When you look for a house to buy, you certainly think about how to pay for it. Today, part of that planning should include how much it will cost to insure that new home. Insurance companies now use reports on a home’s condition. But these reports, called “CLUE” and “A-Plus,” can also help you to make better decisions about which home to buy. Margaret Grayson of Neighborhood Housing Services says her organization encourages their home buyers to obtain a CLUE report so they can get an idea of the condition of the house, and some of the claims that have been filed in the past. It becomes a tool for them to use to determine if a particular house is right for them. As home values have risen over the years, so too has the cost to insure them. So your home insurance can’t be taken for granted. Jeanne Salvatore, Senior Vice President at the Insurance Information Institute says loss history reports are a wonderful tool for consumers how are either buying or selling a home. For the buyer they contain a lot of information about the condition of the house, for the seller, they help comply with full disclosure laws which are in every state. David Lee of Choice Point Services says the reports contain information gathered from insurance companies and made available to insurers, insurance agents and homeowners so that a total risk assessment can be made. For more information about insurance, go to the III Web site at www.iii.org

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