Behind the Scenes with Pathpoint Compliance: Your Guide to the Inspections Process

At Pathpoint, we know that inspections can feel like one more thing on your to-do list—but they’re a key part of helping your clients maintain coverage and avoid surprises. To shed light on what to expect and how to navigate inspections with confidence, we sat down with two Compliance Associates, Daniel Hart and Natalia Palestino.

From how inspections are scheduled to how to upload proof of compliance in the Pathpoint app, they’re here to walk you through the process, so you can keep business moving smoothly.

Excess & Surplus (E&S) is complicated enough. Why do inspections happen in E&S at all?

Daniel: Great question. Carriers require inspections to make sure the risk they’re insuring matches what was submitted on the application. It’s all about protecting everyone—underwriters, agents, and the insured—by ensuring the property or business meets the carrier’s guidelines, so it can remain fully insured and covered in the event of a loss.

Natalia: Exactly. It’s not about catching anyone off guard. It’s more like a double-check. For example, inspectors examine aspects such as structural condition, electrical systems, and sidewalk safety in premises liability cases. If something is off or missing, they’ll flag it and work with the agent to resolve the issue.

In E&S, inspections often involve numerous back-and-forth emails. How does the inspection process work at Pathpoint?

Natalia: When binding a policy at Pathpoint.com, agents are prompted to enter inspection contact details within the app. That’s the person the inspection company—either Mueller or SCI, depending on the risk state—will call to schedule the inspection. Agents don’t need to coordinate anything; the vendors take care of that and are required to make three contact attempts within 30 days.

Daniel: And in some cases, like contractors’ risks, where there’s no physical job site, they’ll do a phone inspection instead. Very rarely, virtual inspections occur, such as a Zoom call, but they do happen!

What outcomes can agents expect from an inspection?

Daniel: Well, there are four primary outcomes we report in-app under each account:

• In the best case, you see an “All Clear,” meaning everything checks out and matches what was described in the application. No action needed from the agent or insured.
• Many times, inspectors will mark that the property needs some updates or doesn’t meet local compliance. That’s when agents will see “Recommendations” with notes from us. Think things like minor fixes, like servicing a fire extinguisher or fixing a crack in a walkway. You will be asked to provide Proof of Compliance within 30 days of the report for the policy to remain intact.
• Then you can see “Discrepancies”. That means something at the location doesn’t match the application, like the building being older than stated. These need to be clarified.

Natalia: That’s a big one; we see that a lot with older buildings with gut rehabs. You can save your clients’ time by submitting as much information upfront, such as photos, contractors’ invoices, and dates of service, etc.

Daniel: For sure, the more info you provide, the faster the inspection process will be. The last outcome is “Notice of Cancellation (NOC)”. This is the one we dread, but it happens when serious issues are found, such as outdated electrical panels, that fall outside carrier guidelines.

Natalia: It’s unfortunate when those happen, but the good thing is that Pathpoint agents will see the outcome in-app, right at the top of the inspection page, and can download the full report and any recommendations there. We strive to provide agents with complete visibility regarding inspections, as we recognize that these can be time-consuming.

Ok, let’s circle back to Recommendations. What counts as “Proof of Compliance”? How does an agent submit that?

Daniel: Right in the Pathpoint app. After reviewing the inspection results, agents can proceed to the Policy Management section and select 'Upload Proof of Compliance'.

Natalia: You’ll select the relevant policy, upload photos or documents—such as a receipt for a repair or images showing that the issue has been fixed—and click 'Submit'. You’ll get a confirmation message or notes from us if more info is needed.

What can agents do to help their clients prepare for a successful inspection?

Natalia: Communication is key! Let the insured know an inspection is coming and encourage them to respond to the vendor’s outreach. Delays can lead to nonproductive inspections and ultimately result in a Notice of Cancellation (NOC).

Daniel: And it helps to prepare the property. If there are visible hazards, such as broken steps or overgrown bushes, address them ahead of time, just as you would when preparing a listing for sale. For contractor risks, ensure that someone is available to speak with the inspector.

You mentioned inspections can be marked as nonproductive. What does that mean exactly?

Natalia: The vendor must attempt contact three times before closing out the file. If they can’t reach the insured, they’ll also try the agent. If the inspection cannot be scheduled, it’s marked as nonproductive or unsuccessful. When we receive the nonproductive notice, we’ll send out a 30-day Notice of Cancellation (NOC), and the agent will see it in-app.

Daniel: Agents can reopen the process, but keep in mind that the inspection has to be completed before the cancellation date in the NOC to prevent the policy from being canceled. That’s why ensuring the correct contact info is entered ahead of binding is critical.

Natalia: If there’s a change to the inspection contact or information, please inform us immediately at ops@pathpoint.com. We can notify the vendor.

What are some final tips or takeaways you think agents should remember about inspections?

Daniel: I would say stay in touch with the insured to make sure they’re responsive to inspection scheduling. Inspections are scheduled within 30 days of the binder, so remind the insured once the coverage is bound to expect a call for scheduling the inspection. That will help prevent nonproductive inspections and potential NOCs.

Natalia: I recommend following whatever is on Recommendations —those can lead to cancellation if not addressed. Upload clear, complete Proof of Compliance—photos, receipts, or other documents—within the 30-day window. If you ever have questions about a specific inspection or proof of compliance, our team is just an email away at ops@pathpoint.com. Daniel or I will respond within one business day.

To learn more about inspections, visit Pathpoint’s Help Center Audits & Inspections Page and follow Pathpoint on LinkedIn.