That new tech is a mixed bag for consumers. It may feel violating to have your insurer fly a spy drone at low elevation over your backyard without your permission, but the pictures it snaps will at least be true to the condition of your house at that point in time (and, potentially, to your scantily clad self lounging by the pool). But when it comes to analysis of satellite and aerial images taken from thousands of feet up, the facts become blurred.
The Standard spoke with more than 25 homeowners who received nonrenewal notices like Phillippe’s, as well as realtors, inspectors, contractors, insurance brokers, and consumer advocates. From San Francisco to Novato, Pleasant Hill to East Palo Alto, Oakland to Santa Cruz, insurers are citing roof damage that does not exist, often with the supporting evidence of low-resolution imagery that highlights discolored pixels and shadows as policy-ending potential liabilities.