible
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Professional Qualifications
Lori is a Managing Director of business development for American Appraisal in the
southeast United States. She has served in her current position since 1992. Prior to
joining American Appraisal, Lori spent five years as an officer in the United States Air
Force, Space Command.
Education
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
 Webster University, Colorado Springs, CO, Master of Arts - Satellite/Space Systems
Management
 Certification - SAPs Finance/Control Module
Managing Director
Contact Information
Phone: +1 704 953 9780
lflemming@american-appraisal.com
Professional Affiliations
 Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
 University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA)
 Public Risk and Insurance Managers Association (PRIMA)
State Office of Risk Management
Lori C. Flemming
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Thank you for choosing
American Appraisal.
State Office of Risk Management
We look forward to working with you.
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