Condo insurance explained: what an HO-6 policy covers, how it works alongside your association's master policy, the difference between all-in, all-in excluding improvements and bare walls coverage, loss assessment coverage, the master policy deductible, what condo insurance does not cover and how to choose limits. Continue reading Condo Insurance (HO-6) Explained: How Your Policy Works With the HOA Master Policy
How much dwelling coverage (Coverage A) you need on homeowners insurance: why rebuild cost matters more than market value or your mortgage, how to estimate replacement cost, the 80 percent rule in standard policies, extended and guaranteed replacement cost, inflation guard, ordinance or law coverage and when to review your limit. Continue reading How Much Dwelling Coverage Do You Need? Setting Coverage A the Right Way
A home inventory is a record of what you own and what it is worth, and it can make a homeowners or renters claim faster and more complete. Learn what to include, a simple room-by-room method, how to store it safely, how special limits affect valuables and how often to update it. Continue reading How to Make a Home Inventory for Insurance: A Room-by-Room Method That Speeds Up Claims
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
A general guide to personal umbrella insurance: what it covers, how it sits on top of auto and home liability, typical requirements, exclusions and questions to ask an agent. Continue reading Umbrella Insurance Basics: How Extra Liability Coverage Works
A general guide to flood insurance: why standard policies exclude flood, how the National Flood Insurance Program works, waiting periods, coverage limits and private options. Continue reading Flood Insurance Basics: What the NFIP Covers and Why Homeowners Policies Do Not
