Claims inspector

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I work as a claims inspector at LähiTapiola Pohjoinen, which operates in North and Central Ostrobothnia. I perform claims inspections related to property damage at different kinds of sites. I estimate the costs of compensation, have contractors send tenders on repairing damages and rebuilding, and maintain relationships with customers, contractors and official authorities. My work also includes photographing and documenting the damage. It means that I handle everything related to compensation for damages from start to finish. I cooperate with my colleagues frequently, and I help compensation advisers with matters related to construction.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

I’ve always been interested in construction, so I sought out education in that field. After graduating, I worked as a foreman at a construction site. At that time, it never occurred to me that I might end up working for an insurance company. One winter, it was quiet at the construction site, so I decided to apply for the position of a technical inspector at an insurance company. In the end, I landed the role of a claims inspector, and I have enjoyed it greatly.

Describe your typical working day or week.

At the start of a workday, I’ll check my messages and calls. I’ll check for any new invoices or tenders related to the damages I am handling. Over the workday, I’ll keep an eye on the tilannehuone.fi website to see if there have been any major damages in our area. If there has been damage and the site is insured by LähiTapiola, I’ll respond straight away.

In the afternoon, I’ll go inspect a damaged site, which could be something like a burnt-down summer cottage. After the inspection visit, I’ll draw up a report and continue processing the matter.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

I work both at the office and remotely. I’ll visit a damaged site 1 to 2 times a week. Sometimes, the site can be as far as 300 kilometres away, so the job involves a fair amount of driving.

I usually work Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3 pm or from 8 am to 4 pm. Occasionally I’ll have to be flexible because of my clients’ schedules.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

This position often requires a higher education degree in the construction sector and work experience from that sector, since practical experience helps to understand the duration and expenses of different work stages. You also have to be familiar with building regulations and be able find the necessary information. A claims inspector also needs good interpersonal and customer service skills, as the work involves dealing with different kinds of people.

What is the best thing about your profession?

In my work, I might meet people whose home has just burned down, and they’ll be extremely worried about the future. It’s rewarding to see their relief when you find that the damage is eligible for compensation, and we can progress towards constructing a new home. The best part is when they can finally move into their new home.

I like getting to share my expertise and helping my colleagues. For example, I can answer most questions about building regulations from memory, whereas finding the same answer could be a much longer process for a colleague who doesn’t work on these matters on a daily basis.

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

Situations where clients are shocked or upset because of the damage can sometimes be difficult. It’s also not great if a client assumes that some damage will be compensated but their insurance doesn’t actually cover it.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a claims inspector?

The insurance sector provides stability and continuity. The work of a claims inspector is mostly tidy office work with regular working hours. If you like customer service and have practical experience in the construction sector, don’t hesitate to apply for work at an insurance company. For example, construction sites’ cost accountants and people who work with competitive tendering are in a good position to do well in this work.

How do you see the future of your profession?

I appreciate the fact that my employer invests in personal service in damage inspections, and I believe that there will be a need for that service in the future as well. It’s also valuable from the client’s point of view that I can go to a site to investigate the damage.