Your policy, explained

Sample · Part of a report

A clearer picture of your home insurance.

Fictional Ohio homeowner · Sample policy document

September 2026 · SAMPLE-OH-29-DOC

Built from a sample policy document plus a few answers.

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Report overview

At a glance

The roof payment schedule changes with the roof's age and documentation.
The example declarations page does not list a water-backup endorsement.
Personal belongings are settled at actual cash value in this example.

This report is based on your answers and a review of the policy document you uploaded: an HO-3 (the standard single-family homeowners policy form) issued by Example Mutual Insurance Company for a home in Columbus, Ohio. The findings below explain how policies like yours typically work, so you can walk into your next conversation with your agent informed and confident.

Report overview

At a glance

The roof payment schedule changes with the roof's age and documentation.
The example declarations page does not list a water-backup endorsement.
Personal belongings are settled at actual cash value in this example.

From your declarations page

Your policy at a glance

Dwelling (Coverage A)	$342,000
Personal property (Coverage C)	$171,000, settled at actual cash value
Windstorm or hail deductible	2% of Coverage A, which is $6,840
All other perils deductible	$1,000
Roof surfacing payment	Roof Surfacing Payment Schedule endorsement, page 12
Water Backup of Sewers or Drains endorsement	not listed on this policy
Personal Property Replacement Cost endorsement	not listed on this policy

Start Here

How Your Roof's Age and Condition Affect Your Coverage

Pages 12 & 8

Your roof is the part of your home most likely to drive a claim, and the part insurers watch most closely. Two things are worth understanding before a storm, not after.

Your policy includes an endorsement called the Roof Surfacing Payment Schedule (Page 12, Form EX-RS-01). This endorsement changes how windstorm or hail damage to your roof is paid. Instead of replacement cost, the policy pays a percentage of what a new roof would cost, and that percentage drops as the roof gets older. Under the wording shown, the schedule works like this for asphalt or composition shingles:

1. 0 to 5 years old: 100% of replacement cost 2. 6 to 10 years old: 80% of replacement cost 3. 11 to 15 years old: 60% of replacement cost 4. 16 to 20 years old: 40% of replacement cost 5. Over 20 years old, or age unknown: 25% of replacement cost

The policy also states: 'If the age of the roof surfacing cannot be documented, the schedule amount for age unknown applies' (Page 12). That means if you cannot document when the roof was installed, the policy would apply the 25% figure, regardless of the roof's actual age.

Your policy also excludes cosmetic damage to the roof, meaning marring, scratching, or denting from wind or hail that does not prevent the roof from keeping out water is not paid, even if the appearance is no longer uniform after a loss (Page 12, Section 2).

For the structure itself (Coverage A, Dwelling), the base policy pays replacement cost, but only after the repair is complete. The policy states it will first pay actual cash value (ACV), then release the held-back depreciation once you finish the work and submit proof within 180 days of the date of loss (Page 8). Miss that window, and the held-back amount is not payable.

See the policy references

Your policy includes an endorsement called the Roof Surfacing Payment Schedule (Page 12, Form EX-RS-01). This endorsement changes how windstorm or hail damage to your roof is paid. Instead of replacement cost, the policy pays a percentage of what a new roof would cost, and that percentage drops as the roof gets older. Under the wording shown, the schedule works like this for asphalt or composition shingles:

The policy also states: 'If the age of the roof surfacing cannot be documented, the schedule amount for age unknown applies' (Page 12). That means if you cannot document when the roof was installed, the policy would apply the 25% figure, regardless of the roof's actual age.

**Your policy also excludes cosmetic damage to the roof, meaning marring, scratching, or denting from wind or hail that does not prevent the roof from keeping out water is not paid, even if the appearance is no longer uniform after a loss (Page 12, Section 2).**

For the structure itself (Coverage A, Dwelling), the base policy pays replacement cost, but only after the repair is complete. The policy states it will first pay actual cash value (ACV), then release the held-back depreciation once you finish the work and submit proof within 180 days of the date of loss (Page 8). Miss that window, and the held-back amount is not payable.

Worth knowing: whether a roof is paid at replacement cost, actual cash value, or on a payment schedule is usually printed on the declarations page or in an endorsement, not in the main policy booklet. Your policy's Roof Surfacing Payment Schedule endorsement is the controlling document for windstorm and hail roof claims.

Questions you may want to ask your licensed agent

Is my roof covered at replacement cost or under the Roof Surfacing Payment Schedule, and does that change based on my roof's age?
If I have a roof claim, does my policy pay the full amount up front, or is some money held back until the work is finished, and is there a 180-day deadline to claim it back?
What would the Roof Surfacing Payment Schedule pay for a roof of my age, and how do I document the installation date to avoid the 'age unknown' rate?
Does the cosmetic damage exclusion in my policy mean that hail dents or scuffs that do not cause leaks would not be paid, even if the roof no longer looks uniform?
If part of my roof is damaged and the new shingles cannot be matched to the old ones, how does my policy handle the appearance of the rest of the roof?

