Know your six coverages
Every HO-3 policy is the same skeleton: coverages A to F, four for your property and two for your liability. Learn the letters once and every document your insurer sends becomes readable.
Price the fine print
A percentage deductible is a percentage of your coverage limit, not your damage. Replacement cost and actual cash value can differ by $12,000 on one roof. We show the arithmetic, every time.
Beat the deadlines
Florida gives you one year to report a claim. The NFIP wants a sworn proof of loss in about 60 days and makes you wait 30 days for cover to start. The calendar is part of the contract.
About this site
Home Insurance Decoded explains how homeowners insurance in the United States actually works: what a standard HO-3 policy covers (and excludes), how flat and percentage deductibles divide a loss, why Florida, California and Texas each built their own insurance universe, why flood is never in your policy, and how a claim is documented, timed and paid.
State programs and deadlines change, and premium figures vary by source and method — so our guides date their facts, name their sources, and present contested numbers as ranges. Key sources: state departments of insurance (Florida OIR, California DOI, Texas DOI and TWIA), the Insurance Information Institute (III), FEMA and FloodSmart (NFIP), and the NAIC. Figures checked October 2026.
Educational information only. Nothing here is insurance, legal or financial advice for your situation. Your own policy contract and your state's law govern your coverage and your claim. For decisions, consult a licensed agent, your insurer, or your state insurance department. Questions about the site: hello [at] tapetoolhq.com
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