Make the quote match the house—and the closing.

1. Verify the facts each carrier is pricing

Use the same address, occupancy, square footage, construction type, roof age, updates, protection devices and requested effective date for every quote. The Texas Department of Insurance advises checking whether details such as house age, square footage, construction type and roof age are correct because companies use them in pricing. TDI property-detail guidance

A seller disclosure or inspection can help identify questions, but neither binds an insurer. Send factual corrections to the agent or carrier and preserve the written response.

2. Put coverage basis beside the premium

TDI’s shopping checklist tells consumers to compare dwelling and personal-property needs, other structures, additional living expenses, liability, named-peril versus broader coverage, and replacement-cost versus actual-cash-value treatment. Ask for the form numbers and endorsements that make up each quote. TDI home-insurance shopping checklist

TDI explains that replacement-cost coverage uses current repair or replacement costs, while actual cash value subtracts depreciation. Confirm how the dwelling, roof and personal property are treated; do not infer the answer from a marketing label. TDI replacement-cost comparison

3. Convert every deductible to dollars

Record the all-other-perils deductible and any separate wind, hail or named-storm deductible. If a deductible is a percentage, multiply it by the policy’s applicable insured value and ask the carrier to confirm the resulting dollar amount. A percentage is not necessarily a percentage of the repair bill.

Compare that out-of-pocket exposure with your post-closing reserves. The cash-to-close guide handles closing funds; the insurance deductible is a separate future-risk decision.

4. Route property-condition questions early

Ask how roof age and condition, prior claims, plumbing, electrical systems, foundation history, pools, detached structures or vacancy affect eligibility, exclusions and settlement terms. TDI notes that roof coverage may change to actual cash value as a roof ages and may be unavailable if condition is poor. TDI roof-insurance guidance

A standard home policy does not automatically answer every hazard. The CFPB says standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover floods or earthquakes, though added coverage may be available. Use the Dallas flood-risk guide for a separate property-specific review. CFPB homeowner’s-insurance explainer

5. Reconcile the selected policy with closing

The CFPB says lenders generally require proof of homeowner’s insurance and that insurance cost appears in projected payments on the Loan Estimate. Confirm the selected carrier, policy effective date, insured names, property address, lender mortgagee clause, evidence format, premium payment and escrow treatment with the responsible parties. Do not rely on an early estimate after the carrier changes terms. CFPB closing guidance

Compare the final insurance figures with the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, and preserve the declarations, policy forms, endorsements, receipt and delivery confirmation. The title-commitment guide is a separate review lane.