If you have replaced the roof, rewired the house, updated the plumbing or put in a new heating and cooling system, your home may be a lower risk than it was when your policy started. Your insurer will not know that unless you tell it.

Make a list of improvements since you bought the policy, along with roughly when each one was done. Gather invoices, permits or photos if you have them. Then call and ask whether any of these changes affect your rating or qualify for a discount. Roof age and condition, in particular, can matter a great deal to many insurers.

While you are on the phone, ask whether the upgrades change your home's estimated rebuilding cost. A remodeled kitchen or finished basement could mean your dwelling coverage should go up, not down. Lowering your premium is the goal, but not at the cost of being underinsured. The right outcome is accurate information, a fair price and enough coverage to rebuild.