What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
It is always the right time to learn what your homeowners insurance policy covers, and what it does not cover.
Protect your biggest investment with the appropriate level of homeowners insurance coverage. Here we list what basic policies will protect you from to help you better understand where you stand.
What does homeowners insurance cover?
Under most basic policies, your home and personal property are protected by damage caused by the following perils:
- Fire or lightning
- Water or steam
- Smoke
- Hail or windstorms
- The weight of ice, snow and sleet
- Frozen plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and fire protection systems
- Volcanic eruption
- Artificially generated electrical currents
- Explosion
- Vandalism and theft
- Riots and other civil commotion
- Aircraft (and things falling from aircraft)
- Vehicles (and things thrown from vehicles)
- Falling objects
- An abrupt collapse
- Broken glass
Your level of coverage will depend on the specific policy that you have, and where you live. Check with your local agent to determine the specifics of your coverage for each of the above categories.
What else does homeowners insurance cover?
A typical homeowners insurance policy will protect your from damage or loss of personal belongings, but it may not cover all of your possessions, and your belongings will either be insured for replacement cost or its depreciated value.
Other structures on your property such as a garage or barn will be protected from damage or loss, to a certain degree.
If you’re unable to live in your home following a disaster, your policy will cover temporary living expenses such as renting a hotel room. It will not cover everything, however.
When injuries and accidents happen to others on your property – if your dog bites your neighbor, or someone trips and falls on your walkway – your homeowners insurance will hopefully include personal liability.
What homeowners insurance does not cover
Regardless of what level of coverage you have, typical policies will not cover damage caused by:
- Floods
- Failure to maintain your home
- Sewer backups
- Sump pump failure
- Pollution
- Hurricanes
- Earthquakes
- Mudslides
- Landslides
- Ground movement caused by mining
- Sinkholes
- Nuclear accidents
- War
Ask your insurance agent
What is covered under your homeowners insurance policy? Are you receiving basic or broad protection? Does your homeowners insurance policy cover your home, personal belongings, personal liability, and perils specific to your region? Perhaps you will need additional policies to fill in the gaps of your homeowners insurance.
Ask the agents at H&K Insurance for expert advice and more information about our broad-spectrum homeowners insurance coverage.
