Home Insurance Checklist

A Simple Guide to Make Sure Your Home Is Properly Protected

Need help reviewing your coverage? Call 352‑200‑2066

This Home Insurance Checklist offers a practical way to review the coverage, limits, deductibles, and details of your policy. Whether you’re buying a home, renewing, or comparing quotes, it can help identify questions and potential gaps before a loss occurs. Actual protection depends on your policy’s terms, conditions, exclusions, and limits.

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1. Property Coverage

Check that your policy provides appropriate protection for your home and belongings:

• Dwelling Coverage – Review the estimated cost to rebuild the home at current local construction prices, rather than its market value. The Coverage A limit is not a guarantee that every rebuilding expense will be paid; deductibles, exclusions, settlement provisions, and available extended replacement-cost features matter.
• Other Structures – Check limits and exclusions for detached garages, sheds, fences, and other structures.
• Personal Property – Review limits, actual cash value versus replacement-cost settlement, and special sublimits for jewelry, collectibles, electronics, and other valuables. Scheduled coverage may be appropriate for some items.
• Loss of Use – Review additional living expense coverage when a covered loss makes the home unfit to live in. Payments are subject to policy limits, time restrictions, and other conditions.

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2. Liability Protection

Review liability limits and what each coverage actually pays:

• Personal Liability – May provide defense and payment for covered claims alleging bodily injury or property damage for which you are legally liable, subject to exclusions and limits.
• Medical Payments – Can help with certain minor medical expenses for others, generally without requiring a finding of legal liability, subject to eligibility rules and policy limits.
• Umbrella Policy (optional) – May provide additional liability limits above qualifying underlying policies, subject to its own terms, exclusions, and required underlying limits.

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3. Roof & Wind Coverage

Florida homeowners should confirm:

• Roof type and age are accurately recorded, including permitted replacements or repairs.
• Windstorm and hurricane coverage are included, and any separate wind or hurricane deductible is understood. A percentage hurricane deductible is generally calculated from the dwelling coverage limit, not the claim amount.
• Roof claim settlement is understood, including whether replacement cost, actual cash value, a roof payment schedule, or other roof-specific provisions apply.
• Wind mitigation credits reflect documented qualifying features; an inspection may help establish eligibility for available credits.

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4. Flood Insurance (Usually Separate From Home Insurance)

Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flooding, including rising surface water. Some other forms of sudden and accidental water damage may be covered, depending on the cause and policy wording. Check:

• Your FEMA flood zone, while remembering that flooding can occur outside mapped high-risk areas.
• Whether your lender, Citizens policy, or other applicable requirements call for separate flood insurance.
• NFIP versus private flood pricing, coverage limits, exclusions, waiting periods, and claim settlement terms.

If you’re unsure, I can help review the available flood-zone information and insurance options for your address.

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5. Discounts & Credits

Ask which discounts are available from your particular insurer and what documentation is required:

• Wind mitigation inspection and qualifying construction features
• Roof replacement or documented roof updates
• Alarm system or monitored security
• Gated community, where recognized by the carrier
• Multi-policy discounts, such as home and auto, where offered

Discounts are carrier-specific and are not guaranteed merely because a feature is present.

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6. Policy Accuracy

Double-check the application and policy information:

• Square footage and property characteristics
• Year built
• Roof material, age, and documented updates
• Construction type (block, frame, mixed)
• Updates to plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems
• Occupancy, use of the property, and any rental activity

Incorrect or outdated information can affect underwriting, pricing, coverage, and claim handling. Report material changes to your agent or insurer promptly.

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7. Annual Review

Review your policy at least annually, especially if you:

• Renovated or added square footage
• Installed a new roof or added storm-protection features
• Bought expensive items that may need special limits or scheduled coverage
• Changed occupancy (rental, seasonal, vacant, or unoccupied)
• Changed your mortgage, deductible preferences, or need for liability coverage

Also review renewal notices for changes in deductibles, coverage forms, exclusions, and roof settlement provisions.

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Need a Professional Policy Review?

If you want a no-pressure review of your home insurance, I can help check your policy details, compare available options, and identify coverage questions worth addressing. No review can guarantee that every possible loss will be covered.

Call anytime or request a quote — I’ll help you understand your options and make an informed decision about protecting your home.

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