What to compare
A townhouse describes a building style; PUD, condominium, cooperative, and fee-simple ownership describe different legal boundaries. The ownership documents should lead the form choice.
- Whether the owner is responsible for the roof, exterior walls, foundation, attached structures, and shared property
- What the association master policy insures and whether it is bare-walls, single-entity, or another arrangement
- Association deductible, loss-assessment exposure, and responsibility after a shared loss
- Whether an HO-3, HO-6, or another form matches the deed and bylaws
- Personal property, loss of use, liability, water backup, and ordinance or law needs
Questions that need a written answer
| Question | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Who repairs the exterior? | Use the declaration, bylaws, and maintenance provisions; do not infer the answer from appearance. |
| What does the master policy exclude? | Request the current declarations and coverage summary, then identify the unit owner's gap. |
| Can an assessment be covered? | Check cause-of-loss requirements, sublimits, master-policy deductible wording, and effective dates. |
| Does the quote use the correct occupancy? | Owner occupancy, renting, vacancy, and short-term use can change eligibility. |
Records to keep with the quote
- Deed or ownership declaration
- Current association bylaws and maintenance boundary
- Master-policy declarations and deductible schedule
- Unit improvements list, interior photos, and lender requirements
Important boundary: A neighbor with the same floor plan may need a different policy if the legal ownership or association documents differ.