Homeowners Insurance
A homeowners policy is really four coverages sold together. Knowing which one applies to a given loss is what makes the difference between a smooth claim and an argument.
- Dwelling limits based on rebuild cost, not market price
- The exclusions reviewed before you buy, not at claim time
- Flood and earthquake gaps identified for your area
Request a homeowners insurance quote
Tell us what you need covered. A licensed agent follows up with options, usually the same business day.
What a homeowners insurance policy actually does
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Dwelling
Rebuilds the structure after a covered loss. This limit should reflect what construction costs today in your area, not what you paid for the house, and not what it would sell for.
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Other structures
Detached garage, fence, shed, or a workshop. Usually a percentage of the dwelling limit, which is fine until you have a detached structure worth more than that percentage.
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Personal property
Contents of the home, typically at a percentage of the dwelling limit, with internal sub-limits on categories like jewellery, cash, and electronics.
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Loss of use
Hotel, rental, and the extra cost of living elsewhere while your home is repaired. Easy to overlook until a rebuild takes eight months.
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Personal liability
Injuries to others on your property and damage you cause elsewhere, including legal defence costs. Raising this limit is usually inexpensive relative to what it protects.
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Medical payments to others
Small no-fault medical bills for guests, which resolves minor incidents without a liability claim.
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Flood
Never covered by a standard homeowners policy. Separate flood coverage is required, and flood risk extends well beyond mapped high-risk zones.
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Earthquake and earth movement
Excluded as standard. Available by endorsement or separate policy depending on the state.
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Maintenance and gradual damage
A roof at the end of its life, a slow leak behind a wall, mould that developed over years. Policies cover sudden accidental loss, not deferred maintenance.
The three gaps we look for first
Most homeowners policies are adequate on the headline number and thin in the same three places. These are what an agent should check before you sign.
- A dwelling limit set from purchase price rather than rebuild cost
- No water backup coverage, which excludes the most common basement claim there is
- Liability at the default limit when an umbrella policy would cost very little
- Jewellery, tools, or equipment sitting above the policy's internal sub-limits
Homeowners Insurance questions
How much dwelling coverage do I need?
Enough to rebuild the home from the ground up at current local construction costs. That figure moves with labour and material prices and is frequently different from both your purchase price and your market value.
What is an extended or guaranteed replacement cost endorsement?
It provides a cushion above your dwelling limit (commonly 20 to 50 percent) for cases where rebuild costs spike, which is exactly what happens after a widespread event when demand for contractors surges.
Does a home-based business need anything extra?
Almost always. Homeowners policies sharply limit business property and generally exclude business liability. A small endorsement or a separate business policy covers it.
Will filing a small claim raise my premium?
It can, and claim history follows the property and the person for several years. For a loss close to your deductible, the long-run cost of filing sometimes exceeds the payout.
Related coverage
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Renters Insurance
Your landlord insures the building, not your belongings. Renters coverage handles your things, your liability, and somewhere to stay.
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Mobile & Manufactured Home Insurance
Manufactured homes need their own policy form. A standard homeowners policy will not cover one, and many carriers will not write them at all.
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Landlord Insurance
Renting out a property turns it into a business asset. Landlord coverage adds lost rental income and the liability a homeowners policy excludes.
Not sure what you need?
Tell a licensed agent what you're insuring and what you're worried about. We'll walk through the options and what each one actually costs.