Premiums follow the home’s replacement cost, age and condition, construction, location (storms, crime, fire protection), your claims history and, with many insurers, your credit. You can’t move the house, but you can document its condition and upgrades, check your claims report for errors, ask about discounts, adjust your deductible, and compare insurers, since each one prices differently.
What insurers look at
The Texas Department of Insurance lists the factors most companies consider when setting a premium [1]:
| Factor | Can you change it? |
|---|---|
| Your home’s age and condition | Partly: repairs and updated systems, documented |
| Replacement cost (what it would cost to rebuild) | No, but check the coverage amount is right |
| Construction materials | Rarely; a roof replacement can change roof details |
| Where you live (storms, crime) | No |
| Local fire protection | No |
| Your claims history | Over time; check your report for errors |
| Your credit score (with some insurers) | Over time |
Each insurer’s underwriting rules differ, so one company may offer a policy or a price another won’t [1]. Those factors are from Texas; most states’ insurance departments describe similar ones.
Check your claims history report
Most insurers check the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE), which shows claims on you and on the house for the last seven years, regardless of who owned it. You can get a free copy each year from LexisNexis and challenge wrong information [1].
Ask about discounts
Discounts vary by company. Texas’s regulator lists examples such as a monitored burglar or fire alarm, a sprinkler system, an impact-resistant roof, a newer home or one in good condition, bundling policies, and no claims for three years [1]. In Florida, documented wind-mitigation features can qualify for discounts [2].
What a premium increase does not buy
A standard homeowners policy typically does not cover flooding; flood insurance is a separate policy, for example through the National Flood Insurance Program [3][4]. If you are reviewing your policy because the price went up, it is a good moment to check that gap too.
What to do this week
- Read the declarations page: dwelling limit, deductibles (including any separate wind or hurricane deductible), and what changed.
- Request your CLUE report and fix errors [1].
- Gather proof of upgrades: roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC.
- Ask your agent which discounts you qualify for and what documents they need.
- Get quotes from other insurers or an independent agent.
One page with roof, HVAC, water heater, panel and plumbing ages, each marked proof attached or not documented, with an expiring share link for your agent.
Build your Home Facts sheetSources
- Texas Department of Insurance, “Home insurance guide”. Retrieved 2026-10-05.
- Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Florida), “Inspections”. Retrieved 2026-10-05.
- Ready.gov (FEMA), “Financial Preparedness”. Retrieved 2026-10-05.
- FloodSmart.gov, National Flood Insurance Program (FEMA). Retrieved 2026-10-05.
Information, not legal, insurance or engineering advice. Spot something wrong? Send a correction; accepted corrections are logged publicly with a date.