Structural Information

• This part of the application is given over to physical details about your home, which may be broken down into subsections or included within a single part. It includes how many stories, type of roof and foundation, kind of exterior and interior walls, type of garage if any, how many bathrooms, fireplaces and decks, whether an alarm system is installed, and other details such as sprinkler system and swimming pool if applicable. Insurance companies also request the home's estimated value.
  
  

Safety Features

• Certain details make the home a safer bet for the insurance company, such as how far the house is located from a fire hydrant and fire station. On the other side of the natural-disaster coin, a home's susceptibility to flooding and proximity to a large body of water are also relevant, as is whether the dwelling is located on a hillside that may be open to ground slippage or foundational damage.
  
  

General Information

• As a further way to accurately assess potential risk, the insurance company will typically request more general information about your home, such as when it was built, how it is heated and cooled, whether a fire alarm system is installed, if it is occupied throughout the year or closed up for the summer or winter months, whether any smokers live inside the house and whether it contains smoke detectors and fire extinguishers; and also type of locks, previous claim or loss history, and if the home is located within a secure community, either gated or with security guards.
  
  

Additional Details

• The application usually includes a place for you to list any other details deemed relevant. These can include whether any wood-burning stoves are on the premises, any animals such as dogs or exotic pets, if the home is near any kind of commercial business and whether you provide any day-care services. Upon receiving the application, the agent may call for an interview or arrange a visit to the home.