Most people don’t read the fine print, even when it comes to big decisions like buying insurance for a home.

While the fine print is always legally binding, it just isn’t a priority for most people; who has time for all that, anyway?

If you haven’t already checked your home insurance policy again, you will probably want to very soon. While the “right to repair” clause is likely something you’ve never heard of, it gives your insurer the power to choose who fixes your damages. It also allows them to determine what kind of damages there are, and HOW the damages are fixed, on top of choosing WHO will do the job. Of course, you know how insurance companies can be when it comes to picking pennies.

One woman named Lisa, who is legally blind, has learned about the hidden clause the hard way. Lisa has three children as well, so she already had a lot on her plate before her dishwasher broke. After the dishwasher broke, Lisa couldn’t do anything about all the running water, which leaked out of the house and caused plenty of mold to form along the way. To add insult to injury, Lisa’s insurance company had already had the dishwasher fixed two years ago, when Lisa realized that she had no say in the repairs’ process. Now her family has had to live in hotels and other places as the home is now unlivable. The insurance company, for their part, claims that they will cover the costs of Lisa’s hotel stays.

Most Florida insurance companies have a “right to repair” clause written into their home insurance policies. Maybe you should go double check yours…