What Every Homeowner Should Know

Whether you’re buying your first home or you’ve owned one for years, it’s important to understand home insurance. It helps protect your home and belongings if something unexpected happens—like a fire, storm, theft, or if someone gets hurt on your property.

Here’s a simple guide to help you learn the basics.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

A regular home insurance policy usually includes:

• Dwelling Coverage – Pays to fix or rebuild your house if it’s damaged, including things like the walls, roof, and built-in appliances.
• Personal Property Coverage – Covers your things, like furniture, clothes, and electronics, if they’re stolen or damaged.
• Liability Protection – Helps pay for legal costs or medical bills if someone gets hurt on your property and it’s your fault.
• Loss of Use – Pays for you to live somewhere else (like a hotel or rental) if your home can’t be lived in because of damage.

What’s Not Covered?

Most regular policies don’t cover damage from:

• Floods
• Earthquakes
• Problems caused by not taking care of your home

You may need to buy extra coverage for full protection.

Optional Add-ons

Depending on where you live or what you own, you might want extra coverage, like:

• Flood insurance
• Earthquake insurance
• More money to rebuild your home if costs go up
• Special coverage for expensive items like jewelry or artwork

What Affects the Cost?

The price you pay for home insurance (called a premium) depends on things like:

• How much your home is worth and what it would cost to rebuild
• Where your home is located (crime, flood or fire-prone areas cost more)
• Your credit score and past insurance claims
• Safety features in your home like smoke detectors or alarm systems

Ways to Save Money

Here are some tips to lower your premium:

• Bundle your home and auto insurance with the same company
• Raise your deductible (the amount you pay before insurance kicks in)
• Add safety features to your home like a monitored alarm system or water detector
• Keep a good credit score

Why It’s Important

Your home is probably one of the biggest things you’ll ever buy. Having the right insurance means that if something bad happens, you’ll have help paying to fix or replace things. It’s not just about protecting your house—it’s about protecting your peace of mind.

Need help picking the right home insurance?
Our team is here to help—just give us a call and we’ll walk you through it.