Agent questions guide

    What Questions Should I Ask My Insurance Agent About My Homeowners Policy?

    The questions worth asking cover six areas: how your home would be rebuilt and paid for, which deductibles apply to storms, what the policy excludes, which endorsements you have, how water damage is treated, and how roof claims are paid.

    Getting the answers by email keeps them in writing. CoverageDecoder's free quick check builds a starter list from your answers. The $9 full review explains your uploaded policy PDF, ties each finding to the page it came from, and drafts the questions into an email to your agent.

    Last updated: November 2, 2026

    Fine Print, the CoverageDecoder mascot, pointing to a list of questions

    1. Rebuilding your home

    Why it matters: The dwelling limit, also called Coverage A, is meant to reflect what it would cost to rebuild the house, which can be different from what the home would sell for. Building costs change, so an estimate made years ago may not match today.

    1. What is my dwelling limit based on, and when was the rebuilding-cost estimate last updated?
    2. Does my policy include extended replacement cost, guaranteed replacement cost, or an inflation adjustment?
    3. Is there coverage for the extra cost of meeting current building codes when rebuilding?

    2. Deductibles

    Why it matters: Many policies have a standard deductible plus a separate one for wind, hail, hurricanes, or named storms. A separate storm deductible is often a percentage of the dwelling limit, not of the damage: 2% of a home insured for $350,000 is $7,000.

    See how percentage storm deductibles work, or run your own numbers in the storm deductible calculator.

    1. What is my standard deductible, and is there a separate deductible for wind, hail, hurricanes, or named storms?
    2. If the storm deductible is a percentage, what does it come to in dollars on my house?
    3. What event triggers the storm deductible?

    3. Exclusions

    Why it matters: Exclusions list what the policy does not cover. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood, which is insured separately, and earth movement is another common exclusion.

    More on flood and homeowners insurance.

    1. What are the main exclusions in my policy, such as flood and earth movement?
    2. Is mold limited or excluded, and is there a dollar cap?
    3. If flood is excluded, where would flood coverage come from for this property?

    4. Endorsements

    Why it matters: Endorsements are pages that add, remove, or change coverage, so two policies from the same insurer can differ a lot. Sewer and drain backup, for example, is usually its own endorsement with its own limit.

    Read what an endorsement is, how sewer backup coverage works, and special limits on valuables.

    1. Which endorsements are on my policy, and does each one add or limit coverage?
    2. Do I have water or sewer backup coverage, and what is the limit?
    3. Are any of my valuables above the special limits, and is scheduling them an option?

    5. Water damage

    Why it matters: Policies often treat a sudden event, like a burst pipe, differently from water that leaks or seeps over time. Sewer backup and flood are separate questions from both.

    See sudden vs. gradual water damage.

    1. How does my policy treat sudden water damage compared with a slow leak?
    2. If a pipe breaks inside a wall, is the cost to open and repair the wall covered?
    3. Are there conditions for frozen pipe damage, such as keeping the heat on when the home is empty?

    6. Roof claims

    Why it matters: A roof may be paid at replacement cost or actual cash value. On many replacement cost policies, the first payment is the actual cash value, and the held-back depreciation is paid after the repair is finished, often with a deadline.

    See why a roof check can be less than the estimate.

    1. Is my roof paid at replacement cost or actual cash value?
    2. If part of a roof payment is held back, what do I need to do to collect it, and is there a deadline?
    3. Does my roof's age or material change how it would be paid?

    Putting the questions in writing

    Sending the questions by email gives you dated, written answers you can keep with your policy. If you bought your policy through an agent, that agent is the place to start. If you bought it directly from the insurance company, the customer service number on your declarations page or bill can answer the same questions.

    The full list, ready to copy

    Copy this into an email and remove anything that does not apply. The $9 full review writes a list like this for you, based on what your own policy says.

    Hi [agent name],

I'm reading through my homeowners policy ([policy number]) and have a few questions. Could you answer them by email so I have the answers in writing?

1. What is my dwelling limit based on, and when was the rebuilding-cost estimate last updated?
2. Does my policy include extended replacement cost, guaranteed replacement cost, or an inflation adjustment?
3. Is there coverage for the extra cost of meeting current building codes when rebuilding?
4. What is my standard deductible, and is there a separate deductible for wind, hail, hurricanes, or named storms?
5. If the storm deductible is a percentage, what does it come to in dollars on my house?
6. What event triggers the storm deductible?
7. What are the main exclusions in my policy, such as flood and earth movement?
8. Is mold limited or excluded, and is there a dollar cap?
9. If flood is excluded, where would flood coverage come from for this property?
10. Which endorsements are on my policy, and does each one add or limit coverage?
11. Do I have water or sewer backup coverage, and what is the limit?
12. Are any of my valuables above the special limits, and is scheduling them an option?
13. How does my policy treat sudden water damage compared with a slow leak?
14. If a pipe breaks inside a wall, is the cost to open and repair the wall covered?
15. Are there conditions for frozen pipe damage, such as keeping the heat on when the home is empty?
16. Is my roof paid at replacement cost or actual cash value?
17. If part of a roof payment is held back, what do I need to do to collect it, and is there a deadline?
18. Does my roof's age or material change how it would be paid?

Thank you,
[your name]

    Common questions

    Who should I ask, my agent or the insurance company?

    If you bought your policy through an agent, start with the agent. If you bought it directly from the insurance company, its customer service line can answer the same questions.

    When is a good time to ask these questions?

    Before a renewal, after buying a home, after a renovation, or when you get a notice about a premium increase or non-renewal. Your insurer typically sends a new declarations page before each renewal.

    Can CoverageDecoder answer these for me?

    It explains what your uploaded policy says and points to the page, so you can see which questions apply to you. It does not replace your agent or insurer, and an AI-generated report can be wrong or incomplete. Your policy as issued, and your agent, have the final word.

    Is this insurance advice?

    No. This guide explains common policy terms and the questions people bring to their agent. It does not recommend coverage, limits, or insurance companies.

    Keep reading

    How to read your declarations pageEvery line on the summary page at the front of your policy, explained.Percentage storm deductiblesWhy a storm deductible can be a percentage of what your house is insured for.Sudden vs. gradual water damageWhy a burst pipe and a slow leak can be treated differently.

    Want the list matched to your own policy?

    Start with a free quick check built from a few questions about your home and state. Or upload your policy PDF for the $9 full review: your policy explained, with page citations and these questions drafted into an email to your agent.

    Free quick checkUpload your policy PDF · $9

    No app to download. No subscription. No account. Policy upload is not available in every state.

    CoverageDecoder is an educational tool, not insurance advice. For decisions about your coverage, talk with your licensed insurance agent.