Home Insurance Tips for Ohio & Pennsylvania Owners

Home insurance is one of those products you pay for year after year and hope you never have to use. But when you do use it, the difference between a smooth claim and a financial disaster usually comes down to choices you made years before. Here are 10 tips we give every Ohio and Pennsylvania homeowner who walks through our door.

1. Insure for Replacement Cost, Not Market Value

Your dwelling coverage should equal the cost to rebuild, not what Zillow says your house is worth. In central Ohio, that's typically $180–$260 per square foot. Older homes with custom finishes can run much higher.

2. Raise Your Deductible to $2,500

Most homeowners are still on $500 or $1,000 deductibles. Bumping to $2,500 typically saves 12–18% on premium. Don't file claims under $4,000 anyway — they raise your rates and put you on the CLUE report.

3. Get Water Backup Coverage

Sewer and drain backup is not included on standard HO-3 policies. A $5,000–$25,000 endorsement costs $40–$120/year and pays out constantly in older Columbus and Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

4. Schedule High-Value Items

Engagement rings, watches, firearms, cameras, and instruments have low sublimits on a standard policy (often $1,500 total). Schedule them individually with appraisals — there's usually no deductible on scheduled items.

5. Know Your Roof's Loss Settlement Form

Roofs over 10–15 years old are increasingly written on ACV. Read your declarations page. If yours says "ACV Roof," consider shopping the policy before next hailstorm season.

6. Bundle Auto + Home (Properly)

Bundle discounts range from 8% to 25%, but they're not all equal. Sometimes splitting the policies between two carriers actually saves more. We compare both options for every client.

7. Get Service Line Coverage

Underground water, sewer, electric, and gas lines from the street to your house are your responsibility. Repairs run $3,000–$15,000. The endorsement is $30–$50/year.

8. Don't Forget Loss of Use

If your home becomes uninhabitable, this covers the hotel, restaurant meals, and pet boarding while you're displaced. Most carriers default to 20–24 months — make sure you're not on a 12-month limit.

9. Document Everything Before a Claim Happens

Walk through your house with your phone and record every room, closet, and drawer. Email the video to yourself. After a fire, you'll thank us — most homeowners can't list half of what they own from memory.

10. Review Your Policy Every Renewal

Carriers raise rates, change wording, and downgrade coverage at renewal — often quietly. We re-shop every client at renewal regardless of whether they ask. Many save $200–$800/year just by switching carriers.

Bonus: Discounts Most Agents Forget

• Monitored alarm / security system (8–15%).
• Roof age + impact-resistant shingles.
• Whole-home gas shutoff valves (some carriers).
• Smart leak detectors (Flo by Moen, etc.).
• Loyalty + paid-in-full + paperless + EFT — small individually, large together.

Want a free policy review? Call (614) 647-7093 or contact our team. We'll compare your current home policy against 6+ carriers and tell you exactly what you'd save (or what coverage gaps you should fix).