What's covered
Standard coverages
These are the coverages offered in most states, but coverages can vary by state. Keep in mind, insurance doesn't cover maintenance or general wear and tear.
Your house
Dwelling coverage: Anything permanently attached to your house, including attached garages, chimneys, roofs, countertops, cabinets, flooring, vanities, and even in-ground pools, etc.
Unattached structures
Other structures: Structures not attached to your house, including sheds, unattached garages, gazebos, pergolas, fences, driveways, etc.
Your belongings
Personal property: Your stuff, even if it's damaged or stolen away from your home. For example, personal property covers tools stored in your shed destroyed by a fire or even your computer if it's stolen from your car. Belongings that are commonly covered:
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Decorations
- Tools/power equipment
- Electronics (TVs, DVD players, sound systems, etc.)
- Toys/other games (arcade systems, billiards tables, ping-pong tables, etc.)
Limits for belongings: Insurers typically have a per-item limit that is a percentage of your total personal property coverage. This means that certain expensive items may not be fully insured. For example, you have $100,000 in personal property coverage, but the limit for any single item is 10% of the total coverage. If your $15,000 grand piano is damaged, you'll only get a payment for $10,000, minus your deductible. Long story short: If you have expensive items, contact your insurer to get proper coverage. You'll then add them as individual items to your policy, called scheduling an item or adding a rider.
For many customers, these items commonly include:
- Bicycles
- Expensive/custom furniture
- Art and collectibles (See more on art and collectibles insurance.)
- Jewelry (This can be a bit different. See more on jewelry insurance.)
Temporary living expenses
Loss of use: If your home is damaged from a covered loss and uninhabitable, this coverage pays for hotel/rent expenses plus food (above what you'd normally pay). For example: If you usually spend $100 on groceries a week, but need to spend $500 to eat out, you'll get $400.
Lawsuits
Personal liability: If someone is injured on your property, due to your fault, or you/your family members on your policy cause damage to others' property, this coverage will kick in. If you're sued over these damages, this will also pay for your lawyer and court fees as described in your policy. For example, if your babysitter falls down your stairs because there is not adequate lighting, this would pay for her injuries. Or, if you're playing catch in the backyard and the ball accidentally breaks your neighbor's window, this coverage will pay to replace the window.
Injuries on your property
Medical payments: Pays medical bills if someone else is hurt at your home or on your property.
When you're covered
Perils: These are really just events/instances that can cause damage. Which perils are covered can vary depending on your insurer and the type of policy you choose. Here are some commonly covered perils:
- Windstorms
- Fire and smoke
- Lightning
- Hail
- Tornadoes
- Explosions (e.g., aerosol can or gas grill)
- Theft and vandalism
- Car/aircraft crashing into your home
- Falling trees or other objects
- Weight of snow, sleet, or ice
- Water damage (from leaking roofs, broken pipes, water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, or other appliances, but not floods)
If you need coverage from floods, you can purchase a separate flood insurance policy.
Your out-of-pocket costs
Deductible: Your deductible is simply the amount you have to pay if your home is damaged or you have another claim. For example: You have a $500 deductible and a tree falls on your house, causing $3,000 in damage. You'll pay $500, and your insurer will pay the remaining $2,500.
Explore more on how home insurance deductibles work.
Extra coverages
These are the extra coverages you can add.
Backed-up sump pumps or plumbing systems
Water back-up: This is an optional coverage. Sometimes plumbing/sewer systems or sump pumps can get backed up, which can cause significant damage and an expensive mess. This coverage pays for damage to your home, belongings, and water removal.
Not all insurers offer this coverage.
Other lawsuits and situations
Personal injury: This covers other lawsuits and situations that your liability coverage (which is automatically included) does not cover. The lawsuits and situations covered by personal injury aren’t very common but can be expensive:
- Libel or slander lawsuits (something you write/say that damages a person's reputation or business, subject to restrictions)
- False arrest, detention, or imprisonment
- Lawsuits against you, such as wrongful entry or malicious prosecution
- Wrongful eviction
