David A. Ballard

President of Champion Financial Planning Group in Annapolis

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Sunday, May 11, 2008; Page F04

How do I know if I have the right homeowner's insurance?

To make sure you get the right insurance, ask a lot of questions and do your research. Talk to several insurers and ask: Why is the policy best for me, what can't be insured and why, how much coverage is needed, and why is that enough?

Go to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Web site and look for complaints against any prospective insurers. Don't be afraid to call or write your state commissioner with questions.

Make sure your agent has enough experience. How many people has the agent worked with? How many claims have they worked on?

Get an in-depth review of your current coverage. What gaps can be mitigated, what coverage should be added, and why? The focus should be on proper coverage and less on cost -- despite what you hear on the radio and television.

Have the agent do a thorough walk-through of your home. An "outside review," while convenient, is not good enough, and a quality agent will not recommend it.