“Wait, Do I Have to Call My Insurance Every Time I Renovate?”
Not every time, but more often than most homeowners realize. Chabert Insurance of the Northshore fields this question constantly from Mandeville homeowners mid-renovation, usually somewhere between the demo phase and the new kitchen countertops.
Why This Actually Matters
Your home insurance policy is based on what your home was worth, and what it would cost to rebuild, at the time the policy was written. Add a bedroom, upgrade a kitchen, or finish a bonus room over the garage, and suddenly your policy might be insuring a home that no longer exists, at least not in its current form. If something happens after the renovation and your coverage limit hasn’t kept pace, you could be significantly underinsured.
Renovations That Almost Always Need a Call to Your Agent
- Room additions or converting a garage into livable space
- Kitchen or bathroom remodels with higher-end finishes
- Adding a pool, which affects both property value and liability exposure
- New decks, patios, or outdoor kitchens
- Major electrical or plumbing system updates
What Happens If You Skip This Step
Picture finishing a beautiful kitchen remodel, then having a fire six months later. If your policy still reflects the old, unrenovated kitchen’s value, your payout could fall well short of what it actually costs to rebuild what you just created. This is one of those situations where a five-minute phone call saves a massive headache later.
The Simple Fix
Before you start a renovation, or right after you finish one, give your agent a call and walk through what changed. It’s a quick conversation that can save you from a serious coverage gap down the road. Chabert Insurance of the Northshore helps homeowners throughout Mandeville, LA keep their policies aligned with their actual homes, not the homes they used to have. Call or text us at 504-326-6526, or visit our home insurance page to learn more.
