What does home insurance cover?
Home insurance pays to replace or repair your home and its contents after a covered event. A standard homeowners insurance policy covers your home if fire, smoke, theft, or vandalism damages your home or its contents. It doesn't cover things like termite infestations or damage.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insuranc...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
UPDATED: May 20, 2023
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Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
UPDATED: May 20, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
A typical homeowners insurance policy covers your home and its contents if damaged, including incidents like fire, theft, vandalism, or other similar events.
Homeowners insurance coverage typically covers your heating and cooling systems, kitchen appliances, clothes, furniture, and certain personal possessions. In addition, home insurance coverage also helps with garages, sheds, and other outdoor buildings.
When searching for a home insurance policy, it’s important to research before making a final decision on coverage. Consider different insurance companies in your area, and learn more about what each home insurance policy does and doesn’t cover.
As you search for the best homeowners insurance policy, you should also compare home insurance quotes for home insurance coverage from several companies. When you compare quotes, you get a better idea of which company offers the coverage you’re looking for at a price that works with your budget.
- Understanding Homeowners Insurance
What does home insurance cover?
Homeowners policies provide coverage for your home and its contents after damage. Coverage with most home insurance policies breaks down into four separate categories:
- Insurance for the structure of your home
- Insurance for personal belongings
- Liability coverage on your property
- Living expenses if you must live away from home
Each of these categories offers a different type of protection that homeowners may need if a covered event occurs.
What’s covered in terms of the home and its structure?
Standard homeowners insurance will pay to repair or rebuild the structure of your home if certain things damage it. In most cases, the following incidents are covered under a home insurance policy:
- Fire
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Hurricane
- Hail
- Lightning
- Other natural disasters listed under your policy
In addition to the structure of your home, a typical home insurance policy also covers certain detached structures on your property, like a garage, shed, outdoor fireplace, or fence. In most cases, a home insurance policy will cover detached structures for up to 10% of the dollar amount you have for coverage for your home.
You can speak with an insurance representative if you have specific questions based on your home, its structure, or detached structures on your property to ensure you have enough coverage. You may also need help to learn how much home insurance you should buy.
What types of personal belongings does home insurance cover?
In most cases, a standard home insurance policy will cover the following:
- Furniture
- Clothes
- Sports equipment
- Appliances
- Trees and plants
Some policies may cover musical instruments, designer clothes, expensive jewelry, and artwork, while other home insurance policies won’t. If you have a home insurance policy that doesn’t cover certain personal items, you may be able to add property insurance coverage to your policy.
Property insurance coverage, or personal property coverage, covers personal items in your home that a standard policy may not cover.
In general, a home insurance policy will cover your items up to 50%-70% of the insurance you have on your home’s structure.
What does liability home insurance help with?
Your home insurance policy’s liability coverage protects you against lawsuits. In addition, if you or a family member cause bodily injury or damage on or off your property, your home insurance policy will help pay for repairs, doctor visits, and other things.
Similarly, if you have a pet that injures someone else, your home insurance policy will pay for the medical bills associated with the covered injury.
Liability insurance with a home insurance policy also covers the cost of defending you in court if someone sues you. Coverage extends to the dollar amount stated in your home insurance policy. Most liability insurance policies with home insurance start around $100,000.
Speak with an insurance representative to determine whether you need additional coverage, like an umbrella liability policy.
What does a home insurance policy consider “living expenses”?
If your home gets damaged to the point that you must live elsewhere while it’s repaired, your home insurance policy will cover the cost. Living expense coverage with your home insurance policy helps with the following:
- Hotel bills
- Restaurant costs
- Groceries
- Temporary office space
Assistance with living expenses through your home insurance policy is separate from coverage to repair your home. So, you shouldn’t have to worry whether your policy will simultaneously help with living expenses and repairs. Still, some home insurance policies have a time limit. Familiarize yourself with your policy to learn more.
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What does homeowners insurance not cover?
While home insurance coverage can be expansive, there are certain things a home insurance policy doesn’t cover. The most common things not covered under home insurance include:
- Earthquakes
- Sinkholes
- Floods
- Sump pump overflow
- Termites
- Insect damage
- Bird or rodent damage
- Rust, rot, or mold
- Wear and tear
- Smog or smoke damage
- Damage from war or nuclear hazards
- Identity theft
Certain exclusions listed above may not apply if you’ve added coverage to your home insurance policy to cover them. For example, you can purchase flood insurance in addition to your standard home insurance policy to ensure your home is covered if there’s ever a flood in your area. Find out whether home insurance covers mold.
If you’re curious whether home insurance covers roof leaks and other issues, the answer depends on how the damage occurred. For example, if the damage that caused a roof leak was sudden, like a fallen tree, your home insurance policy would cover repairs. However, if the damage was caused by general wear and tear, you may have to pay for repairs yourself.
How can I choose the right homeowners insurance policy?
The best way to choose the right home insurance policy is to shop and compare policies and quotes online. First, you can research different companies and what they offer to determine what you want. Next, compare quotes from several insurance companies to determine which offers the right affordable coverage.
Some companies will offer additional coverage, and some won’t. If you want personal property or flood coverage, ensure that any company you consider offers the type of home insurance policy you’re looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s not included in a home insurance policy?
Some of the things not included in a standard home insurance policy include earthquakes, sinkholes, floods, sump pump overflow, termites, insect damage, bird or rodent damage, rust, rot, or mold, wear and tear, smog or smoke damage, damage from war or nuclear hazards, and identity theft.
What’s the most important part of homeowners insurance?
Every coverage offered with home insurance is important. Standard policies include insurance for the structure of your home, insurance for personal belongings, liability coverage on your property, and living expenses if you must live away from home.
What are the three main areas covered by home insurance?
Home insurance covers the structure of your home and detached structures on your property, along with certain personal belongings inside your home.
Does home insurance cover roof leaks?
Your home insurance policy will cover roof leaks if something like a fallen tree or sudden storm causes it.
What does home insurance cover?
Home insurance provides coverage for various risks and perils that can damage or cause loss to your home and personal belongings. The specific coverage can vary depending on the policy and insurer, but generally, home insurance covers the following:
- Dwelling Coverage: This covers the structure of your home, including the walls, roof, foundation, and other permanent fixtures, against covered perils such as fire, windstorms, hail, lightning, and vandalism.
- Personal Property Coverage: This protects your personal belongings, such as furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing, and other items, from covered perils both inside and outside your home. Some policies may also cover loss or damage to personal property while you’re traveling.
- Liability Coverage: Liability coverage helps protect you if someone gets injured on your property or if you accidentally damage someone else’s property. It typically includes legal expenses and medical bills if you’re found responsible for the injuries or damages.
- Additional Living Expenses: If your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss, this coverage can help with temporary living expenses like hotel bills, meals, and other costs while your home is being repaired or rebuilt.
- Other Structures Coverage: This covers structures on your property that are not attached to your main dwelling, such as a detached garage, shed, or fence.
- Loss of Use Coverage: If you cannot live in your home due to a covered loss, loss of use coverage helps with additional expenses incurred, like renting a temporary residence.
Are you looking for free insurance quotes?
Your one-stop online insurance guide. Get free quotes now!
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insuranc...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.