6 Questions to Ask Your Homeowners' Insurance Agent

We had the pleasure of interviewing State Farm’s Scott Smith a few weeks back about the ins and outs of homeowners’ insurance. This is one of those items on your closing checklist that is a must-do, but which people often view as little more than just that - a box to be checked.  

However, most of us know someone who has had to file a homeowners’ insurance claim. If you do, or maybe you’ve been in the unfortunate position of meeting some mayhem yourself, you realize that this is a critical piece of the home ownership puzzle. We wanted to demystify homeowners’ insurance a little bit, especially for first time home buyers.  Here are Scott’s top 6 questions to ask your current agent, or when you’re shopping for a policy…

1. What is the process for filing a claim?  Who do I call in the middle of the night if something happens?

2. What does my policy cover?   Are there any riders or endorsements that might be particularly useful for the home I’m insuring?

3. How much coverage does the policy provide for the home itself, personal property, and liability?

4. What will our deductible be? Can you explain to me how coverage and rates vary with different deductible amounts?

5. Can you walk me through the options for bundling this with other policies like auto and life insurance?

6. Are there any limits on coverage for specific types of personal property?

You can learn more about Scott here  or check out this 2024 overview from US News and World Report comparing a variety of potential insurance partners for you and your people.