Start Here

Sewer and Water Backup Damage Is Excluded, and No Backup Endorsement Is Currently on Your Policy

Pages 6 & 2

Standard homeowners policies typically exclude damage caused by water that backs up through sewers, drains, or sump pumps. Your policy confirms this in the Section I Exclusions (Page 6, Section 1b): 'Water or water borne material which backs up through sewers or drains, or which overflows or is discharged from a sump, sump pump, or related equipment, even if the backup or overflow results from mechanical breakdown' is excluded.

This kind of backup can happen in any home. Sewage can come up through the lowest drains, toilets, or tubs even in a single-level or slab home, and in a finished living area a serious backup can cause thousands of dollars of damage to floors, walls, furniture, and electrical systems.

Your policy's declarations page (Page 2) specifically lists 'Water Backup of Sewers or Drains' as an optional endorsement that is 'Not listed on this policy', meaning this protection is not currently in force.

A sewer or water backup endorsement is a separate add-on that specifically covers this type of loss. It is usually inexpensive (often around $50 a year, depending on the limit), and because water-related damage is one of the more common and costly homeowners claims, it is worth confirming with your agent whether this endorsement makes sense for your situation.

See the policy references

Standard homeowners policies typically exclude damage caused by water that backs up through sewers, drains, or sump pumps. Your policy confirms this in the Section I Exclusions (Page 6, Section 1b): 'Water or water borne material which backs up through sewers or drains, or which overflows or is discharged from a sump, sump pump, or related equipment, even if the backup or overflow results from mechanical breakdown' is excluded.

**Your policy's declarations page (Page 2) specifically lists 'Water Backup of Sewers or Drains' as an optional endorsement that is 'Not listed on this policy', meaning this protection is not currently in force.**

Worth knowing: the exclusion in your policy applies 'whether or not the water damage is caused by or results from human or animal forces' (Page 6), so even a city sewer overwhelmed by heavy rain that backs up into your home falls under this exclusion.

Questions you may want to ask your licensed agent

My policy lists 'Water Backup of Sewers or Drains' as not currently on my policy. What would that endorsement cover, and what would the coverage limit be?
If my policy included a water backup endorsement (or if I added one), would it apply to both the structure and personal property damaged by a backup event?
If my sump pump failed during a storm and water came up from below, how would my current policy handle that? Would it be covered or excluded?
What types of water damage does my current policy distinguish between, and how does my policy define the difference between sewer backup, flood, and a burst pipe?
If my current policy does not include this endorsement, how would my policy describe the water damage that is and is not covered without it?

Start Here

How Your Insurance Pays You After a Loss: Your Belongings Are Paid at Actual Cash Value

Pages 1 & 8

When something you own is damaged or destroyed, your insurance can pay you in one of two ways.

1. Actual Cash Value (ACV): what the item is worth today, after years of wear and depreciation. 2. Replacement Cost Value (RCV): what it would actually cost to replace it new.

Your policy is clear on this point. The declarations page (Page 1) shows Coverage C (Personal Property) with 'loss settlement: Actual Cash Value.' The loss settlement condition (Page 8, Section 1) states: 'Personal property... are settled at actual cash value at the time of loss... No Personal Property Replacement Cost endorsement is attached to this policy.'

Under the wording shown, a couch that originally cost $2,500 five years ago might only be worth $600 today under ACV, meaning that is what the policy would pay, not what it costs to replace it new.

For the dwelling structure itself (Coverage A), your policy does pay replacement cost, but with a holdback. The policy pays actual cash value first, then releases the held-back depreciation after you complete the repair and submit proof within 180 days of the date of loss (Page 8, Section 2b). If you do not complete the work and submit proof within that period, the withheld depreciation is not payable.

See the policy references

Your policy is clear on this point. The declarations page (Page 1) shows Coverage C (Personal Property) with 'loss settlement: Actual Cash Value.' The loss settlement condition (Page 8, Section 1) states: 'Personal property... are settled at actual cash value at the time of loss... No Personal Property Replacement Cost endorsement is attached to this policy.'

For the dwelling structure itself (Coverage A), your policy does pay replacement cost, but with a holdback. The policy pays actual cash value first, then releases the held-back depreciation after you complete the repair and submit proof within 180 days of the date of loss (Page 8, Section 2b). If you do not complete the work and submit proof within that period, the withheld depreciation is not payable.

Worth knowing: many policyholders miss this 180-day window and forfeit the depreciation reimbursement that was available to them. Your policy states this deadline explicitly on Page 8.

