Nationwide Launches AI-Powered Virtual Home Inspections to Boost Risk Prevention

Nationwide has partnered with Chrp, a technology company specializing in AI-driven home risk assessments, to introduce a virtual home inspection program for policyholders. This smartphone-based inspection allows homeowners to identify internal home hazards such as aging plumbing, outdated electrical systems, and potential fire risks before they escalate into costly insurance claims. The AI platform analyzes photos of the home, which homeowners can submit via a guided mobile survey, to detect over 400 known risk points. If the AI detects significant issues, the case is forwarded to Nationwide’s inspection team for detailed evaluation. Homeowners then receive customized reports with recommended actions to mitigate identified risks. This approach aims to enhance loss prevention by enabling earlier detection and proactive repair of common hazards that frequently lead to insurance claims, particularly water damage due to plumbing faults. The new inspection process reflects a shift from traditional methods that focus mainly on external home conditions, incorporating construction and insurance expertise into AI models for deeper risk analysis. Nationwide offers this virtual inspection program at no additional cost to homeowners and it is available in all states where Nationwide writes homeowners insurance. Selected policyholders can opt into the program during their policy renewal cycle. From a market perspective, this initiative represents an advancement in integrating AI technology into underwriting and risk management, potentially reducing claims frequency and severity. It also supports agents by providing data-driven insights to help better serve policyholders. The initiative underscores growing insurer reliance on AI tools to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience in property insurance lines. Nationwide, a major U.S.-based insurer with an A+ Standard & Poor's rating, utilizes Chrp’s platform to extend its risk prevention capabilities. The partnership reflects broader industry trends toward digital transformation in property underwriting and claims mitigation processes. With water damage among the leading causes of homeowner losses, early hazard detection and mitigation through AI-supported virtual inspections can play a critical role in reducing loss costs and improving policyholder outcomes.