January 23, 2026

I sat down with local insurance broker Jeff Lendl with Goosehead Insurance to unpack the insurance questions most people don’t think to ask and how overlooking them can cost serious time, money, and stress.

Home Insurance Isn’t “Set It and Forget It”

Many homeowners assume that once they secure homeowners insurance, they’re covered for life. Unfortunately, that assumption could lead to serious financial and emotional hardship if disaster strikes.

Home insurance needs to evolve as your home, property value, and life circumstances change. If it doesn’t, you may discover too late that your coverage falls short when you need it most.

Understand the California FAIR Plan Before You Need It

The California FAIR Plan is often misunderstood. It’s not traditional homeowners insurance and it’s rarely sufficient on its own.

The FAIR Plan:

• Provides limited fire coverage only
• Does not include liability, theft, or personal property coverage
• Typically must be paired with a companion policy for full protection

Review Your Policy Every 3 to 5 Years (Minimum)

Rebuilding costs change. Construction costs rise. Building codes evolve. If your policy hasn’t been reviewed recently, your coverage may no longer reflect reality.

A policy review every 3 to 5 years helps ensure:

• Your dwelling coverage matches current rebuild costs
• Your personal property limits are adequate
• You’re properly covered for loss of use and temporary housing
• Endorsements and riders still make sense for your situation

This is one of the simplest ways to avoid being underinsured.

If Your Home Is in a Trust, Your Policy Should Reflect That

If your property is held in a trust, your homeowners insurance policy must list the trust correctly. This is frequently overlooked.

Failing to add the trust as an additional insured could:

• Delay or complicate claims
• Create coverage disputes
• Cause unnecessary legal headaches during an already stressful time

This is a small administrative step that could make a massive difference in the event of a claim.

Document Your Personal Property Before There’s a Loss

After a fire or total loss, it would probably be a struggle to remember everything you owned. Insurance companies require documentation, and memory alone is rarely enough.

A simple solution:

• Take a video walkthrough of your home every 2 to 3 years
• Open drawers, closets, cabinets, and storage areas
• Save the video to cloud storage or an external drive

This single habit can significantly speed up claims and improve reimbursement accuracy.

Know When to File a Claim (And When Not To)

Not every damage or loss needs to trigger a claim. If you can comfortably self-insure small cost like $5,000 or $10,00, it may save you long-term headaches. Filing a claim for a minor repair of $1,000 or $2,500 might save money in the moment, but claims typically stay on your record for five years. Too many small claims can make your insurer reconsider renewing your policy, and finding a new company willing to insure your home could become much more expensive. Knowing when to file and when to cover it yourself is a critical part of being a savvy homeowner.

Home insurance isn’t just paperwork. It’s peace of mind. The more you understand how your coverage works, the better prepared you’ll be to protect your home, finances, and future.

Whether you’re a new homeowner or you’ve owned your home for years, asking the right insurance questions today can save you from heartache and financial loss tomorrow.