Finding the Right Insurance Coverage for Your Home 

by Stefanie Powers 

Buying a home can be a daunting experience, and comes with many responsibilities, including selecting a homeowner policy that best fits your needs. Where do you begin? 

“There are so many different insurance policies on the market,” says State Farm Agent Jennifer Mabou. “Coverages can vary from carrier to carrier, so it’s important to not just get a ‘quote’ but to truly sit down and ask questions about specific coverage options and endorsements, which can vary from company to company. Not every homeowner insurance policy is the same, so you need to understand the major differences before making a decision.” 

Mabou says it’s important to educate yourself on which companies offer the best overall coverage, as well as looking at the financial strength of the carrier you’re considering. “This was a huge factor after the 2020 and 2021 seasons,” she says. “That was the reason so many carriers became insolvent; they did not have the financial strength to pay all their claims.” The four most prominent rating companies are A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings. 

Mabou says that most homeowner policies will include repair or replacement due to fire, wind, or storm damage, unless you have a policy that specifically excludes wind/hail (which is unacceptable in our area). “But as a general rule of thumb, wear and tear or neglect of your home is not a covered loss because it is not sudden and accidental,” she explains. “And since rodents or insects (termites) are not covered on most standard homeowner policies, it’s important to keep your home on a regular pest inspection schedule.”  

As far as costs go, your premium can be impacted by various factors, such as the age of your home, square footage, type of roof construction (hip roof vs. gable roof), roofing material (shingle vs. metal), slab vs. piers, quality of construction, and even the number of windows and doors.  “There are so many details that go into determining price to risk,” Mabou continues. “Your claims history can also play a role in your homeowner premium. Companies are now offering discounts for Fortify Homes, and I see this playing a big role in the future of south Louisiana.” 

The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program grants up to $10,000 for homeowners to upgrade their roofs to standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. The program will help Louisiana homeowners reinforce their roofs to better withstand hurricane-force winds. To see if you qualify, go to 

https://ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes#eligibility. 

“One of the most important things to look for and consider when purchasing a homeowner policy is to ensure you have a replacement cost policy,” Mabou explains. “You want to be able to rebuild your home, not just receive actual cash value for it. As mentioned previously, you must have wind/hail coverage.  There are some carriers that exclude this coverage.”   

She also suggests reviewing your deductibles. “Some carriers offer wind/hail deductibles while others offer hurricane deductibles,” she continues. “Educate yourself on the difference and make an informed decision.” 

Down the road, Mabou says to make sure you contact your carrier when you make updates to your home. “Things like age of roof are important! If you upgrade your windows or doors, this can also play a role in your insurance premium. You should review your coverages with your insurance agent annually to make sure your home is either properly insured or not over-insured.”   

Mabou recommends that along with obtaining quotes, you should also sit with each agent that has provided them to ask questions so you can understand the coverages. “It’s not so much about the number of quotes, but the quality of your conversation with the carrier when obtaining the quote,” she says. “We like to educate our clients, and they know they can reach us anytime, day or night, because we are local.” 

For more information, call Jennifer Mabou at (337) 527-0027 or email Jennifer.mabou.eu1t@statefarm.com