Question 1

What is Cindera?

Accepted Answer

Cindera is a wildfire insurability platform. We combine digital risk assessment, targeted on-site verification, and continuous monitoring to help California homeowners qualify for voluntary market insurance policies. We bridge the gap between high-risk properties and the insurance carriers that want to cover them.

Question 2

Why is wildfire insurance so hard to get in California?

Accepted Answer

Traditional insurance models rely on outdated, high-level satellite data that often overestimates risk. Because carriers can't verify the 'ground truth' of a home's hardening (like ember-resistant vents or Zone 0 clearing), they often choose to non-renew policies rather than take the risk. Cindera provides the trusted verification layer they need to confidently write policies.

Question 3

Is Cindera an insurance company?

Accepted Answer

No. Cindera is a technology and verification platform. We partner with admitted and surplus lines insurance carriers who recognize our 'Cindera Score' and certification. We help you get the home ready, and then we connect you with carriers to provide the actual coverage.

Question 4

How is Cindera different from a traditional home inspector?

Accepted Answer

Traditional inspectors look at general home health (plumbing, electrical). Cindera's certified wildfire inspectors are specialists trained in ember ignition, fire behavior, and the specific 'Safer from Wildfires' standards required by California regulators. We don't just find problems; we provide the certification that unlocks insurance.

Question 5

What is the Cindera Score?

Accepted Answer

The Cindera Score is a proprietary metric that measures your home's resilience to wildfire on a 300–900 scale—think of it like a credit score for your home's fire readiness. It factors in structural hardening, defensible space, satellite vegetation analysis, and local fire history. A high Cindera Score is the primary signal insurance carriers use to determine eligibility.

Question 6

What is the difference between a Digital Assessment and On-site Verification?

Accepted Answer

A Digital Assessment is our first step—it's free and uses satellite data plus photos/videos you upload. For many homes, this is enough for a preliminary score. On-site Verification is a physical audit by a certified professional to confirm 'ground-truth' details that satellites can't see, like vent mesh size or the specific material of your deck.

Question 7

How long does the digital assessment take?

Accepted Answer

The digital assessment is near-instant once you upload your photos. Our remote team typically reviews and verifies your preliminary Cindera Score within 24-48 hours.

Question 8

What kind of photos/videos do I need to upload?

Accepted Answer

Our app guides you through a simple 10-minute process. You'll capture angles of your roof, vents, the 5-foot perimeter around your home (Zone 0), and surrounding vegetation. This data is what allows us to scale verification without requiring an appointment for every home.

Question 9

Can my score change over time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your score is dynamic. If you perform upgrades (like installing fire-resistant vents), your score goes up. If vegetation grows back or a neighbor builds a structure close to your home, your score may be adjusted. Our subscription includes continuous monitoring to keep your score accurate.

Question 10

Will Cindera guarantee I get insurance?

Accepted Answer

While we cannot legally guarantee a carrier will write a policy, our system is built specifically to meet the 'Safer from Wildfires' standards that California regulators now require insurers to recognize. Homes that meet our standard have a significantly higher likelihood of qualifying for voluntary market coverage.

Question 11

How does Cindera help me get off the California FAIR Plan?

Accepted Answer

The FAIR Plan is meant to be a 'last resort.' Most homeowners are on it because they have no other choice. Cindera changes the risk profile of your home so that private, voluntary market carriers (who often offer better coverage at lower rates) are willing to compete for your business.

Question 12

Which insurance carriers recognize the Cindera Score?

Accepted Answer

We work with a growing network of admitted and surplus lines carriers in California. These partners have integrated our data into their underwriting process, allowing them to offer coverage to Cindera-certified homes that they would otherwise decline.

Question 13

What is the 'Safer from Wildfires' regulation?

Accepted Answer

It's a California regulation (10 CCR § 2644.9) that requires insurance companies to provide discounts and recognize wildfire safety measures taken by homeowners. Cindera is the first platform to fully automate the verification of these measures for both the homeowner and the carrier.

Question 14

What are the most common upgrades required?

Accepted Answer

The 'Big Three' are usually: 1. Ember-resistant vents (1/16th inch mesh), 2. Zone 0 clearing (removing all combustibles within 5 feet of the home), and 3. Gutter guards or regular cleaning. These three measures alone can prevent up to 90% of home ignitions during a wildfire.

Question 15

Does Cindera perform the hardening work?

Accepted Answer

Cindera provides the roadmap and the certification. For the actual work, we can connect you with our network of Cindera-Certified Contractors who understand our standards and can guarantee their work will pass our verification.

Question 16

Can I use my own contractor for the upgrades?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. You can even do the work yourself. Once the work is complete, you simply upload photo evidence or schedule a verification audit, and we will update your Cindera Score accordingly.

Question 17

Do roof sprinklers actually work?

Accepted Answer

Exterior sprinklers are a powerful supplemental layer of defense. They help prevent ember ignition and spot fires. However, they are most effective when combined with core hardening like fire-resistant vents and defensible space. We treat them as part of a holistic system, not a standalone fix.

Question 18

Why is there a monthly subscription?

Accepted Answer

Wildfire risk isn't static—vegetation grows, vents get clogged, and neighbors change their landscaping. Insurance carriers offer lower rates to Cindera homes because we provide 'Continuous Compliance.' The subscription covers satellite monitoring, annual re-verifications, and the data feed that keeps your insurance valid.

Question 19

What happens if my property falls out of compliance?

Accepted Answer

If our monitoring detects a risk (e.g., a new wood pile in Zone 0), we notify you immediately via the app. You'll have a grace period to fix the issue. If it remains unaddressed, your Cindera Certification may be suspended, which could trigger a re-evaluation by your insurance carrier.

Question 20

Can I cancel my subscription at any time?

Accepted Answer

Yes. However, please be aware that your insurance policy may be contingent on active Cindera monitoring. If you cancel, we are required to notify the carrier that the home is no longer being monitored for wildfire compliance, which may impact your coverage or rates.

Question 21

Who has access to my property data?

Accepted Answer

Your detailed property data is private. We only share the necessary certification data and your Cindera Score with insurance carriers when you explicitly authorize us to do so during an insurance application.

Question 22

Do you sell my data to third parties?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not sell your personal or property data to data brokers or marketing firms. Our revenue comes from assessments, subscriptions, and insurance partnerships—not from selling your privacy.

Question 23

How secure is the photo/video upload?

Accepted Answer

All data is encrypted in transit and at rest using industry-standard AES-256 encryption. We use secure cloud infrastructure to ensure your property images are handled with the highest level of security.

Frequently Asked Questions

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