Homeowners insurance, also known as homeowner’s insurance or landlord’s insurance, is an important form of property protection that covers a residential property. This insurance protects you if anything were to happen to your home. It will protect you from the loss of rent should something occur and you are forced out. It also protects you in case anything were to happen while you are away from your home, such as fire.
Homeowners insurance comes in two parts: building coverage and liability. Brespective of the type of policy you choose, building coverage will cover any physical damages your home undergoes, including fires, storms, earthquakes, and vandalisms. Liability on the other hand will cover liabilities that arise from personal injuries incurred by you or your family members while at home. In other words, liability coverage will compensate you or your family for any injuries you or any of your guests may sustain in the home, as well as for any property damages you or your tenants experience.
Building coverage will not only cover physical damages, but also will include the repair expenses you or your family suffer as a result of fire, storm, earthquake, vandalism, or theft. Liability coverage, however, will only cover your homeowners insurance company for actual cash value damages, and will exclude replacement cost. That means it won’t cover a water damage sticker on a bathroom wall, or the broken glass of a mirror. Homeowners insurance companies typically will not pay to replace a bed, closet, dresser, or computer monitor.
Typical standard homeowners insurance policies will also provide coverage for losses caused by theft, vandalism, or explosions. However, these policies do not always specify what those losses are. In order to receive full reimbursement for your losses, you will need to purchase additional coverage, such as loss of use, or replacement cost coverage. Most policies will not cover total rebuilding costs, such as replacing carpets, kitchen cabinets, or furniture.
It is possible to purchase additional homeowners insurance coverage in order to completely rebuild your home following a disaster. In most cases, your homeowners insurance policy will provide coverage up to a maximum of the amount stated in your policy, regardless of whether or not the home is totaled. This is why it’s important to read your homeowners insurance policy carefully and familiarize yourself with the terminology.
If you live in an area that has a lot of flooding or a lot of earthquakes, you may want to consider adding additional coverage. Standard policies cover flood damage, so that’s good news if you live in an area prone to floods. Your insurance should also cover explosions. If you decide to purchase additional coverage, it is important to talk to your insurance agent to determine whether or not it will be included in the policy. Usually, it will be; most standard policies cover explosions to the building itself or the dwelling, but not both. If you own a boat, it may be required to have insurance in order to register it.
The third type of peril that your insurance should cover is your legal liability coverage. Common examples of this are lawsuits relating to injury or damage done to another person or their property. It is important to note, though, that liability coverage does not typically cover medical bills resulting from a disaster. You may have to purchase additional medical bills coverage if you have been injured as a result of a fire or explosion. However, you should not be expected to foot the entire bill for medical care, even if you are partially at fault for the accident. Even if you have had a particular type of insurance coverage for your dwelling all your life, you should inquire with your agent about raising it to include your medical bills.
There are some things that only the state insurance department can tell you about your homeowners insurance. They can’t tell you what coverage is available under each policy or what coverage limits are best for your individual needs. In addition to that, the insurer does not have any jurisdiction over your local laws. For example, a city ordinance might prohibit a structure built under a specific code from being erected for your personal safety. A good idea when you decide on a policy is to consult with your lawyer, especially if you have questions about your legal coverage and liability. Your insurance company might be able to help you understand your options if there are significant legal or technical issues.