CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, EXPLAINED PLAINLY

Not by law. But if you have a mortgage, your lender requires it, and going without it puts the biggest thing you own at risk.

Usually, yes, but often with a separate wind and hail deductible. We will walk you through how your policy treats wind and hail, including the deductible, before you buy, not after a storm.

Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood. If your home is in a flood-prone area, ask us about separate flood coverage.

Enough to rebuild, not just the purchase price. Those are different numbers. We will walk through it with you in plain language.

Yes. One agent, one stop. Many customers find it simpler to manage everything in one place.

The property address, the year the home was built, the square footage, and the roof's age if you know it. If you are buying, have your closing date and lender ready, and we can send proof of coverage straight to the lender. If you already have a policy, bring your declarations page or renewal notice so we can compare like for like. Start online, call 1-800-921-AMAX, or visit an office.

A few choices and facts about the home: your deductible, and the wind and hail deductible, which can be a percentage of the home's value rather than a flat amount; the roof's age and material, especially where hail is common; and past claims on the home. A lower price is only a good deal if the policy pays when you need it, so we show you what a lower price gives up, like a higher deductible or lower limits, before you choose.

Sit down with someone at an A-MAX office to go over a home policy, in English or Spanish. Find the A-MAX office nearest you, or call 1-800-921-AMAX.