Expert Advice for your Lawn & Garden TV Host of Today's Homeowner^® and home expert for The Weather Channel

Most people know they should document their home’s contents for insurance reasons but they often ask why or how to do it the right way. If you have a loss due to fire, theft or natural disaster your insurance company will need certain details to complete the claims process.

People who rent their homes often ask whether they need insurance or they simply assume that their landlord’s insurance policy will cover them. If you rent, the fact is that your landlord’s insurance usually only covers the building where you live, but not your personal belongings so Renters Insurance may be a good idea for you.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina left lots of people with questions about the differences between homeowners insurance and flood insurance. Flood insurance is an extra policy, but how do you know if you need flood insurance? The fact is, Flash floods can occur at almost any elevation, even if you are not in a flood zone.

Lots of homeowners have questions about what their insurance actually covers but unfortunately many don’t find the answers until they have damage from a fire or natural disaster. One of the easiest ways to determine what is and isn’t covered is to look at the Declaration Page of your policy. This is basically a miniature summary of your coverage.