Home insurance claim guides
Plain-English explanations of the terms and math behind a home insurance claim — recoverable depreciation, how your first check is calculated, deductibles, and what to do when a number doesn't look right. Each guide links to the calculator it relates to.
All guides
What Is Recoverable Depreciation? (And Why Your First Check Isn't the Full Amount)
Why your first insurance check is smaller than the estimate, and what may still be owed after repairs.
Why Is My Insurance Check Less Than the Estimate?
Two mechanical reasons an initial payment can be lower than an estimate: depreciation/ACV and the deductible.
Recoverable vs. Non-Recoverable Depreciation: What's the Difference?
How the two categories differ and why only one may be reimbursed after repairs.
How RCV, ACV, Depreciation, and Your Deductible Fit Together on an Insurance Estimate
How the four figures on an insurance estimate connect, with a worked example.
How to Ask Your Insurer to Release Your Recoverable Depreciation
The practical steps regulator guidance actually supports, and what to ask your insurer.
Hurricane Deductible vs. Regular Deductible: What's the Difference?
How a storm deductible differs from your standard one, with a Florida example.
What If You Disagree With Your Insurer's Recoverable Depreciation Number?
How to ask how a figure was calculated, document it, and escalate if unresolved.
Why Is My Mortgage Company Listed on My Insurance Check?
Why a mortgage holder is named on a claim check and what to do next.