Home Insurance Guide
Understanding your home insurance declarations page
A plain-English breakdown of every line on your dec page, and what to verify at renewal.
Get a QuoteCall (919) 249-8448The declarations page (dec page) is the one-page summary of your home insurance policy. It's what your lender needs at closing and what you should review every year at renewal. Most people have never looked at theirs.
What each section means
Named Insured
The person(s) covered by the policy. Should include both spouses if applicable. If a name is wrong or missing, update it.
Policy Period
The dates your coverage is in effect, typically a 12-month term. Coverage ends at 12:01 AM on the expiration date.
Property Address
The insured location. Verify this matches your actual address exactly.
Coverage A, Dwelling
The amount your home's structure is insured for. This should equal the replacement cost to rebuild, not the market value or purchase price. If this number seems low relative to what new construction costs, ask your agent to run a replacement cost estimator.
Coverage B, Other Structures
Covers detached garages, fences, and sheds. Typically 10% of Coverage A by default. If you have a large detached structure, you may need more.
Coverage C, Personal Property
Covers your belongings: furniture, clothing, electronics. Typically 50-70% of Coverage A. Check whether this is replacement cost or actual cash value, the difference matters at claim time.
Coverage D, Additional Living Expenses / Loss of Use
Pays for hotel and living costs if you can't stay in your home during repairs after a covered loss. Typically 20-30% of Coverage A.
Coverage E, Personal Liability
Protects you if someone sues you for injuries or property damage. Standard is $100,000. Consider increasing to $300,000 or adding an umbrella policy, the premium increase is modest.
Coverage F, Medical Payments to Others
Pays minor medical bills for guests injured on your property, regardless of fault. Typically $1,000-$5,000. Not a huge number, but it can prevent small incidents from becoming claims.
Deductibles
Your dec page will show your all-peril deductible (applies to most claims) and may show a separate wind/hail deductible. In NC, wind/hail deductibles are often expressed as a percentage of Coverage A, know both numbers and make sure you could cover them out of pocket.
Endorsements and riders
These are additional coverages added to your base policy. Look for:
- Water/sewer backup coverage
- Scheduled jewelry, art, or collectibles
- Equipment breakdown
- Extended or guaranteed replacement cost on dwelling
What to check every year at renewal
- Coverage A vs. current rebuild cost. Construction costs change. Run a new replacement cost estimate if you haven't in 2+ years.
- Liability limit. Should it be higher? Do you have more assets to protect than when you bought the policy?
- Deductible. Can you still afford it if you had a claim?
- Endorsements. Are they still appropriate for your situation?
- Premium. Has it increased significantly? If so, it's worth getting a comparison quote.
Cooper's take
Most people have never read their dec page. The single most important number to verify is Coverage A. If your home would cost $450,000 to rebuild and you're only insured for $300,000, you're underinsured, that gap comes out of your pocket after a major loss. Construction costs in NC have increased significantly since 2020. If you haven't had your dwelling limit re-evaluated recently, it's worth doing.
Cooper Parsons, NC License #19272643
Frequently asked questions
What is a home insurance declarations page?
It's the one-page summary of your policy showing your coverage amounts, deductibles, premium, and policy period. Think of it as the snapshot of your entire policy.
What should Coverage A (dwelling) be set to?
The cost to rebuild your home from the ground up, not the purchase price or tax value. Your carrier runs a replacement cost estimator to determine this. Review it annually since construction costs change.
What is a wind/hail deductible?
A separate deductible that only applies to wind or hail damage claims. In NC, it's often a percentage of Coverage A (e.g., 1% equals $3,000 on a $300,000 dwelling) rather than a flat dollar amount.
Why is my liability limit only $100,000?
That's the default. Most agents recommend increasing to $300,000 or adding an umbrella policy, especially if you have assets to protect. The premium difference is small.
Written & Reviewed By
Cooper Parsons
Owner & Licensed Independent Insurance Agent
NC License #19272643 · IronHaven Insurance · Wake Forest, NC · 25+ carriers
“Cooper saved me a TON of money while finding even better coverage for my home and auto. He is a solid person who cares about his clients. I'd rate him 500 stars if I could!”
Elliott Squires
Wake Forest, NC · Home & Auto
“Cooper worked with us when we thought we were all out of options for house insurance. He was able to help us get our home insured with a better package. So thankful for his communication and hard work!”
Rebecca Brady
Wake Forest, NC · Home Insurance
“Cooper is the partner you want to walk alongside you. He is an excellent teacher, a delight to work with. He's earned my trust, and he'll earn yours as well.”
Gabriel Torres
North Carolina · Insurance Client
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