Hurricane and wind/hail deductibles are often a percentage of your dwelling limit, not a flat dollar amount, which can mean thousands of dollars out of pocket after a storm. Learn how they are calculated, what triggers them, which states use them, Florida's special rules and how to plan. Continue reading Hurricane and Wind/Hail Deductibles Explained: How Percentage Deductibles Work and What You Could Owe

A clear, step-by-step guide to filing a homeowners insurance claim: what to do in the first hours, your duties after a loss under a standard policy, how inspections and estimates work, why your mortgage lender may be on the check, living expense coverage and what to do if you disagree. Continue reading How to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim: A Step-by-Step Guide From First Call to Final Payment

Replacement cost and actual cash value can produce very different checks for the same claim. Learn how depreciation works, why many policies hold back part of the payment until you repair, the 80 percent rule, roof payment schedules and the endorsements that close the gap. Continue reading Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value in Home Insurance: How Claims Are Paid and How to Avoid a Shortfall

HO-3 and HO-5 policies both cover your house on an open-perils basis, but they treat your belongings very differently. Learn the 16 named perils in an HO-3, what HO-5 adds, who qualifies, what neither form covers and how to tell which one you have. Continue reading HO-3 vs. HO-5 Homeowners Insurance: Which Policy Form Do You Have and Is the Upgrade Worth It?

A plain-English homeowners insurance guide: what Coverages A through F pay for, how HO-3, HO-5, HO-6 and HO-4 forms differ, replacement cost vs. actual cash value, percentage deductibles, flood and earthquake gaps, what moves your premium and how to file a claim. Continue reading Homeowners Insurance Guide: Coverage, Policy Forms, Deductibles, Exclusions, Costs and Claims