Homeowners
Protect your finances before disaster strikes
Written by Andy Kruger
BuildSOS CEO
Most homeowners think they’re covered until a claim proves otherwise. In a 2010 NAIC study, more than 60% of Americans failed basic questions about insurance, and that gap shows up at exactly the wrong moment: after the damage is already done. This guide covers the six things that determine whether your insurance actually protects you: understanding your policy, spotting the gaps before they cost you, organizing your financial documents, knowing how to navigate a claim, working with your adjuster the right way, and financing your rebuild.
Why this gap matters more than it seems
Insurance policies are written by lawyers for other lawyers, not for the homeowner who has to actually use one during the worst week of their year. That gap in understanding isn’t a minor inconvenience. It’s the reason homeowners agree to settlements that aren’t in their best interest, miss coverage they’re entitled to, or don’t realize a decision is being made until it’s already final. Closing that gap before a disaster, not during one, is what this pillar is built to do.
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What's in this guide
Understand your insurance policy
Coverage limits, deductibles, replacement cost vs. actual cash value, and the rest of the jargon, explained in plain language.
Coverage gaps & red flags
The specific clauses that catch homeowners off guard after a loss.
Financial First Aid Kit
Organize your financial documents before you need them.
How to navigate a claim
The claims process from first call to settlement, including when a public adjuster is worth the fee.
Adjuster visits: before, during & after
How to prepare for and get the most out of an adjuster visit.
Rebuild financing: grants, loans & insurance
Insurance rarely covers everything. Here’s how FEMA grants, SBA loans, state mitigation grants, and HUD disaster recovery funding actually work, and how long each one really takes.
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Do you actually know what your insurance covers?
Most homeowners don’t, until after a disaster. Policy AIDvisor reads your policy, translates it into plain language, and shows you exactly where the gaps are. Before you need it, not after.
About the author
Andy Kruger
Andy Kruger is CEO of BuildSOS, author of When the Storm Comes, and sits on multiple boards and advisory groups shaping disaster resilience policy and research.
About Andy