What does this mean for you? If you’re in the process of buying a home, there are important steps you can take to ensure a smoother insurance process:
Ask questions:
Sellers will often provide information about upgrades. Ask specifically about the age of the roof and the age and type of plumbing. You can also ask if they had any claims for water, wind, or other damage.
CLUE Reports Matter:
Each person has a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report that includes the details of home and auto property claims made in the last seven years. Like a credit report, this information is only available to the owner of the home, but you can certainly ask the seller to pull this report and share it with you.
Insurance Carrier Considerations:
Insurance carriers will pull a CLUE report for the property you’re purchasing and use it to set rates when they’re considering providing coverage. A history of claims on a home might limit your choice of carrier or make the rates go up.
As soon as you can, call your agent. The insurance process involves gathering information and providing quotes, and you’ll need your policy in place at closing. Being proactive will ensure your ease and peace of mind with your purchase.
It’s a challenging market, but we’re here to help you navigate it and feel confident in your choice of insurer and coverage. If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to us at (434) 296-7191 or info@hanckelcitizens.com.
CLUE Source: https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/