Also review

Also in this report

Building Code Upgrade Coverage Is on Your Policy: Here Is What It Covers and What It Does Not
Policies Often Treat Sudden Water Damage Very Differently Than Gradual Water Damage
Standard Home Insurance Policies Typically Exclude Flood Damage
A Personal Umbrella Policy Provides Liability Coverage Above Your Existing Policy Limits
Homeowners Insurance Has Five Separate Parts, and Each One Has Its Own Limit
The Insurance Your Mortgage Lender Requires May Not Be Enough to Fully Protect You
The Previous Owner's Insurance Claims at Your Address Can Affect Your Policy

Compiled for your conversation

Questions you may want to ask your agent

01My policy includes a Roof Surfacing Payment Schedule. What percentage would it pay for a roof of my age, and how do I document the installation date to avoid the 'age unknown' rate?
02My policy lists 'Water Backup of Sewers or Drains' as not currently on my policy. What would that endorsement cover, and what would the coverage limit be?
03My policy settles personal property claims at actual cash value. How is that value typically calculated, and what would it mean for replacing common items like furniture and electronics?
04For dwelling repairs under Coverage A, what is the process for getting the held-back depreciation released, and does the 180-day deadline start from the date of loss?
05Was my dwelling coverage limit of $342,000 set based on what it would actually cost to rebuild my home, or was it tied to the mortgage lender's requirements?
06My policy includes ordinance or law coverage at $34,200. Is that typically enough to cover code-required upgrades for a home of my age, and is a higher limit available?
07How does my current policy define the difference between sudden water damage and gradual water damage, and how does that affect the $10,000 mold coverage endorsement?
08Does my current homeowners policy include any flood coverage at all, and how does my policy define the difference between flood damage and a sudden internal water leak?
09Has my insurer pulled a CLUE report for my property address, and are there any prior claims on file from the previous owner that could affect my policy?
10What is my current personal liability limit under Coverage E, and how does a personal umbrella policy typically interact with that existing limit?

Ready to send

Email to your agent

Subject: A few questions about my homeowners policy before my next renewal

Dear [Agent Name],

I have a few questions I'd like to understand about my current policy before my next renewal. I recently reviewed my policy documents and want to make sure I understand how several key areas work.

• My policy includes a Roof Surfacing Payment Schedule. What percentage would it pay for a roof of my age, and how do I document the installation date to avoid the 'age unknown' rate?
• My policy lists 'Water Backup of Sewers or Drains' as not currently on my policy. What would that endorsement cover, and what would the coverage limit be?
• My policy settles personal property claims at actual cash value. How is that value typically calculated for common items like furniture and electronics?
• Was my dwelling coverage limit of $342,000 set based on what it would actually cost to rebuild my home, or was it tied to the mortgage lender's requirements?
• Has my insurer pulled a CLUE report for my property address, and are there any prior claims on file from the previous owner that could affect my policy?

I want to better understand how my current policy works before my next renewal.

[Your name]

Reference

Glossary

Actual Cash Value (ACV)

Pays what an item is worth today, after subtracting for age and wear. A 10-year-old roof is paid as a 10-year-old roof.

Additional Living Expenses (ALE) / Loss of Use

Helps pay for somewhere to stay and extra costs if a covered loss makes your home unlivable.

CLUE report

A claims-history database insurers check. It tracks past claims tied to you and to your property address, usually going back about seven years.

Declarations page (dec page)

The summary page listing your coverages, limits, deductibles, and premium. Usually the first page of your policy.

Deductible

What you pay out of pocket on a claim before insurance starts paying. A higher deductible usually means a lower premium.

Dwelling coverage (Coverage A)

Pays to repair or rebuild the physical structure of your house.

Endorsement

An add-on or change to your policy that adds, removes, or adjusts coverage. Sometimes called a 'rider.'

Exclusion

Something your policy specifically does not cover.

Ordinance or Law coverage

Helps pay the extra cost of rebuilding to meet current building codes after a covered loss.

Personal property coverage

Covers your belongings, such as furniture, clothing, and electronics.

Recoverable depreciation

The portion of a replacement-cost claim payment the insurer holds back until you finish the repair or replacement and submit proof, usually within a policy deadline.

Replacement Cost Value (RCV)

Pays what it costs to replace an item new today, without subtracting for age or wear.

Sublimit

A smaller, separate cap inside your policy that limits how much it will pay for one specific category (like jewelry, cash, or firearms), no matter how high your overall coverage is. For example, a policy with $300,000 in personal property coverage might still pay only $1,500 total for stolen jewelry.

Umbrella policy

A separate liability policy that sits on top of the coverage you already have and adds extra protection for claims that go beyond those limits, such as a serious injury lawsuit. It typically covers higher dollar amounts than the underlying policies alone.

Windstorm / wind-hail deductible

A separate deductible for wind or hail damage that can apply to almost any wind event, even a regular thunderstorm or winter storm, not just named storms. It's often a percentage of your home's value rather than a flat dollar amount, which can make it much larger than your standard deductible.

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