Home Insurance
Home insurance, also ../commonly called homeowner's insurance,is a type of property insurance that covers a private residence. It is an insurance policy that combines various personal insurance protections, which can include losses occurring to one's home
What is Home Insurance?
Homeowners insurance is a form of property insurance designed to protect an individual's home against damages to the house itself, or to possessions in the home. Homeowners insurance also provides liability coverage against accidents in the home or on the property.
Why Do We Need Homeowners Insurance?
Hazard Insurance
Hazard insurance protects you against unintentional damage or destruction to your house or its contents, including fire, storm, theft, vandalism and similar threats. It can cover the cash value of the damages or the replacement value; replacement value pays enough to replace what you lost, but cash value only pays what a property is worth.
Liability
Liability insurance covers personal liability for accidents on your property. If your neighbour trips on a hose in your yard and breaks his ankle, for example, liability insurance will pay for his medical expenses, up to the policy limit.
Mortgage Requirement
One reason homeowners need insurance is that mortgage companies require it. If you take out a mortgage, your house is the lender's collateral, so your lender will require you to buy a minimum level of hazard insurance. That doesn't prevent you from buying a greater amount than the minimum, No states, if you think it necessary.
Special Property
Homeowners insurance covers most of the property in your home, but there are limits to what the insurer will pay for certain items, such as cash or jewellery, the "This Old House" website states. If you have a home office, hazard insurance doesn't cover business equipment either. If you have personal or business property that isn't covered, consider paying more money for a supplemental policy that will protect you if they're damaged.
Factors Affecting Home Insurance
Replacement Cost of Your Home
What's perhaps the biggest mistake most homeowners make when insuring their homes? Industry experts say that it's under-insuring the value, which can lead to much financial pain if the worst happens.The estimated replacement cost is the amount of money to build the exact same home where it stands now. This is different than the market value of the home, which includes other things such as the value of the plot of land.
Deductibles you Choose for Your Policy
A deductible is the amount you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance company pays a claim. Choosing the right deductible amount is a significant decision because the higher the deductible, the more money you can save on your premiums.
Home liability limits
Personal liability limits should be carefully considered. Insurers say that most people buy policies with 100,000 in personal liability insurance, which tends to be inadequate. The amount could easily be used up due to medical expenses and possible lawsuits if someone was seriously injured in your home.