Why Your Insurance Claims Loss History Matters When Buying or Selling a Home

Whether you're buying your first home, selling a property, or just updating your homeowner’s insurance, one critical piece of information that can significantly impact your real estate transaction is the insurance claims loss history. Understanding what it is, why it matters, and how to get it can save you from unwanted surprises—and potentially save you money.

What Is An Insurance Claims Loss History Report?

An insurance claims loss history report, commonly referred to as a CLUE Report (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange), provides a record of insurance claims that have been filed on a property or by an individual over the past seven years. This includes information such as:

Dates of past claims
Types of loss (e.g., water damage, fire, theft)
Amounts paid by the insurance company
Status of the claim (open or closed)

Why Is It Important In Real Estate?

Affects Insurance Premiums: A property with a history of frequent or significant claims may be more expensive to insure—or even harder to insure altogether.
Signals Potential Property Issues: Repeated water damage or fire claims may indicate unresolved structural or maintenance problems that could impact your buying decision.
Builds Trust in a Sale: Sellers who proactively provide a clean or transparent loss history can give buyers added peace of mind, helping transactions move more smoothly.

How To Get A Copy Of Your Claims Loss History

Here’s how to obtain your CLUE report or insurance loss history:

For Homeowners (or Sellers):

As a homeowner, you can call your insurance agent at anytime and ask for a loss history, which is free. If something shows up on the report that's wrong, go to LexisNexis. You have the right to request a free copy of your CLUE report once every 12 months.

Visit LexisNexis
Request Your Report: You can ask your insurance agent or request your report online, by phone, or by mail. You'll need to verify your identity by providing personal information and property details.
Review the Report: Check for accuracy. If you find errors, you can dispute them through LexisNexis.

For Buyers:

Due to privacy laws, you cannot directly request the CLUE report on a property you don’t own. However, you can:

Ask the Seller: Request that the current homeowner obtain and share the CLUE report with you. Many sellers include it proactively, especially in competitive markets.
Consult Your Agent: A real estate agent will help coordinate this request.

Final Thoughts

Getting your insurance claims loss history is a smart move whether you're buying, selling, or just reviewing your homeowner’s insurance policy. It can shed light on potential risks, help you avoid pitfalls, and build confidence in your investment.

Contact us today for guidance on buying, selling, and insuring your home with confidence.