There are a lot of things to consider when buying a home, and one important factor is the home’s insurance claim history–it can tell you a lot about past claims made by previous owners as well as potential risks and liabilities down the road.

The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) database tracks insurance claims filed on homes, and insurance companies use it to determine premiums based on the number and nature of claims made over the last seven years.

A CLUE report can be purchased for a fee, but homeowners are entitled to one free LexisNexis report each year so you might have your Realtor ask the listing broker if their seller would order one for themselves, if they haven’t already done so recently.

Just because a home has had claims in the past does not mean it will have claims in the future. However, the claim report can provide valuable information to you (and your home inspector) that can help you make an informed decision about whether to buy the home.