09/03/2026
Really great information here! Contact me for a review of all coverages, deductibles, and a discount checkup. 🏠
🏠 Home insurance is up 46% since 2021, about three times inflation, which makes the renewal letter the wrong thing to pay on autopilot.
Start with replacement cost: insure your home for what it costs to rebuild, not its market value, because rising construction costs leave a lot of policies underinsured.
Re-checking your deductible is the fastest lever, since raising it from $1,000 to $2,500 can cut the premium by around 10%, but only if you can cover the higher amount in cash.
Ask your agent to list every discount applied, including bundle, claim-free, new roof, security system, and paid-in-full.
Water and sewer backup is not in a standard policy, is usually a low-cost add-on, and those claims often run into the thousands.
Roof age matters more than people expect, because once a roof passes about 15 years many carriers raise the premium or switch it to depreciated value.
That is where RCV and ACV come in: replacement cost value pays to replace damaged property, while actual cash value subtracts depreciation first, so a policy can cover a claim and still leave you thousands short.
The one to do first is compare your dwelling coverage to today's rebuild cost, then confirm your roof and other structures are insured at RCV rather than ACV.
Did your renewal go up this year, and by how much?
P.S. Once a week, I email the best money article I read, with my take on this week's top Facebook posts and what's new on the Ways to Wealth blog. It's free, and you can sign up on the Ways to Wealth home page.
R.J. Weiss, CFP®
The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.
