Freelance insurance inspectors travel to different locations to collect property and automobile information for damage claims and insurance assessments. No specialized education or certification is required, and they are paid per report submitted. They are considered independent contractors and can deduct necessary equipment and mileage as tax deductions.
For those who don’t like a traditional 9-to-5, Monday-Friday job where they’re stuck behind a company desk, working as an on-call insurance inspector might be a good fit. A freelance inspector travels to different locations to collect property and automobile information related to damage claims and insurance eligibility assessments. No specialized education or certification is required for this position.
In many cases, those looking to work in this field can go to an insurance company’s website and apply online. Typically, whoever applies this way becomes part of a database, and when a company needs an inspection, the appropriate person at the insurance company can contact an inspector at or near the top of the list. The faster the inspector sends his reports to the companies he works for, the more names and contact information will be on the list. In this way, he will generally have more opportunities to earn a living.
Every insurance inspector needs to have their own digital camera so they can take pictures of damaged property and automobiles. These photos, along with the inspector’s detailed reports, help insurance companies make decisions about the coverage requested and/or the extent of damage that may have been claimed. In the case of home inspections, the individual will likely need to invest in a surveyor’s wheel and/or laser tape to be able to measure the size of properties and make an assessment. Upon completion of each task, the inspector sends his photographs and reports to the contracted insurance company. Someone working in a densely populated area will typically complete between 12 and 20 reports a day.
The inspector is paid per report submitted. Because this person is considered an independent contractor, the insurance companies they work for generally do not deduct taxes from their paycheck. In the United States, a company will file a statement of earnings on a 1099 form at the end of the year. The cost of any necessary equipment, as well as the mileage incurred due to moving from one location to another, can be used as tax deductions. In essence, a freelance insurance inspector is running his own small business.
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