What is
Homeowner's Insurance?
Homeowner's insurance protects your home, belongings, and liability against unexpected events like fire, theft, or storms. Whether you’re insuring your primary residence or a rental property, we help you find the right policy at competitive rates to ensure you’recovered when it matters most.
Homeowners Insurance Coverage
Part I: Property Coverages
These coverages protect your home and belongings from physical damage caused by covered perils:
1. Dwelling Coverage:
Protects the structure of your home (walls, roof, etc.) from perils like fire, windstorms, or hail.
Example: If a fire damages your kitchen, dwelling coverage pays for repairs.
2. Other Structures Coverage:
Covers detached structures like garages, sheds, fences, and patios.
Example: If a windstorm damages your backyard shed, this coverage pays for repairs.
3. Personal Property Coverage:
Protects your belongings inside the home (e.g., furniture, electronics) against theft or damage.
Example: If someone breaks into your home and steals your TV and laptop, this coverage reimburses you.
4. Loss of Use Coverage:
Pays for temporary living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event.
Example: If a storm damages your roof and you need to stay in a hotel during repairs, this coverage covers hotel costs and meals.
Part II: Liability Coverages
These coverages protect you financially if you are held responsible for injuries or property damage to others:
1. Personal Liability Coverage:
Covers legal expenses if someone is injured on your property or if you accidentally damage someone else’s property.
Example: If a guest slips on your icy driveway and sues for medical bills, this coverage pays for legal fees and settlements.
2. Medical Payments to Others:
Pays for minor medical expenses if someone is injured on your property—regardless of fault.
Example: If a neighbor trips on your steps and needs stitches, this coverage pays their medical bills up to the policy limit.
Dwelling Fire Insurance Coverage
Part I: Property Coverages
Dwelling fire insurance is ideal for non-owner-occupied properties like rental homes or vacation homes. It typically includes:
1. Dwelling Coverage:
Protects the structure from specific perils (e.g., fire, hail)
Example: If a fire damages the walls of your rental property, this coverage pays for repairs.
3. Fair Rental Value Coverage:
Compensates landlords for lost rent if tenants must vacate due to a covered loss.
Example: If storm damage forces tenants out of your rental property for two months, this coverage reimburses lost rental income.
2. Other Structures Coverage:
Covers attached structures like decks and porches.
Example: If hail damages the porch of your rental cabin, this coverage pays for repairs.
Part II: Liability Coverages
Most modern dwelling fire policies include liability protection similar to homeowners insurance:
1. Personal Liability Coverage:
Covers legal expenses if someone is injured on the rental property or if the property causes damage to others (e.g., a tree falls onto a neighbor’s house).
2. Medical Payments to Others:
Pays minor medical expenses for injuries occurring on the rental property—regardless of fault.
Coverage Forms: Basic, Broad, and Special
Both homeowners and dwelling fire insurance policies can be written under three main forms:
Basic Form (Named Perils):
Covers only specific perils explicitly listed in the policy (e.g., fire, lightning).
Broad Form (Expanded Named Perils):
Includes all basic form perils plus additional ones like falling objects or water damage from plumbing issues.
Special Form (All-Risk):
Covers all perils except those explicitly excluded (e.g., flood or earthquake). Most comprehensive form.
Optional Coverages
1. Flood Insurance:
Protects against water damage caused by flooding events (not
covered by standard policies).
3. Earthquake Insurance:
Provides protection against structural damage caused
by seismic activity.
Recommendations Based on Your Needs
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
For Homeowners with Significant Assets:
Consider higher liability limits to protect yourself financially in case of lawsuits. Recommended: $300,000 or more in liability coverage.
For Rental Property Owners:
Dwelling fire policies with fair rental value coverage ensure you’re protected against income loss during repairs.
For High-Risk Areas:
Add flood or earthquake insurance if your property is located in a high-risk zone.
Why Choose Us?
With so many options available from over 2,600+ PC insurance carriers in the U.S., finding the right home insurance can be overwhelming. That’s where we come in:
- We compare quotes from multiple carriers to find the best coverage at
competitive rates. - Our licensed agents provide personalized advice based on your needs and
budget. - As a virtual agency, we save you time and money—no broker fees when you buy online!
