Good commercial property insurance isn't written on a form – it's built on site: that's where you see how big the building is, what's on the shelves, and what a questionnaire would never ask. That's why the survey is the first and most important step in my work – here's what it looks like in practice.
- The survey is a walkthrough plus conversation: building, machinery, stock, protection, operational specifics.
- The existing policy also goes on the table: what's in it, what's missing, what's redundant.
- The result: a quote request based on accurate data – free of charge, no obligation.
What do we look at on site?
The building: structure, roof condition, floor area, special features (technical flooring, crane operation, cold storage). The machinery: the critical equipment, its age and replaceability. The stock: what, where, how it's stored – on the floor or on shelving, what peak season looks like. The protection: locks, alarm, cameras, fire protection equipment. And the operation: opening hours, shifts, who's on site at night, what leaves the premises. Half an hour to an hour in reality – and at claim time it matters a lot that the survey and photo documentation are already in place: that heads off most rounds of follow-up document requests.
Dissecting the existing policy
If there's a live contract, I review that too: which asset groups, for what sums, what scope of cover and exclusions – and how all of this compares to the reality we've just seen. The typical findings: sums not raised in five years, missing tenant improvements, an unreported new production line, unnecessary duplication. There's a separate article on this review: reviewing an existing policy.
What comes out of the survey?
The output of the survey is an accurate risk picture: real values by asset group, activity and protection data, special features. That's what meaningful quotes can be requested on – without it, even insurers are just guessing. From here the process continues: requesting quotes from several insurers, a comparison table, the decision – which is the client's – then binding cover. The survey and the advice are free of charge: the broker's remuneration is paid by the insurer. To prepare in advance (if you want to speed things up): quote-request checklist.
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