A home is arguably the most important investment you’ll make—making homeowners insurance a crucial part of the homeowning process. The policy you choose needs to provide you protection—proper protection for your home, your belongings, and all the people residing in the dwelling.

There are ten frequently asked questions all homeowners should ask prior to purchasing a policy.

1. How much coverage is available for the house and detached structures?

A policy should cover the entire rebuilding cost which includes fences, sheds, and/or detached garages. The minimum for a liability policy begins at $100,000 but it’s important to have enough coverage in the event of litigation.

2. What does the policy cover?

All policies vary but most policies cover damage caused by: fire or lightning, explosions, windstorms, hail, theft, vandalism, vehicles, freezing conditions, and aircraft. After reading the list of potential threats, you might think the list is a bit extreme; however, when it comes to your home you should always air on the side of caution.

3. What are the deductibles?

Selecting a higher deductible might be more cost efficient for your monthly budget but paying a higher deductible might not make sense when you submit a claim. Find out the deductible amounts for all instances: wind/hail damage, loss of food due to a power outage, tree(s) falling.

4. Does the policy cover personal property for replacement cost or actual cash value (ACV)?

ACV deducts depreciation and replacement cost covers new items. The last thing you want is to pay an exuberant amount of money when you’re dealing with a property loss. Know exactly how much money you will receive when your personal property is damaged.

5. Are Additional Living Expenses (ALE) included?

If your home becomes uninhabitable, paying out of pocket for hotels and meals will quickly drain your emergency fund or savings.

6. What type of coverage is available for injuries on the property?

Confirm that the liability coverage in the policy pays for legal fees and medical expenses if you’re deemed responsible.

7. What is the process when filing a claim?

Bookmark links and screenshot instructions to file a homeowners insurance claim. Save customer service phone numbers to your phone. Keep important files in a fire proof box and print out the timelines for processing, and store it with the essential information/files. Make sure the timelines and turnaround seem reasonable.

8. I work from home, does my policy cover my business equipment?

While many homeowner policies consider office equipment to be personal property, it’s important that it is outlined in the policy, and says the personal property is covered if it’s used for business purposes. You may need a business policy that includes business interruption insurance.

9. Does my roof affect my premium and what home features affect home insurance premiums?

The age of your home will affect your premium so you’ll need to consider the construction materials and wiring. And the older your roof, the more issues you’ll experience so you’ll pay higher insurance premiums. While newer homes generally cost less to insure—since materials and methods have improved—there are several factors that also come into play like size and features.

10. Do prior claims affect my premium?

If you have one or more claims, your insurance company might charge you a higher premium in comparison to someone who doesn’t have any claims. Discuss your premium questions directly with your agent.

These are only the top ten frequently asked questions. There are more questions homeowners ask and should rightfully question considering how precious their home investment is.