Find the gaps in your home insurance before a claim does it for you
A free guided worksheet for homeowners and renters. Enter your policy details, home characteristics, and local risks. Get a plain-language gap report you can bring to your agent.
Select all that apply to your area or situation.
Check any riders or endorsements currently on your policy.
Your gap report
This summary updates as you fill in the worksheet. Use it to prepare for a conversation with your insurance agent.
| Dwelling coverage | $350,000 |
| Personal property | $175,000 |
| Liability limit | $300,000 |
| Deductible | $1,000 |
| Coverage type | Replacement cost |
| Home type | Single-family |
| Year built | 1995 |
| Square feet | 2,200 |
| Rebuild estimate | $400,000 |
| Roof age | 8 years |
What to know before you talk to your agent
- Insuring market value instead of rebuild cost. Your home's sale price includes the land. Rebuild cost is just the structure and can be higher or lower depending on local labor and materials.
- Skipping the ordinance rider. If your home is older, building codes may require upgrades during reconstruction. Without this rider, you pay those costs out of pocket.
- Assuming flood is covered. Standard homeowner policies do not cover flooding. You need a separate policy, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer.
- Ignoring depreciation on personal property. Actual cash value means a 5-year-old laptop gets paid out at its used price, not what a new one costs.
- Not scheduling valuables. Most policies cap payouts for jewelry, art, and electronics. Items over $1,500 each usually need a scheduled personal property rider.
Some risks are more common in certain areas. If you live in one of these regions, pay extra attention:
| Region | Key risk | Common gap |
|---|---|---|
| Midwest / Plains | Tornadoes | Dwelling coverage too low for full rebuild |
| Gulf & Atlantic coast | Hurricanes | Separate wind/hurricane deductible not budgeted |
| West (CA, OR, WA) | Wildfire, earthquake | Earthquake not included in standard policy |
| Mid-Atlantic, Midwest | Flooding | No separate flood policy |
| Southeast | Hail, wind | Roof depreciation reducing payout |
- Is my dwelling coverage enough to rebuild at current construction costs?
- Do I have replacement cost or actual cash value on my personal property?
- What is excluded from my policy that I might assume is covered?
- Do I need a separate flood or earthquake policy?
- Should I add a scheduled personal property rider for any items?
- Does my liability limit protect my savings and assets if someone sues me?
- What would my out-of-pocket cost be for a total loss after the deductible?
Having this ready makes claims faster and reduces disputes:
- Photos or video of every room, including closets and storage
- Receipts for major purchases (appliances, furniture, electronics)
- Appraisals for jewelry, art, and collectibles
- A written inventory with estimated values
- Your policy declarations page
- Records of renovations and upgrades
Store a copy of this documentation in a waterproof and fireproof bag, or in a secure cloud folder. If your home is damaged, you will need these records to file a claim.
How this worksheet works
Enter your policy
Type in your coverage amounts from your declarations page. If you are not sure about a field, use the default values as a starting point.
Add your home details
Square footage, year built, and rebuild cost help the analyzer check if your dwelling coverage is in the right range.
Mark your risks
Select the weather and lifestyle risks that apply. The tool checks whether your current riders cover them.
Review and act
Read the gap report, print it, and bring it to your next agent meeting. Use the question list to guide the conversation.