{"id":25358,"date":"2023-11-14T17:59:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T00:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.richmondamerican.com\/blog\/?p=20480"},"modified":"2025-03-10T09:16:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T15:16:05","slug":"home-insurance-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.richmondamerican.com\/blog\/home-insurance-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"Ready to Shop Policies? Use Our Home Insurance Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve found your dream home\u2014now it\u2019s time to insure it! Selecting the right home insurance policy is important not only because it may be a condition of your home loan, but also because it can offer you and your family greater peace of mind. If the unexpected happens, homeowners insurance can provide coverage for losses and damages to your house, its contents (including pets and personal belongings) and even personal liability for people inside your home or on your property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So how do you begin shopping for policies<\/a>? First, you\u2019ll want to gather some necessary information about yourself, your new home and your belongings before meeting with an insurance agent. This preparation can lead to a smooth shopping experience, as well as help your agent find the right policy options and accurate quotes based on your home and your needs. To make the process a bit simpler, we\u2019ve created a home insurance checklist that includes information you may need on hand when searching for a policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download your printable copy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Flyer<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

As you can see, there are a few different types of information necessary for the process. Let\u2019s explore them further:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your agent will first need to know some basics about you, such as your occupation and marital status, but they\u2019ll also want to learn more about your insurance history. This includes who your current carrier is, as well as a list of any home or auto insurance claims you\u2019ve filed over the past five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Information about belongings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond covering your home itself, homeowners insurance can also encompass what\u2019s inside the home, including pets and personal belongings. Pets are relevant because your policy may cover claims for incidents involving your animals (for example, if your dog bites a guest). Certain dog breeds, however, may be excluded from coverage, which is why our home insurance checklist includes a specific question about breeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homeowners insurance also typically includes protections for personal property, or the items in your home. This can include clothing, appliances, furniture and other common possessions, but keep in mind that your policy may not cover certain valuables, such as artwork and jewelry. Read through this article<\/a> to learn more about belongings that may require special coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Information about your home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finally, an insurance agent will have some questions about your new home. Details like the address, model, square footage and bathroom count are all useful, as is information about special features in the house, such as RV garages or fireplaces. Additionally, the agent may ask you about occupancy and usage. A primary residence home will likely require different coverage than a vacation home or rental property, and policy options may also differ if you plan on operating a business out of your house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A final note<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve provided the necessary information for your agent, you\u2019ll also want to ask them<\/em> some questions\u2014for instance, what savings opportunities are available to you. Depending on the carrier, there may be several ways you can lower your rates, including bundling home and auto insurance<\/a>, having a monitored home alarm system and moving into a new construction house<\/a>. Be sure to ask your agent about relevant savings options for different policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re ready to shop policies, our affiliate can help you find a home insurance policy that fits your unique needs. American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. agents can save you time and energy by gathering estimates from a range of reputable carriers, so you can compare your policy options. Plus, since these agents work with Richmond American homeowners every day, they’ll likely know all about your home and what’s needed to insure it, further streamlining your shopping experience. To learn more, visit their website<\/a> or call 720.528.2236<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"First-time<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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Take the guesswork out of homebuying!<\/h4>\n

Our free First-time Homebuyer Guide<\/em> is filled with tips to help you navigate your homebuying journey.<\/p>\n

Get your free guide<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve found your dream home\u2014now it\u2019s time to insure it! Selecting the right home insurance policy is important not only because it may be a condition of your home loan, but also because it can offer you and your family greater peace of mind. If the unexpected happens, homeowners insurance can provide coverage for losses and damages to your house, its contents (including pets and personal belongings) and even personal liability for people inside your home or on your property.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":27405,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[150,155],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.richmondamerican.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/HomeInsurance-main_BLOG.webp","author_info":{"display_name":"Joe Warth","author_link":"https:\/\/www.richmondamerican.com\/blog\/author\/jwarth\/"},"yoast_head":"\r\nReady to Shop Policies? Use Our Home Insurance Checklist<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ready to insure your dream home? 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