Case Study
How SC Farm Bureau Turned a Roof Age Data Challenge into a Strategic Advantage
Member-Focused Insurance
South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company is a member-focused, mutual insurance provider dedicated to protecting homes, farms, and businesses across the state. As a mutual, its mission is clear: operate efficiently, deliver fair premiums, and maintain strong relationships with policyholders. Accuracy, fairness, and trust form the foundation of its underwriting and claims processes.
The Challenge of Determining Roof Age Accurately
When South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual introduced a roof schedule endorsement linking claim payments to the age of the roof, it faced a critical challenge: determining roof age accurately and consistently across its book of business.
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In South Carolina, as in much of the U.S., reliable public data is limited. Only some counties maintain permit records for roof replacements, and many homeowners either do not know their roof’s age or purchased a home without such documentation. The challenge is even greater in rural and hard-to-reach areas, where property data is often inconsistent or unavailable. As a result, the company often relied on customer-reported information captured when a policy was first written, which could remain unchanged for years.
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Inaccurate roof age data can lead to:
Premium pricing and renewal – inaccurate property risk assessments, impacting financial results in both premium revenue and claims costs.
Underwriting inefficiency – inconsistent application of underwriting guidelines, affecting portfolio quality and risk selection.
Claims – errors in claim assessment, impacting loss costs and potentially triggering disputes
The Search for the Right Solution
Recognizing that accurate roof age data was critical not only for protecting revenue and reducing loss costs, but also for enhancing operational efficiency and building customer trust, SC Farm Bureau tested two vendors head-to-head on 100 properties with known roof ages, verified through claims-documented replacements and other independently confirmed records.
The result was clear: GeoX delivered roof age matches that were 20% more accurate than the alternative vendor, giving SC Farm Bureau confidence that portfolio updates would be based on reliable, defensible data.​
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”Testing GeoX against another vendor showed a clear accuracy advantage, giving us the validation to move forward.”
— Randall Graham, Regional Underwriting Manager, SC Farm Bureau
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Randall shared a field example: during a weekend inspection, he visited a property listed internally as having a 2015 roof. Visual inspection and GeoX data revealed it was older than 2005, preventing an overpayment and allowing for proper underwriting action.
Driving Success Through Two Key Capabilities
GeoX powers insurers with a range of capabilities that drive better decisions and results, but in SC Farm Bureau’s case, two proved especially valuable. The first was full U.S. coverage, including deep reach into rural areas - essential for serving a largely non-urban portfolio where other solutions often lack accurate and up to date data. The second was accurate roof age data, powered by 20 years of historical imagery, far exceeding the industry standard of 7 years and enabling insights that many other providers simply can’t deliver. Roof age is impossible to pinpoint through inspections alone, and the historical depth of imagery removed that guesswork, providing clarity especially when documented property history was unavailable.
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GeoX delivered roof age data for SC Farm Bureau’s entire book of business in a bulk CSV format, making it simple to update existing records. The approach was designed to be flexible:
Bulk update – Refresh the entire portfolio with accurate roof age data.
Case-by-case checks – Verify roof age at new business or claims stage.
Implementation was straightforward, with minimal IT resources required.
“It was a streamlined, efficient process. Few resources were needed to convert the book of business using your roof tool.”
Accuracy Translated to Confidence
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Accurate Data for Fairer Claims
With more precise roof age records, SC Farm Bureau can process claims confidently, knowing payouts reflect actual property conditions.
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Future Premium Accuracy
The upcoming homeowner rating schedule will tie premiums to roof age. Newer roofs will qualify for lower rates, providing a direct customer benefit.
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Operational Efficiency
Inspectors and underwriters can now focus on exceptions rather than blanket inspections. Drones combined with GeoX data help confirm conditions without the need for risky roof climbs.
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Stakeholder Confidence
Accurate roof age reduces overpayment risk during catastrophes, a benefit valued by reinsurers and company leadership alike.
Looking Ahead
South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual plans to integrate GeoX data into Guidewire when its new system goes live, enabling instant roof age checks at the quoting stage. Beyond underwriting and claims, the data opens up marketing opportunities such as identifying well-maintained homes for targeted retention and acquisition campaigns.
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”Accurate data supports better outcomes for everyone — reinsurers benefit from reduced catastrophe losses, and policyholders have clarity and confidence at claim time.”
Building Stronger Relationships with Reinsurers and Policyholders
By addressing the roof age data challenge head-on, South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual has not only improved claims accuracy and underwriting efficiency but also set the stage for fairer premiums and stronger relationships with both reinsurers and policyholders. GeoX’s accurate, easy-to-implement solution turned a persistent operational problem into a strategic advantage that benefits the company, its members, and its future growth.