Home insurance is coverage designed to protect a residence, personal belongings, and the policyholder’s finances against specified risks. A policy may cover damage to the home, loss of personal property, additional living expenses, and certain personal liability claims.
The protection provided depends on the policy’s coverage limits, deductibles, conditions, endorsements, and exclusions.
Home insurance policies are not identical. Review the actual policy documents before selecting coverage.
Dwelling coverage can help pay to repair or rebuild the physical structure of your home after a covered loss.
Attached structures and permanently installed components may be included. Detached garages, sheds, fences, and other structures may have separate limits.
Home insurance commonly provides protection against covered fire and smoke damage.
Protection may extend to the house, qualifying detached structures, and personal belongings, subject to the policy’s limits and deductible.
Personal property coverage can help protect furniture, clothing, electronics, appliances, sports equipment, and other eligible possessions.
Certain property categories may have special limits or require additional coverage.
If a covered loss makes your home temporarily uninhabitable, loss-of-use coverage may help with eligible additional expenses.
These can include temporary accommodation, additional meal costs, and other necessary increases in living expenses.
Personal liability coverage may help when you are legally responsible for covered bodily injury or property damage involving another person.
It may also help with qualifying legal defense expenses, subject to the policy’s terms and limits.
A home policy may include limited coverage for qualifying medical expenses when a guest is accidentally injured on your property.
This protection generally does not apply to injuries sustained by members of your household.
Standard policies may provide limited protection for valuable items. High-value property may need to be appraised and individually scheduled.
Learn more about jewelry and valuable items insurance.
A valuable wine collection may need specialized protection for qualifying theft, fire, accidental breakage, temperature-related loss, or transportation damage.
Coverage availability depends on the insurer and policy.
Damage caused by water or sewage backing up through drains, sewers, or sump systems may not be automatically covered.
Optional water-backup protection may be available with its own limit and deductible.
Standard home insurance commonly limits or excludes flood damage. Separate flood insurance may be available based on the property and available programs.
Flood, surface water, and sewer backup are generally treated as different risks.
Personal property coverage may extend to eligible belongings temporarily located away from your home.
Special limits, deductibles, documentation requirements, and exclusions may apply.
Vacation properties and secondary homes may present different risks, especially when left unoccupied for extended periods.
A separate or specialized policy may be required based on the property, location, occupancy, and use.
Every policy is different, but standard home insurance may limit or exclude losses involving:
An exclusion means the policy does not cover a specified risk or type of loss. Review the actual policy documents before selecting coverage.
Your limits should reflect the cost of rebuilding your home, replacing your belongings, and protecting your finances from liability claims.
Your home’s reconstruction cost is not necessarily the same as its purchase price or market value.
Eligible home insurance and auto insurance policies may be bundled with the same insurance provider. Bundling can simplify policy management and may provide savings. Eligibility and savings vary, so compare the combined coverage and cost with separate policies before deciding.
If you need liability protection beyond eligible home or auto limits, explore umbrella insurance.
Factors that may affect coverage availability and pricing include:
Each insurance provider evaluates property risk differently.
Home insurance may cover the dwelling, detached structures, personal belongings, additional living expenses, personal liability, and certain medical expenses for guests. Exact coverage depends on the policy’s limits, deductible, conditions, endorsements, and exclusions.
Home insurance commonly covers qualifying damage caused by fire and smoke. Coverage remains subject to the policy’s terms, limits, exclusions, and deductible.
Standard home insurance commonly excludes or limits flood damage. Separate flood insurance or an additional form of coverage may be required.
No. Water backup typically refers to water or sewage entering through drains, sewers, or sump systems. Flood coverage generally addresses rising surface water. Policies define these events differently, and separate coverage may be required.
Home insurance may provide limited coverage for theft or loss of jewelry, art, collectibles, and similar valuables. Items exceeding standard limits may need to be appraised and scheduled separately. Learn more on our Jewelry and Valuable Items Insurance page.
Replacement cost is the estimated amount required to repair or replace covered property using materials of similar kind and quality, without necessarily deducting for depreciation. The policy determines how replacement-cost coverage applies.
A deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying toward a covered loss before the insurer pays the remaining eligible amount.
An owner-occupied home policy may not adequately cover a property rented to tenants. Residential property owners should explore landlord insurance.
Eligible home and auto policies may be bundled for convenience and possible savings. Availability depends on the policies, insurer, and applicant.
Compare more than the premium. Review dwelling and personal property limits, replacement-cost provisions, liability limits, deductibles, exclusions, endorsements, and available service. You can begin on our Compare Quotes page.
