Your Annual Insurance Review Checklist: What’s Changed This Year?

A lot can happen in twelve months. Your teenager got their license. You finished the basement. You traded in the minivan, started a side business, or finally bought that boat you’ve been eyeing at the lake.

Your insurance policy doesn’t know about any of it unless you tell us.

Most home and auto policies renew automatically, which is convenient. But it also means the policy on renewal day is built on information from last year, or the year before. A quick annual review helps make sure your policy details are still accurate and that your coverage still fits the way you live now.

Here’s the checklist we use with clients across Rosemount, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Eagan and Farmington. Take ten minutes before your renewal date, jot down anything that’s changed, and bring it to your next conversation with us.

Why an Annual Review Matters

Insurance is priced and written based on the details you’ve given us: who drives, where vehicles are kept, what your home looks like, and what you own. When those details change and the policy doesn’t, a few things can happen:

• You might be paying for something you no longer need.
• You might have a gap you don’t know about until you file a claim.
• Your bills or documents might go to an old address or a lender you no longer use.

An annual review isn’t about selling you more coverage. It’s about keeping your policy accurate. Sometimes that means adding something, and sometimes it means removing something.

Your Renewal Review Checklist

1. Contact, Billing and Payment Preferences

Let’s start with the easy ones:

• Has your phone number, email or mailing address changed?
• Do you have a new bank account or card for payments?
• Would you like to switch to paperless billing, autopay or a different payment schedule?

These seem small, but a missed bill or an outdated email can create headaches no one needs.

2. Vehicles and How You Use Them

• Did you buy, sell, trade or lease a vehicle this year?
• Has the place where a vehicle is parked overnight changed? (For example, a car now kept at a college apartment or a second home.)
• Is anyone commuting farther? Maybe a new job means more time on Highway 3 or Cedar Avenue.
• Is any vehicle used for business, deliveries or rideshare?

That last question is an important one. Coverage for business or rideshare use varies from policy to policy and carrier to carrier, so it’s worth a conversation with your agent before you start driving for work or an app.

3. Household Members and Drivers

This is where the biggest changes often happen, especially for South Metro families with teens.

• Has anyone moved in or out of your home?
• Has there been a marriage, divorce or new dependent?
• Is there a new driver in the house, or a teen about to get their permit or license?
• Do you have a student away at college?

Students living away from home, new drivers, and changes in who lives with you can all affect how your policy is set up. Your agent can walk through the options available with your carrier.

4. Your Home and Property

• Did you move, refinance or change mortgage lenders?
• Have you finished any renovations, additions or major updates? Think finished basements, kitchen remodels, a new roof, or updated electrical, plumbing or HVAC.
• Did you add a new feature like a pool, deck, fence, detached garage, trampoline or solar panels?
• Are you renting out any part of your home, even occasionally?

Renovations and upgrades can change what it would cost to rebuild your home. It’s worth reviewing whether your dwelling coverage still reflects your home as it is today. Some updates, like a newer roof or updated systems, may also be worth mentioning when your policy is reviewed.

If you’re renting out space, including short-term rentals, talk with us first. Rental use can change how a homeowners policy applies.

5. Valuables and Recreational Items

• Did you make any large purchases this year, like jewelry, art, collectibles or high-end electronics?
• Did you buy a boat, ATV, snowmobile, golf cart or camper?
• Do you have updated appraisals, receipts or photos of valuable items?

Standard homeowners policies often have limits for certain types of personal property, such as jewelry. If you’ve added something valuable, it’s worth asking whether it should be listed separately on your policy. Recreational vehicles and watercraft usually need their own coverage too, so check before you head up north for the season.

6. Work, Business and Liability

• Has your job changed, or are you working from home more often?
• Did you start a business or side hustle, whether that’s from home or out of a truck?
• Did you get a new pet?
• Have you taken on anything that might increase your liability, like a rental property, a pool, or hosting more gatherings?

Home-based businesses and side gigs are common, and many people assume their homeowners policy covers business equipment or business-related liability. That isn’t always the case. If you’ve started something new, let’s talk it through.

This is also a good time to ask about umbrella coverage. An umbrella policy can add a layer of liability protection above your home and auto policies. It’s especially worth discussing for families with teen drivers, rental properties or growing assets.

What to Have Ready for Your Review

To make your review quick and productive, gather what applies to you:

• Household info: Updates on who lives with you, new or upcoming drivers, and any major life changes
• Billing info: New payment method, bank details, or mortgage lender information
• Vehicle and property info: VINs, loan or lease details, and a list of home updates with approximate dates
• Valuables and liability info: Appraisals, receipts or photos of valuable items; rental details; business details; pet information; and any questions about umbrella coverage

You don’t need everything on this list. Just bring what’s changed. We’ll take it from there.

The Advantage of Reviewing with an Independent Agent

When you work with an independent agency, your review isn’t limited to one company’s options. Sentinel works with several carriers, so if your needs have changed, we can look at what fits best, not just what’s easiest to renew.

And because we’re right here in Rosemount, off County Road 42, we know the South Metro. We know what it’s like to add a new driver in Lakeville, finish a basement in Apple Valley, or start a small business in Farmington. We’re your neighbors, and we’re here to help you understand your options so you can make the decision that’s right for your family.

Schedule Your Annual Review

Your renewal is a natural checkpoint. Instead of letting your policy roll over on autopilot, take a few minutes to walk through this checklist, then reach out.

Contact Sentinel Assurance Group to schedule your annual review. We’ll go through what’s changed, answer your questions, and help make sure your policy still reflects your life today.

Call: 651.237.5180| Email: info@mysentinels.com | Online: www.mysentinels.com/contact

This article is for general educational purposes and doesn’t change or replace the terms of any insurance policy. Coverage depends on your specific policy, carrier and circumstances. Please review your options with a licensed Sentinel agent.