Shop and price check your home and flood insurance every few years with several different insurance companies or agents. 


Follow these steps to make sure you have adequate coverage and are receiving the best value.

1 - Gather the following information about your house:

  • Year Built
  • Square Footage
  • When any upgrades were made if known. (New HVAC, roof, wiring, plumbing, etc.)
  • Construction type (wood frame, wood frame with brick, concrete, concrete block, etc.)

2 - Buy enough homeowners insurance to cover:

  • The cost to replace the structure of your home and any additional structures (detached garage, shop, shed, etc.)
    • Not the market value of your property, but the cost to rebuild it today, at today's costs. 
  • The cost to replace your personal belongings.
  • The cost of additional living expenses if you have to live elsewhere during repairs
  • Your liability to others

3 - Ask about additional coverages:

  • Replacement Cost Value (RCV) insurance - RCV pays to replace your property or belongings at today's prices. 
    • The alternative to RCV is ACV or Actual Cash Value insurance which pays to replace your property or belongings at a depreciated amount. ACV = Replacement Cost Value minus depreciation. Some items can depreciate to a value of $0.00. 
  • Law and Ordinance - Typically pays up to 10% above your covered amount to rebuild to the current building code
  • Sewer or Water Backup - Pays to repair damage caused by water backing up into your home through the plumbing
  • Flood Insurance - Flood damage is not covered under standard homeowners insurance policies.  If you are near a flood zone, flood insurance is a good investment. Over 20% of flood insurance claims are from homeowners outside of a high-risk flood area. 
  • Wind Insurance - In the coastal areas of 19 states, wind insurance is a separate policy. Damage caused by high winds is not covered under a standard homeowner's insurance policy. 

4 - Download and ask your agent The Top 10 Questions to Ask About Homeowners Insurance.  

  • These questions will ensure you have all the information you need to get adequately insured

Want more information?

Use the Alabama Coastal Insurance Shopper's Guide to better understand:

  • The elements of coverage
  • Flood insurance 
  • Buying homeowners insurance
  • Comparing homeowners Insurance

This guide was written for coastal Alabama Homeowners, but much of the information is useful to any homeowner. 

Save all your information and compare quotes using the last several pages of the Coastal Insurance Shopper's Guide.

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