Your 2026 Homeowners Insurance Resolution: Simple Steps to Save Money and Boost Protection

Ray Cogan

Your 2026 homeowners' insurance resolution: Review Your Homeowners' Policy

Your 2026 homeowners' insurance resolution is simple: use the New Year to review, update, and refine your policy so you are paying a fair price while still fully protecting what may be your biggest asset. With premiums still elevated in many parts of the country, a focused annual checkup can both cut unnecessary costs and close dangerous coverage gaps.

The start of a New Year is a natural time to take stock of big‑picture financial protection, not just short‑term goals like budgeting or decluttering. In 2025–2026, many homeowners are seeing rising home insurance rates driven by higher rebuilding costs and more severe weather, which makes an annual review essential rather than optional.

Independent agencies like Lindquist Insurance serve homeowners across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, and see firsthand how quickly coverage needs can change as markets, building costs, and family situations evolve. Treat your policy review like a yearly physical for your home.

Step 1: Confirm your coverage matches today’s rebuilding cost. Your dwelling coverage limit should reflect what it would cost to rebuild your home from the ground up in today’s labor and materials market, not what you paid for the property or what online estimates say it is “worth.” Because construction costs have shifted significantly in recent years, many insurers are automatically increasing “Coverage A” (the dwelling limit) at renewal, which can raise your premium unexpectedly.

Ask your agent to walk through how your dwelling coverage was calculated and whether it reflects current local construction costs.

Look into extended or guaranteed replacement cost options, which can add an extra cushion if rebuilding costs more than expected.

For a clear overview of how standard homeowners' policies work and what the key coverage parts mean, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners offers an excellent consumer guide to home insurance. ***

Step 2: Audit what changed in your life and home. A lot can change in a year: renovations, finished basements, home offices, new roof, pool, or security systems. If your policy hasn’t been updated to reflect those changes, you may either be underinsured or missing discounts you deserve.

Home improvements: Major upgrades, additions, or a kitchen/bath remodel can increase the cost to rebuild and should be reported so your limits keep up.
Roof and protection upgrades: New roofs, impact‑resistant materials, water‑leak sensors, and monitored alarms may qualify you for credits or discounts.
Lifestyle and liability: A trampoline, pool, frequent entertaining, or more short‑term rentals can affect your liability risk and may call for higher limits or an umbrella policy.

An annual conversation with a local agent who knows your region’s risks is often the fastest way to align your coverage to your real life.

Step 3: Look for smart ways to save. With average premiums still well above pre‑2020 levels, many homeowners are understandably focused on cost—but cutting coverage too aggressively can backfire when you have a claim. The goal is to fine‑tune, not strip down.

Increase your deductible: Raising a very low deductible can meaningfully reduce premiums, especially if you can comfortably handle a larger out‑of‑pocket amount for smaller claims.
Bundle: Packaging home and auto with the same insurer often yields discounts, but only if the overall coverage and carrier quality still meet your needs.
Discounts: Security systems, smart devices, claim‑free history, and certain professional or association memberships may unlock savings, and many credits can be added mid‑policy year.

Step 4: Strengthen your home’s resilience. Carriers are placing increasing emphasis on proactive risk reduction, rewarding homeowners who invest in resilience with better pricing and, in some areas, better access to coverage. In higher‑risk regions, mitigation steps can even be the difference between retaining a policy and facing non‑renewal.

Roof and exterior: Upgrading an aging roof, adding impact‑resistant shingles, or installing storm shutters in wind‑prone areas can lower both risk and premiums.
Water and fire protection: Smart leak‑detection systems, shut‑off valves, sump pumps, defensible space around the home, and fire‑resistant materials reduce the chance and severity of claims.
Documentation: Keep receipts, photos, and inspection reports; insurers often require proof of these upgrades before applying credits.

Think of these improvements as parallel investments: they protect your home’s physical value and can improve your insurance profile at the same time.

Step 5: Review personal property and liability protection. Many people buy a homeowners policy once and never revisit whether their belongings or liability risks have grown. In 2026, a quick review can prevent painful surprises.

Personal property: Confirm you have replacement cost coverage for contents rather than actual cash value, which is deducted for depreciation.
Valuables: Jewelry, art, firearms, collectibles, and certain electronics may need special scheduling or endorsements to be fully covered.
Liability: With legal and medical costs rising, consider whether your liability limit should be increased, and whether a personal umbrella policy makes sense.

A simple home inventory, photos, or videos, plus a basic list, can make a potential claim smoother and is recommended by regulators and consumer advocates alike.

Make this the year you actually check “review my homeowners' insurance” off your list. Visit Lindquist Insurance to request a personalized homeowners’ policy review or quote and let a live local agent help you update your coverage, uncover potential discounts, and put a smarter, more resilient homeowners' insurance plan in place for 2026 and beyond. Contact us today and get 2026 off to a great start.

We serve the Annapolis, MD, and Frederick, MD area.

*** Find out more at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.

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