CEA / Earthquake Insurance Evaluation & Retrofit Verification

For Bay Area homeowners who want earthquake insurance to actually pay out when it matters – and need clear documentation that their retrofit was done, and done right.

California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and other earthquake insurers increasingly care about:

• Whether your home has been retrofitted
• Whether that retrofit meets recognized standards
• Whether there is verifiable documentation of what was done

If the paperwork and the field reality don’t match, you can end up paying premiums for coverage that doesn’t behave how you think it will. This service is about aligning what’s on the ground, what’s on paper, and what your insurer expects.

What This Service Is

This is a specialized evaluation and documentation service for:

• CEA Dwelling Retrofit Verification forms
• Other insurer retrofit verification requirements
• Cases where you’ve had seismic work done and want it clearly documented for insurance and future buyers

We combine field inspection with plan/permit review and then complete the appropriate verification forms and supporting documentation.

We are not the insurer. We are the party that makes sure your home and your paperwork tell the same story.

Who It’s For

You’re a good fit if:

• You’ve had a seismic retrofit (EBB, ESS, Plan Set A, FEMA P-1100, engineered design, etc.)
• You are applying for or updating earthquake insurance and need a retrofit verification form completed
• You’re not sure whether your existing work actually meets the criteria your insurer or CEA is asking about
• You want a clean, third-party documentation package you can use now and later (insurance, sale, refinance)

If you haven’t done any retrofit work yet, you likely want our Earthquake Safety Audit (to plan it) or Program-Based Retrofit service (to execute it) first.

What We Actually Do

1. Paperwork & criteria review

We start by:

• Reviewing the specific form or requirements from CEA or your insurer
• Gathering your existing permits, plans, and past reports for seismic work
• Making sure we understand exactly what must be present to truthfully check “yes” on any verification items

We’re not guessing what counts. We’re checking against the actual criteria.

2. Field inspection

Next, we inspect the house with those criteria in mind:

• Check foundation type, cripple walls, bolting, and bracing
• Confirm presence and quality of anchors, hold-downs, and shear panels
• Compare visible work to plans and permits where available
• Document all relevant features with clear, labeled photos

If something is missing or does not meet the standard, we find it and show it to you.

3. Gap analysis (if needed)

If your retrofit is incomplete relative to the criteria, we:

• Clearly identify which items are not met
• Explain what would be required to meet them
• Outline options:
  • Proceed with a partial verification (accurately)
  • Perform additional work to reach full compliance
  • Leave things as-is with eyes open

You will not get a rubber-stamped “everything’s fine” if it isn’t. You’ll get the truth and options.

4. Form completion & documentation package

When the home meets the criteria for a given program or standard, we:

• Complete the Dwelling Retrofit Verification (or equivalent) form accurately
• Attach supporting photos and notes as appropriate
• Provide you with a copy of everything for your records and any future transactions

The result is a clean packet you or your agent can submit to CEA or your insurer.

Why This Matters

Earthquake insurance is one of those products where the details matter:

• Discounts or eligibility may hinge on specific types of retrofit
• Claims may be simpler when there is clear, pre-event documentation of strengthening work
• Future buyers and lenders increasingly want proof, not stories

Our job is to make sure you’re not over- or under-representing your retrofit. You don’t want to say you’ve done more than you have, or less than you have.

Process Overview

1. Intake

• You send us your insurer’s form/requirements and any retrofit documents you already have.

2. On-site evaluation

• We inspect and document the home in light of those requirements.

3. Findings & options

• We explain whether your retrofit meets the criteria and, if not, what’s missing.

4. Verification & package

• If appropriate, we complete the verification form and give you a documentation packet; if not yet appropriate, we can discuss upgrade paths.

If you want your earthquake insurance story to be backed by real, verifiable work and documentation – instead of hope and assumptions – the next step is to let us review your paperwork and see your house once, then we’ll make sure what you tell the insurer matches what’s actually under your floors and walls.