The house
The structure and everything attached to it, insured for what it would cost to rebuild.
What to watchRebuild cost is not what the house would sell for. Insuring the house for too little is the most common gap we find.
- Home
- Personal insurance
- Home, condo and renters
Home, condo and renters
Home, condo and renters insurance
Home, condo and renters insurance covers the place you live and the belongings inside it. It also covers you if you injure someone or damage their property, and it pays for somewhere to stay while your home is repaired after a covered loss.
Who needs it
If you own it, insure the structure and the contents. If you rent it, insure the contents and your liability.
- Homeowners replacing or reviewing a policy
- Buyers who need a policy to close on a house
- Condo owners whose association policy leaves the inside of the unit to them
- Renters whose landlord's policy does not cover their belongings
- Owners of homes with pools, trampolines, home businesses or short-term rental guests, which change the risk
What it covers
What is covered, and what to watch
Summaries only. The policy wording governs, and every insurance company's policy is different.
Detached buildings
Garage, fence, shed and similar, usually at 10 percent of the amount on the house.
What to watchLarge outbuildings may need the amount raised.
Your belongings
Furniture, clothing, electronics and everything else you own, at home or away.
What to watchJewelry, art, collectibles and firearms have low caps unless listed individually on the policy.
Somewhere to stay
Hotel, rent and added living costs while the home cannot be lived in after a covered loss.
What to watchCheck whether it is a dollar amount or a time limit.
Your liability and guests' medical bills
Injuries and damage you or your family cause to others, at home or away, and small medical bills for guests hurt at your home.
What to watchUsually $300,000 to $500,000. An umbrella policy sits above it.
Common add-ons
Sewer and drain backup, the water and sewer lines under your yard, and breakdown of home systems, which standard policies exclude.
What to watchSewer backup is excluded on most policies and is one of the most frequent claims.
How we work
An independent agency, so the policy fits you and not the other way around
Many insurance companies, one agent
We are appointed with national and specialty companies, so your policy goes where it fits rather than where we happen to have a contract. See who we work with.
Plain English, line by line
Send your current policy and we compare it with what we would offer: what we would keep, what we would change, and why, in writing.
Nothing changes until you say so
No coverage starts and no policy changes until a licensed agent confirms it with you in writing. You always know what you have. How we work, in full.
Exclusions
What it does not cover
- Flood (a separate policy, usually with a 30-day wait before it starts)
- Earthquake and sinking or shifting ground
- Wear, lack of maintenance, mold and pests
- Sewer backup without the add-on
- Business property and business liability beyond small amounts
- Short-term rental guests without the right add-on
The association's policy, the landlord's policy and your own policy each cover a different thing. We map which is which before you buy.
How to get it
From first call to bound coverage
- 01Estimate the rebuild costWe run an estimate of what it would cost to rebuild rather than reuse the old number.
- 02List valuable itemsJewelry, art, instruments, collections and equipment that need to be listed individually.
- 03Add the extrasSewer backup, buried water and sewer lines, home systems breakdown, and the cost of meeting newer building codes, as appropriate.
- 04Pair it with autoHaving both with one insurer usually helps the price and makes an umbrella policy simpler.
Common questions
Should the amount on the house match the purchase price?
No. It should be the cost to rebuild the house today, which can be higher or lower than what it would sell for. The land is not insured; labor and materials are.
What does a condo association's policy cover?
Usually the building and common areas, and sometimes the unit's original fixtures. Everything else, including upgrades, your belongings and your liability, is on your own policy. The association's bylaws say where the line is.
Is renters insurance worth it?
Yes. Subject to its terms, it covers your belongings, your liability if you cause damage or injury, and somewhere to stay after a covered loss. The price is usually modest.
Are my jewelry and art covered?
Only up to small caps, often $1,500 to $2,500 for stolen jewelry. Items above that should be listed individually on the policy at an appraised value.
I rent my home on a short-term platform sometimes. Does that matter?
Yes. Most homeowners policies exclude or limit coverage for paying guests. There are add-ons and specialty policies for it. Tell us before the first booking.
Related
Often placed alongside
Auto insurance
Covers injuries and damage you cause with your vehicle, and damage to the vehicle itself.
Auto insurancePersonal umbrella
Adds $1 million or more of liability coverage on top of your auto and home policies for the claim that is bigger than they are.
Personal umbrellaBusiness insurance
General liability, property, workers' compensation, auto, packages and cyber for small and mid-size businesses.
Business insuranceGet a quote
Tell us about your household on the quote form, or send your current declarations pages and we compare them line by line.