Home insurance built around what it would actually cost to rebuild
Your home is probably your largest asset and your largest liability at the same time. A good policy handles both — and the details are where policies differ most.
What your homeowners policy should be doing
Homeowners policies look similar on the surface and diverge sharply in the fine print. Two policies with the same premium can respond very differently to the same water damage claim.
The parts we pay close attention to:
- Dwelling coverage — the cost to rebuild your home at today's construction prices, not what you paid for it and not its market value.
- Other structures — detached garage, fence, shed, pool house.
- Personal property — your belongings. Ask whether it is replacement cost or actual cash value; the difference is substantial.
- Loss of use — pays for somewhere to live while your home is being repaired.
- Personal liability — if someone is injured on your property, or your dog bites a neighbor.
- Water backup, service line, and ordinance or law — endorsements that are not automatic and are the source of a great many denied claims.
The gaps we find most often
Underinsurance after renovations. People finish a basement or add a bathroom and never tell their carrier. Then a fire happens and the rebuild cost exceeds the dwelling limit.
Flood. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood. They never have. If you are in or near a flood zone, that is a separate policy and we can write it.
High-value items. Jewelry, firearms, collectibles, and musical instruments usually have low sub-limits — often a few thousand dollars total. Scheduling them individually is inexpensive and worth doing.
Liability that stops too low. If you have meaningful savings, a pool, a trampoline, or a teenage driver, an umbrella policy sitting on top of your home and auto is one of the cheapest pieces of protection in all of insurance.
Home Insurance questions we hear a lot
Is my dwelling limit the same as what I paid for the house?
No, and conflating the two is one of the most common mistakes we see. Dwelling coverage is replacement cost — what it would take to rebuild the structure with current labor and materials. It can be higher or lower than market value, and in recent years construction costs have moved fast.
Does my policy cover water damage?
It depends entirely on the source. A burst pipe is typically covered. Water backing up through a drain or sump pump usually is not unless you've added that endorsement. Flooding from outside the home is never covered by a standard policy. We'll tell you exactly which of these you have.
Will filing a small claim raise my rate?
Often, yes — and sometimes more than the claim is worth. For losses close to your deductible it's worth a conversation before you file. We'd rather you call and ask first.
Do I need an umbrella policy?
If your assets exceed your home and auto liability limits, or you have any elevated liability exposure, it's worth pricing. Umbrella coverage is typically inexpensive relative to what it protects.