Life-event checklist
Insurance checklist for renting your first place
Many leases now require renters insurance, and it protects more than people expect: your belongings, your liability, and a place to stay if your unit becomes unlivable.
Your checklist
Read the lease's insurance section
Note any required liability limit and whether the landlord must be listed as an interested party.
Estimate what your things are worth
Add up furniture, electronics, clothes, and kitchen items. It is usually more than people think.
Choose replacement cost if you can
Replacement cost pays for new items; actual cash value subtracts depreciation.
Update your car insurance address
Where your car is parked overnight can change your auto premium. Tell your insurer you moved.
Questions to ask your agent
Bring these to your review
- Does my lease require a specific liability limit?
- Is this policy replacement cost for my belongings?
- Does it cover my things in my car or in storage?
Questions
Talk it through with a licensed agent.
Bring this checklist to a free, no-obligation review, or upload your current policies first so the agent can see what you have.