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Understanding CLUE Reports

Before you buy your dream home, order a loss report. Five years of claims history could give you a better perspective on your biggest financial investment.

It's called CLUE, but it's no mystery
Most insurance companies, including Safeco, use the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) to see if a home has had significant losses in the past five years. The information helps decide whether to insure a house, and if so, for how much. CLUE reports are available online. Buyers and sellers can request a copy as they begin the home-transaction process.

The information is shared between insurance companies
Before CLUE, insurance companies would call the home's previous insurer, or insurers, to find out if damage was repaired. Internet technology transformed this process. Now this information is readily available to insurers and consumers, which accelerates the insurance application process.

The earlier the warning, the better
If you're buying a house, it's a good idea to request the CLUE report at the same time you make your initial offer. That way, if there has been serious damage or repair to the house, you can direct your home inspector accordingly. The same goes for home sellers. Reviewing the report before listing allows you to fix any inaccuracies or make sure repairs have eliminated the original problem.

Calls are listed, but not counted
In some states, CLUE reports may include calls homeowners have made about potential claims, even if no payment occurred. At Safeco, these "claims without payment" are not a factor in the acceptance or pricing of new policies.

CLUE reports cost $9. To order a report call 888.497.0011 or visit www.choicetrust.com .