First Home Insurance: How to Shop in 2026 (Step-by-Step)

The 7-step playbook for shopping homeowners insurance — coverage limits, deductibles, replacement cost, and every discount to ask for.

Your first year in the home

  • Month 1: What to Check — Your first month is about documenting what you have and addressing anything urgent from the inspection.
  • Month 3: What to Observe — Use the first months to record how the house performs in everyday use and changing weather.
  • Month 6: What to Service — Review the service schedule against your equipment manuals, climate, and known maintenance history. Some tasks will be due sooner.
  • Month 12: What to Budget — After a full year, you know your home's personality. Now build a forward-looking plan for the next 1–5 years.

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