• Estimate - measure - determine: the quantum - description - valuation of the subject under loss;
  
  
• Initiate immediate measures to protect damage property and to prevent aggravation of losses. (Read more)
  
  
• Advise the insurer and the insured about the loss minimization, loss control, security, and safety measures, where appropriate to avoid further losses;
  
  
• Check the admissibility of the loss whether it falls within the scope of the policy contract, to point out about the adequacy or inadequacy of the sum insured, and whether the amount claimed are: fair, reasonable and necessary;
  
  
• Survey and assess the loss on behalf of insurer or insuring public;
  
  
• Recommend the net liability in terms of insurance contract;
  
  
• Point out the discrepancy, if any, and the aspects, which the policy holders might have over looked;
  
  
• Advise on repair and replacement techniques;
  
  
• Checking the ownership - insurable interest - indemnity related proofs;
  
  
• Declare whether the surveyor/ loss assessor has an interest in the subject matter in question or whether it pertains to any blood relation, business partners or through shareholding, and if so refrain from carrying out the survey and loss assessment in that respect;
  
  
• Conduct himself within professional code of conduct while discharging the services, maintain the confidentiality and the independent-neutral position without: bias, prejudice, and without jeopardizing the liability of the insurer and claim of the insured;
  
  
• Perform balancing act to represent the best interests of all parties concerned in the event of a claim and determine the liability of the insurer, obtain necessary: statements, documents for the purposes of preserving the recovery and legal rights of the insurer;
  
  
• Satisfy queries of the insured/insurer and of persons incidental thereto in respect of the loss/claim;
  
  
• Conduct: spot survey - interim survey - preliminary survey - final survey - joint survey etc. as and when called for;
  
  
• Accord approval - consent before actually carrying out the repairs as well as loss minimization and damage control measures;
  
  
• Render assistance to inquiries of average Assessors and also to other: civil, Government, and Court agencies if there is any investigation or the litigation in respect of subject matter of loss in which he has rendered the services;
  
  
• Discuss various matters connected with the loss with the insured and the insurer as well as other connected persons such as repairers;
  
  
• Comment on upon the franchise, excess, under insurance, co-insurance, double insurance;
  
  
• Report on the financial loss of the damage suffered by the insured to the insurer. The reporting must be intelligently communicated, so that, adequate information and the supporting documents and statements satisfy beyond doubt that the recommendations are substantiated and that he has thoroughly discharged his duties expected of him;
  
  
• Recommend about the applicable depreciation and the basis on which a particular amount of depreciation has been arrived at;
  
  
• Report about unfair claim handling practices, observed during discharge of duties;
  
  
• Comment on duties of the insured after the loss and their compliance by him;
  
  
• Comment at the circumstances leading to abandonment by the insured;
  
  
• Preserve the evidences with relation to loss and comment on the circumstances showing that the burden of proof has been discharged by the person concerned;
  
  
• Comment any happening in the process of discharge of duties if it is against the law of the land;
  
  
• Recommend about the total loss, partial loss, constructive total loss, whether the subject in question is repairable or beyond repairs, or replaceable, and other alternative choices for indemnification;
  
  
• Comment whether the claim is worth repudiation and the grounds thereof;
  
  
• State that there has been no professional negligence in discharge of the service;
  
  
• Comment the steps which will ensure complete discharge of insurers' liability in the claim in question;
  
  
• Obtain a certificate of consent/satisfaction about the settlement of the claim from the insured and in absence thereof
  releases its report with reasonable grounds at his end and report about the controversies;
  
  
• Report about the damages to the Third Parties and the properties which are not parties to the contract of insurance;
  
  
• Take expert opinion, if required;
  
  
• Adjust the loss, after it is assessed, taking into account: the policy conditions, exclusions and other factors e.g. customs duty, usage of items, expenses for which others may be responsible and salvage position;
  
  
• Scrutinize and identify the property under loss with the property insured under the contract;
  
  
• Comment about the salvage realization efforts.

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Insurance Surveyors - On the Job

Surveyors spend much of their time outdoors and often do strenuous Work. They physically inspect the asset, which is proposed to be insured. Their average working hours can be anywhere between 40 hours per week to 60 hours per week. Work is rarely hazardous. It's only when they check factory assets that they need to take precautionary measures. Occasionally, workers must drive long distances to survey sites.

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Insurance Surveyors - Earnings

A surveyor earns on an average between Rupees six lakhs to ten lakhs depending on the level of expertise.

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