Preparing for a home insurance quote starts with the property, how you use it and when you need coverage. Gather the records you have; mark an uncertain detail as unknown.
Your home quote checklist
- Property: address, year built, square footage and construction type.
- Use: who lives there, rental or business activity, and any period when the home will be empty.
- Records: current insurance, roof replacement or repair records, and major home updates.
- Timing: desired coverage start date, closing or renewal date, and any earlier lender document deadline.
- Questions: known damage, unfinished repairs, prior claims and anything that differs between records.
Keep a copy of the lender’s written instructions when buying a home. A closing date and a deadline for insurance documents may be different.
Where to find missing details
| Detail | Where to look | If it is missing |
|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement date | Replacement invoice or property records | Say unknown; describe a repair separately from a full replacement. |
| Current limits and deductibles | Current declarations page | Say whether you have no current policy or simply do not have the document. |
| Major home updates | Plumbing, electrical and other work records | Describe the work completed and label approximate dates. |
| Coverage start and document dates | Closing instructions or renewal notice | Identify tentative dates and who can confirm them. |
You can begin without every record. Identify what is missing and ask how to supply it. If two records disagree, bring both rather than choosing the answer that seems most favorable.
Describe the roof and completed updates
Separate a full roof replacement from patching or other repairs. Note known leaks, open repairs and planned work. For plumbing or electrical updates, describe what was actually replaced; work on one part of a system does not describe the whole system.
The Texas Department of Insurance’s roof guide explains that roof age, condition and an inspection can affect an insurance offer and its settlement terms. Keep invoices and existing photos with your notes. Use photos taken safely from the ground; do not climb onto a roof to prepare a quote.
Compare replacement cost and actual cash value
TDI’s homeowners guide describes replacement cost as repair or replacement at current prices. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation for age and wear.
Ask which basis is proposed for the house, belongings and roof. Compare each part of the quote with your current policy, including the limits and any special terms. The same premium does not mean the same coverage.
Read percentage deductibles in dollars
A deductible can be a fixed amount or a percentage. Ask what the percentage is based on, its dollar amount and the type of loss it applies to.
In TDI’s example, a home is insured for $150,000 and roof repairs cost $6,500. With a $500 deductible, the insurer pays $6,000. A 5% deductible is $7,500, so the same repair falls below that deductible.
Compare available deductibles with what you could afford to pay after damage. Review the deductible alongside limits and settlement terms, rather than choosing on price alone.
Keep each proposal comparable
Use the same property facts for each proposal, then compare limits, deductibles and settlement terms. TDI’s shopping guide includes a comparison worksheet.
If a proposal changes after an inspection or new record, keep both versions and their dates. Our guide to why a home insurance quote can change explains what to compare.
Include how the property is used
Tell us about rental use, a home business, detached structures, pools, trampolines and animals. Describe the activity in ordinary words. If you already have a policy and want to discuss changed needs, use a coverage review instead of treating the question as a new purchase.
For a new quote, keep the desired start date separate from the effective date confirmed by the agency or insurance company. A website request does not bind, change, cancel, reinstate, or confirm coverage.