Read the deductible beside the premium
When comparing insurance for a Florida home, do not stop at the annual price. Ask the agent to show the hurricane deductible in dollars and explain which insured limit a percentage uses. The Florida Department of Financial Services hurricane-deductible guide explains percentage deductibles tied to dwelling or structure limits. The number should not be mistaken for a percentage of the repair bill or the purchase price.
For illustration only, 2% of a $300,000 insured dwelling limit is $6,000. That is arithmetic, not a quote, recommended coverage amount or prediction of a claim payment. Ask your agent to calculate the amount for the actual proposed policy and explain any provisions that could change it.
Separate hurricane, other-peril and flood questions
Have the agent identify the hurricane deductible and the policy's other applicable deductibles. Ask which event triggers which provision. A storm-related loss is not automatically handled the same way under every coverage section. Florida DFS also explains that hurricane wind coverage does not include flood coverage.
Use a simple comparison sheet with one row per coverage question: premium, dwelling limit, hurricane deductible, other deductible, exclusions and separate flood proposal. If a lower premium comes with a higher amount you would retain, decide whether the trade-off fits your reserve. Do not lower a coverage figure simply to make the worksheet look better without professional guidance.
Ask how the calendar-year provision works
Florida DFS describes a calendar-year hurricane-deductible framework for covered personal residential losses under the same insurer or insurer group. Subsequent losses involve specific rules, and the guide notes that surplus-lines policies may differ. Ask your agent to explain how your actual policy works rather than applying a simplified rule to every carrier.
For planning, request an example using your policy's figures and ask what records should be kept if a loss occurs. If you are changing insurers, ask whether that changes the deductible treatment. This page does not decide claim coverage or tell you how much an insurer will pay.
If the deductible exceeds the cash you expect to keep, flag the mismatch before choosing coverage. Ask the agent to compare available alternatives and show both the premium difference and the amount you would still retain.
Your insurance-reserve checklist
- Convert each percentage deductible into a dollar figure.
- Confirm the insured limit used for that calculation.
- Compare hurricane and other-peril provisions separately.
- Discuss flood coverage as its own insurance question.
- Ask about calendar-year treatment and carrier-specific differences.
- Choose a reserve target you can actually maintain after closing.
Use the cost-confidence worksheet for the budget and review inspection and wind-mitigation questions with your insurance professional. Mo can help coordinate property records and your purchase timetable. A licensed insurance agent should explain policy options, and the policy governs coverage. A favorable premium alone does not establish that a home is affordable under the risks you would retain.