What Do I Need to Get a Home Insurance Quote?

California’s Department of Insurance advises providing complete and accurate information to your agent or broker when requesting a quote or completing an application, and defines a quote as an estimate based on the information supplied. The better the information, the more useful the quote.

Information checklist

Category	What to have ready
Property	Address, year built, square footage, stories, foundation, construction (frame, brick, etc.)
Roof	Age, material, any recent replacement and documentation
Systems	Electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling updates and dates
Safety	Monitored alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, leak sensors, deadbolts
Features	Pool, trampoline, detached structures, wood stove, home business
Occupancy	Primary home, rental, seasonal, vacant
History	Claims in the past several years; your CLUE report if you have it
Current coverage	Declarations page with limits, deductibles and endorsements
Mortgage	Lender or servicer name and loan number, if any
Timing	Closing date or current policy’s renewal date

The Texas Department of Insurance explains that most insurers check your claims history through a CLUE report covering seven years, so disclose claims honestly; mismatches can change the price later.

Phone vs. online

Some insurers offer online quote tools. They’re fast for simple homes, but they rely on whatever data you enter or that is prefilled. Calling a licensed agent lets you ask questions, compare coverage choices and clarify details such as roof age or a home business. This site has no online quote form; calling connects you with a licensed insurance agent.

What the quote will and won’t settle

• A quote is an estimate, not coverage. See when coverage starts.
• Insurers may inspect after binding and adjust; see inspection after a quote.
• Using your declarations page helps compare like-for-like.

Questions to ask during the call

See questions to ask a home insurance agent for a short list.

By phone

What happens when you call

A conversation lets the agent ask about your specific home instead of relying on a generic online estimate. There are no online forms to fill out.

1. 1

   Describe your home

   Share the address, size, age, construction, and roof or system updates. You do not need every detail to start.

2. 2

   Talk through coverage

   Explain what you want covered and ask about limits, deductibles, and exclusions that apply to your property.

3. 3

   Compare and decide

   Ask for the written quote terms and compare them before deciding. A call or a quote does not start coverage.

Sources and how this page was checked

Page updated October 23, 2026

This page is general information written from the public sources below. It has not been reviewed by an insurance company, attorney or licensed agent for your situation. Your policy form, endorsements, insurer and state rules decide what is covered.

Sources

• California Department of Insurance — Residential Insurance: Homeowners and Renters (Form 401, rev. January 2026)Retrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for Coverage A–F descriptions, special limits on valuables, renters and condo coverage, dwelling limits based on rebuilding cost rather than market value, actual cash value, guaranteed and limited/extended replacement cost, building code upgrade (ordinance or law) coverage, inflation guard, FAIR Plan, surplus lines and binder/quote definitions. California rules (notice periods, broker fees, CA-specific laws) are not generalized nationally.
• Texas Department of Insurance — Auto and home policy underwritingRetrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for underwriting factors, occupancy limits (vacant, unoccupied, seasonal, short-term rental) and the Texas 60-day post-issue underwriting window, which is labeled as Texas law.
• Texas Department of Insurance — Check your property’s insurance claim historyRetrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for CLUE reports: seven-year property and personal claim history, free annual consumer disclosure and disputes.
• Texas Department of Insurance — How to read your declarations pageRetrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for declarations-page contents, listed optional coverages (water backup, identity theft, home sharing) and separate deductibles.

Before you rely on this page

• Read your declarations page, policy form and every endorsement; they control over any summary.
• Ask the insurer or agent to confirm limits, deductibles and exclusions in writing before you buy or cancel coverage.
• For state rules, deadlines or complaints, check your state insurance department directly.