At RISKWORLD 2025, risk leaders gathered to tackle a tough but timely question: How do you prepare for a successful property insurance renewal in a market that’s stabilizing—but still unforgiving?
In “Roadmap to Successful Property Renewals in 2025,” David Rix, Managing Consultant at Global Risk Consultants Corp. and Chris Mandel, President and Managing Consultant of Excellence in Risk Management, offered a detailed look at how risk engineering, transparency, and preparation can help risk managers and brokers elevate their submissions—and get to “yes” with underwriters.
According to the USI 2025 Commercial Property & Casualty Market Outlook, businesses with minimal loss history and favorable risk profiles are seeing rates that are flat to up 10% for both CAT and non-CAT exposures. Meanwhile, accounts with unfavorable loss experience are likely to see rate increases of 5–15% in the first half of 2025, compared to 10–20% increases in the second half of 2024.Translation: Underwriters are cautious, and risk quality matters more than ever. Whether you’re facing catastrophic exposures, outdated valuations, or a complex global portfolio, here are five takeaways to help you get ahead of your next renewal.
Markets are flooded with submissions. Your best chance at standing out? Begin six to even 12 months in advance and control the narrative with strong data.“With most property renewals being every 12 months, as soon as you’ve done one, you’re starting the next,” said Rix.That volume means underwriters can afford to be selective. If your submission is rushed or incomplete, it could be delayed or passed over. Starting early gives you time to address open risk recommendations, refine your valuations, and prepare a comprehensive submission that reflects well on your organization.
The takeaway: If you want to avoid being overlooked or rushed, start planning well before your renewal date.
Underwriters want clarity. That starts with current, complete, and centralized risk data—but it doesn’t stop there. How you frame your company’s approach to risk can influence how your submission is perceived.“When risk managers go to market, they must convey the story of the organization, what we’re about, and how it affects the underwriter’s interest,” said Mandel.Owning your data means knowing exactly where it came from, when it was last updated, and how it reflects your current risk profile. But equally important is the narrative: what actions your organization has taken to reduce risk, and how you’re planning for the future.
The takeaway: Data wins attention, but story wins trust. Make sure your submission communicates both.
From dashboards to risk rating charts, organizations that visualize their risk program performance have an edge. These tools make it easier for underwriters to digest your risk story quickly and see evidence of continuous improvement.“Visualization of how your program is performing can be really powerful, particularly if you’ve got a lot of green bubbles in the right areas,” said Rix.An account engineer can help you analyze inspection reports, identify trends, and synthesize them into compelling visuals. That’s especially useful if your organization manages risk across multiple regions or facilities.
The takeaway: Use visuals and account engineering to clarify your risk posture and highlight progress.
Carrier-led engineering may seem convenient, but it often results in conservative assessments—and may not be completed on your timeline. By contrast, independent property risk engineering gives you control and credibility.“You may decide to make an investment in independent engineering to really make sure you’re getting the full picture of your risk profile,” said Rix.With thousands of submissions flooding the market, underwriters don’t have time to dispatch engineers for every account. Independent reports may put you ahead in the queue and give you a chance to frame the findings from your point of view.
The takeaway: If you want flexibility, credibility, and speed, consider using independent property risk engineering partners.
Risk management isn’t just about inspections. It’s about building a system—one that includes advanced tools like infrared thermography, process safety programs, and AI-powered analytics.“Using your Account Executive to develop dashboards and having some granularity to inform discussions with underwriters can be really impactful,” said Rix.Forward-thinking companies are integrating AI platforms and RMIS connectivity to streamline data sharing and reporting. Complementary programs not only reduce risk—they demonstrate a culture of continuous improvement.
The takeaway: Showcase your use of modern tools to demonstrate proactive risk management and future readiness.
Strong renewals aren’t luck. They’re the result of disciplined planning, strong partnerships, and owning your story.
And for technical industries, the stakes are even higher.Download our whitepaperReady to go deeper? Learn how risk engineering can transform your property renewals with our whitepaper: Crafting a Winning Property Loss Control Formula.
Site Selector
Global
Americas
Asia
Europe
Middle East and Africa
