Insurance World

Whether you are a new home owner, or have owned your home for a longer period of time, there’s no doubt you have many questions about home owner’s insurance. You want to protect your home, your possessions, and your family. Below are five of the most frequently asked questions about home owner insurance.

1. As a home owner, am I required to have insurance? Yes, in most cases, especially if you have a lender. It’s also wise to look into insurance if you are in the process of constructing your home, and even renting your home to someone else.

2. What types of coverage does home owner insurance provide? Two types—casualty, which covers the home and contents, and liability, which covers anyone who is injured on your property. With both types the amount of coverage depends on the policy.

3. Will the replacement cost be the same as the sale price of my home? No. The replacement cost will cover the amount needed to replace the structure and/or contents. Replacement cost is usually calculated based on the individual policy’s formula. It’s wise to take inventory and photographs of your home and contents.

4. Will home owner insurance cover damage or theft outside of my home?
It depends on the policy. Sometimes standard policies offer this kind of coverage, but if not, ask if purchasing the coverage at additional costs is an option.

5. Are home-based businesses covered under home owner insurance? No, unless you qualify for an endorsement to your current home owner insurance policy. Otherwise, look into getting a business owners insurance policy.

Of course, home owners will have more questions about home owner insurance particular to their own situations (including protection against the elements, possessions that are no longer in the home, contents of vehicles, etc.). When searching for a home owner insurance policy, be sure to ask about coverage relevant and beneficial to your own situation.

Shopping online for insurance has sure made things easier for the consumer. The best thing about shopping online is the education that you gain as well as the benefit of rate comparison. The more knowledgeable you are about the product the easier it is to make intelligent comparisons. The home insurance quote is not that difficult if you start your shopping with some basic information. The insurance calculators that you will find online depend on your accuracy when entering the data needed to give you a quote. Homeowner insurance evaluation relies heavily on the square footage calculation of your home. This is your first order of duty when it comes to quote accuracy. You can find the square footage of your home on your original home plans or from a house appraisal. Once you know the square footage then you will need to add all the important upgrades that add significant value to your home. Fireplaces, air conditioning, and finished basements increase the value of your home.

The number of rooms including bathrooms along with outdoor decks and in-ground swimming pools will also add into the overall replacement cost of your home. Replacement cost is a way of evaluating the cost to rebuild your home with like kind and quality of materials. Newer homes generally require a replacement cost policy. The personal property of the dwelling is also covered on a replacement cost basis with this kind of policy. Older homes that have depreciated in value are more suitable for market value policies or policies that settle losses on an actual cash value basis. Actual cash value is the replacement cost value minus depreciation because of age and use. The older homes built in the early 1900’s usually cost much more to rebuild as compared to their market value. The quoting process is very easy. The information that you give is the most important factor. The online insurance calculators will take care of the rest. Check our recommended insurance for more details.