Understanding your insurance policy and spotting coverage gaps as your home, belongings, and life change over time.
Am I Underinsured? Is My Insurance Set Up Right?
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Many homeowners assume their insurance is handled once a policy is in place. Unfortunately, over 60% of US homeowners are underinsured, so we clearly aren't making sure everything is covered.
In reality, insurance is not something you set once and forget. Homes change, lives change and costs change. However, insurance coverage does not always keep up unless it is reviewed intentionally.
This page is here to help you understand whether your insurance still matches your reality, and how to spot common gaps before they become expensive surprises.
Insurance policies are designed to cover a wide range of scenarios, but they are rarely tailored automatically as your situation evolves.
Over time, coverage can drift out of alignment due to:
Renovations or additions
Rising construction and labor costs
New furniture, equipment, or collections
Working from home or running a small business
Renting part of your home or extended travel
Changes in local building codes
Most homeowners only discover these gaps after a loss, when it is too late to fix them.
Life Is Dynamic
Quick Background
Insurance can feel difficult to review because:
Policies are written in technical language
Coverage applies differently depending on circumstances
Limits and sublimits are easy to overlook
The consequences of gaps are not obvious up front
Many homeowners think:
I probably have enough coverage
I do not want to open a can of worms
I will deal with this later
Those reactions are common. A basic understanding now can prevent major frustration later.
Why Insurance Is Hard to Evaluate
What matters right now
Understanding how coverage categories work and how the main parts of your policy behave in real situations. Reviewing limits and sublimits with an eye toward the areas that tend to matter most during recovery, especially rebuilding, personal property, and temporary living. Accounting for changes over time, since renovations, new purchases, and life events quietly reshape insurance needs. Documenting and photographing your home and belongings so information is available when it is needed. And finally, knowing which questions to ask, even if you choose not to make any changes right away.
What usually doesn’t matter yet
Memorizing every policy clause
Comparing policies line by line
Making changes all at once
Optimizing coverage to perfection
What Matters Right Now (and What Usually Doesn’t)
Homeowners are often surprised by gaps related to:
Rebuild cost increases over time
Ordinance and code requirements
Personal property limits for specific categories
Temporary living expense duration or caps
Detached structures and outdoor features
Home offices, rentals, or special uses
These gaps are not always obvious from the declarations page alone.
Common Coverage Gaps People Miss
Explore Guides That Help You Align Coverage
These resources are designed to make insurance more understandable:
When to Adjust Coverage
Why Market Value Is the Wrong Reference Point
What Underinsurance Means
Most homeowners assume that having an insurance policy means they are covered. Premiums are paid, policies renew, and everything appears to be in order. Underinsurance, however, is not about whether coverage exists. It is about whether that coverage would actually support recovery all the way through if something serious happened.
This article explores what underinsurance really means, how it shows up in real claims, and why it often goes unnoticed until it matters most.
Many homeowners assume their insurance coverage should roughly match the value of their home. That assumption makes sense, since market value is the number most people see and reference most often. In reality, insurance is not based on what a home is worth on the market, but on what it would cost to rebuild.
This article explains why those two numbers are fundamentally different and how confusing them is one of the most common paths to underinsurance.
After reviewing their coverage, many homeowners feel an urge to address every potential gap at once. While that reaction is understandable, insurance decisions rarely need to be made immediately. Coverage can evolve as circumstances change, and the real value of a review is knowing when adjustments would actually improve outcomes. This article focuses on how to recognize those moments and approach coverage changes thoughtfully, without unnecessary pressure.
UNDERINSURANCE
Remodels & Additions
Weddings & Anniversaries
Renting Out Your Home
Renting out your home, whether it's a single room, a separate unit, or the entire property, can provide additional income and tax benefits. However, it also introduces new risks and responsibilities that can impact your homeowners insurance. To protect yourself, your tenants, and your property, it’s crucial to adjust your insurance coverage accordingly.
This article explains how to update your insurance when renting out part or all of your home.
Weddings and anniversaries mark significant milestones that often bring changes to your home, lifestyle, and insurance needs. Whether you're newly married, celebrating a major anniversary, or planning a significant event, these moments often involve new purchases, home upgrades, and joint insurance decisions.
This article explores how to update your homeowner’s insurance and other related coverage to ensure comprehensive protection as you begin or continue your journey together.
Home remodels and additions can significantly increase the value, functionality, and appeal of your home. However, they also bring new risks that can impact your homeowners insurance. Whether you’re adding a room, remodeling a kitchen, or building a new deck, it’s important to review and adjust your insurance coverage to ensure your home and investment are protected throughout the renovation process.
This article explores how to update your homeowners insurance for remodels and additions.
LIFE EVENTS
Scheduled Personal Property
Appraising Your Things
Photos Of Belongings
One of the smartest steps you can take to protect your home and belongings is to photograph your personal property before anything goes wrong. Whether it’s fire, theft, or natural disaster, clear and complete images help you prove ownership, value, and condition—so your insurance Claim is processed faster and more accurately.
This step-by-step guide walks you through how to photograph your belongings properly, with examples, best practices, and simple tips to create a solid visual inventory.
When it comes to protecting your home and valuables, insurance coverage is only as good as the documentation you provide. One of the most powerful tools you can have before a disaster is a professional Appraisal of your high-value items and property features.
This step-by-step guide explains how to get your belongings appraised before any loss occurs—so your claim is based on fair, verifiable value, not guesswork or Depreciation.
Scheduled personal property coverage allows homeowners to extend their insurance protection for high-value items beyond the limits of a standard homeowners policy. By specifically listing or "scheduling" valuable items, you can ensure full replacement or repair in the event of loss, theft, or damage.
This article explains how scheduled personal property works, what it covers, and why homeowners should consider adding it to their insurance policies.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Floods and the NFIP
Fire & CA FAIR Plan
Earthquakes and the CEA
In earthquake-prone regions, the risk to homes can be severe, ranging from structural damage to landslides, fires, and complete loss. Because standard homeowners policies typically exclude earthquake damage, this exposure often goes unnoticed until a major event occurs. This article explains how earthquake insurance works, the role of the California Earthquake Authority, and what to consider when deciding whether coverage is appropriate for your home.
For homeowners in fire-prone areas, securing adequate fire insurance is critical for protecting homes and Personal Property from potential wildfire damage. Traditional Homeowners Insurance policies may not provide sufficient coverage—or may even deny coverage altogether—in high-risk areas.
This article will explain how the California FAIR Plan works, along with similar programs in other states, and explore the role of fire insurance in safeguarding homes.
Floods can cause devastating damage to homes, often leaving homeowners with costly repairs. Standard Homeowners Insurance typically does not cover flood damage, making flood insurance a crucial part of protecting your property, especially if you live in a flood-prone area.
This article will explain how flood insurance works, the role of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and additional options to consider.
PERIL SPECIFIC POLICIES
Some homeowners manage displacement on their own once they understand what is covered and how to track it. Others find that extended displacement, unclear communication, or housing scarcity makes this phase increasingly difficult to manage.
That is often when people consider working with a licensed public adjuster.
Loti helps homeowners understand how temporary living expenses are typically handled, how to document them clearly, and when appropriate, adjust claims so the real cost of displacement is reflected.
The goal is not to track every dollar obsessively. It is to avoid unnecessary financial strain while you are already under stress.
A Note About Support
You do not need perfect coverage.
You just need to know where your policy would carry you and where it might not.