Property underwriting remains cautious as the industry heads into 2026. Property and casualty insurance companies are applying closer review standards to property risks as they navigate ongoing catastrophe losses, valuation uncertainty, and higher reinsurance costs. These pressures have not eliminated capacity, but they have raised the bar for how clearly and completely risk information must be presented for underwriting review.
In this environment, submission quality directly influences how efficiently placements move through underwriting. A clean, complete property submission allows underwriters to evaluate risk efficiently, reduces follow-up requests, and shortens the time between initial review and actionable quotes. When you understand how underwriters assess property risk and align submissions to that process, you secure capacity more consistently and move property and casualty insurance products through underwriting with greater speed and consistency.
Why Underwriting Standards Are Tighter for Property Risks
Underwriting standards for property risks tightened coming out of 2025 in response to sustained catastrophe activity, higher replacement costs, and continued pressure on reinsurance capacity. More frequent and severe loss events have increased volatility across property portfolios, while rising construction and material costs have made valuation accuracy a central underwriting concern. At the same time, reinsurance terms continue to influence how primary carriers allocate capacity, reinforcing a more deliberate approach to property risk selection.
Industry data reflects this shift toward underwriting discipline. Despite continued catastrophe losses, the property and casualty sector reported improved underwriting results in the first half of 2025, reinforcing a focus on profitability through careful risk selection rather than broader tolerance. As a result, underwriters are prioritizing clarity and consistency earlier in the review process.
For brokers, the implication is straightforward. Incomplete or unclear submissions create friction, slow decision-making, and trigger follow-up requests. Submissions that clearly present valuation support, loss context, and current risk characteristics allow underwriters to assess fit efficiently and move viable risks forward. When you submit property risks with this level of clarity and completeness, you reduce delays, minimize rework, and move placements through underwriting with greater speed and confidence.
What Underwriters Expect To See in a First-Pass Property Submission
A strong first-pass property submission presents core risk information with clarity and internal consistency, keeping underwriting review focused on risk evaluation rather than information reconciliation. When fundamentals arrive organized and aligned from the outset, review moves forward without unnecessary interruptions.
At a high level, underwriters look for submissions that clearly address the primary factors shaping property risk, including:
- Accurate, current property valuations that reflect today’s replacement costs
- Clear construction, occupancy, and protection details expressed in plain terms
- Loss history supported by brief explanations that provide context beyond the numbers
- Transparent catastrophe exposure information, such as wind, flood, or wildfire, where applicable
These elements form the foundation of an initial underwriting assessment across property risks. When presented clearly and cohesively, your submissions move through review with greater momentum and fewer requests for clarification.
Consistency across applications, statements, and supporting documentation is equally important. When your story remains aligned from start to finish, underwriting review stays focused on coverage terms instead of reconciling discrepancies. With this level of clarity, your submissions move through review with fewer interruptions, reduce follow-up, and help viable risks advance more efficiently.
Common Submission Gaps That Trigger Delays or Declines
Property submissions stall when underwriters cannot quickly verify values, loss context, or exposure details. Missing, unclear, or inconsistent information forces the review to pause while gaps are resolved.
Common gaps include:
- Outdated replacement cost estimates that require valuation reconciliation
- Missing or incomplete COPE details that limit exposure assessment
- Loss runs without context, including unexplained or partially reported claims
- Ambiguous property schedules for multi-location risks
Each of these gaps introduces uncertainty that underwriters must resolve before advancing a submission. Without clear, consistent details, the underwriter either pauses review to request clarification or evaluates the risk using conservative assumptions. By consistently submitting clear, complete information, you reduce follow-up requests, build credibility with managing general agents (MGAs) and carriers, and improve placement efficiency across property risks.
Turning Better Submissions Into Faster Property Placements
Faster property placements come from preparation that allows underwriting review to move cleanly on the first pass. When you submit organized, consistent, and complete information, the underwriter spends less time reconciling details and more time evaluating risk and terms, keeping viable submissions moving toward quotes and capacity.
Cochrane & Company works alongside brokers to apply that level of structure to property submissions. Our property team focuses on aligning submission content with underwriting expectations, helping streamline review and support the placement of complex or hard-to-place property risks more efficiently. The result is a submission process built around clarity, collaboration, and stronger broker-underwriter outcomes.
FAQ About Property Submissions
What information do underwriters need for a property submission?
Underwriters look for clear, current property valuations; construction and occupancy details; protection features; relevant loss history with context; and transparent catastrophe exposure information. When these fundamentals are presented clearly and consistently, underwriters can assess fit without stopping to reconcile gaps.
Why do property submissions get delayed in underwriting?
Delays typically stem from missing information, unclear risk details, or inconsistencies between applications and supporting documents. Each gap introduces uncertainty that requires clarification before review can continue.
How can you improve approval times for property risks?
Approval timelines improve when you submit complete, accurate information upfront and anticipate the questions underwriting will need answered to evaluate risk. Preparation reduces follow-up requests and keeps the review moving on the first pass.
Do MGAs and carriers evaluate property submissions differently?
MGAs apply underwriting discipline aligned with carrier appetites and guidelines. As a result, submission quality matters just as much with MGAs as it does with carriers, particularly for complex or harder-to-place risks.
What is the outlook for the U.S. property and casualty market?
The market remains stable but disciplined. Underwriting profitability has improved, while catastrophe exposure and valuation accuracy continue to shape how property risks are reviewed.
What challenges affect property and casualty insurance today?
Key challenges include catastrophe-driven volatility, rising replacement costs, and the need for precise risk information to support underwriting decisions.
About Cochrane & Company
For more than six decades, Cochrane & Company has been proudly at the forefront of the insurance industry. Our experience has enabled us to innovate in powerful ways, reimagining the E&S market, and providing technology solutions that make it easy to do business with us. Licensed in all 50 states, we proudly serve clients across the nation, providing personalized and powerful solutions to help you become an even better partner for your clients. Speak to one of our experienced professionals today by calling (855) 967-0069.