What is it?
As its name suggests, homeowners insurance protects you if your home is damaged or destroyed. In addition, it covers your family's possessions and can provide you with compensation for liability claims, medical expenses, and other amounts that result from property damage and personal injury suffered by others. By paying insurance premiums, and satisfying the other requirements of your insurance company, you can protect yourself in the event of loss due to unforeseen and/or catastrophic events. You still won't be able to predict when lightning will strike your house, but you will sleep better at night knowing that homeowners insurance can save you from financial ruin if such an event happens.

Why do you need it?
You may need homeowner's insurance because your mortgage lender requires it. But, even if you own your home outright, you still need homeowners insurance to protect that which you can't afford to lose. It is really that simple. You spend years building up a solid financial foundation for you and your family. All that hard work can go down the drain in a matter of minutes when, for example, a tornado devastates your house, a burglar robs and vandalizes your home while you're gone, your dog bites and severely injures a neighborhood child. There are practically thousands of possible scenarios that could result in severe financial loss or even the loss of your home. Homeowner's insurance is designed to help prevent that result, while renters and owners of condominiums and cooperatives can get coverage using variations of the same basic insurance tailored to their needs.

What do you need to know?
Homeowners insurance protects more than just the owner of the house. Generally, it protects anyone named on the policy, your spouse, residents of the home (other than renters), household employees, guests and visitors.

The property insurance section of your homeowners policy protects more than just your actual home or dwelling. In most cases, the insurance company should reimburse you for damage or theft affecting your dwelling, any structures attached to the dwelling, structures on your premises that are not attached to the dwelling, personal property, loss of use of your dwelling, and liability if you or another insured are found responsible for personal injury or property damage to another.

There is a wide variety of damages, conditions, and costs that are not covered by standard homeowners insurance. Here are just a few examples: 

• the land underneath your home is damaged
• your claim exceeds your maximum stated coverage amount
• you have flood damage
• you have losses related to business activities in your home
• your liability results from injuries suffered by a tenant
• your claim is covered by other pre-existing insurance
• or your claim was caused by someone else who is insured under your party

To cover yourself against losses such as these, your homeowners policy can be amended by adding endorsements to your policy. While other coverage, such as flood insurance, has to be purchased under a separate insurance program. Still other coverage can be obtained by purchasing a policy that covers a broader list of perils. The cost of homeowner's insurance will depend upon the amount of your coverage, any endorsements you add to the policy, and the deductibles you choose.

How do I get it?
Homeowners insurance policies are written individually, typically at the time you purchase the home or at the time you take out a mortgage on the home. Yet this doesn't mean you're not free to change insurance companies or policies when ever want to.  You can contact us any time you wish to discuss homeowner's insurance for information, additional coverages and quotes.

Learn More...

Overview | Understanding The Basics | Types Of Insurance | Coverage Amounts
Choosing A Policy | Filing A Claim | Other Types Of Insurance | Home Safety Tips
Planning Concerns | Home Glossary

Please Note: The information contained in this Web site is provided solely as a source of general  information and resource.  It is a not a statement of contract and coverage may not apply in all areas or circumstances.  For a complete description of coverages, always read the insurance policy, including all endorsements.