6 Things You Probably Didn’t Know Homeowners Insurance Covers

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Updated on April 17th, 2023

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or you’ve owned a home for a long time, home insurance is a necessity. It can be a lifesaver if something disastrous happens to your property. Water damage, fire, and theft are the primary situations that homeowners are usually concerned about, but home insurance also covers several other incidents that have probably never crossed your mind. 

If you happen to find yourself dealing with any of the below problems, you may be pleased to discover that your home insurance policy may take care of your expenses. Here are several surprising things you might not know your homeowners insurance covers.

homeowners insurance covers

1. Identity Theft

Have you been a victim of identity theft?  If you have homeowners insurance, there’s a chance you may have insurance coverage for that. Coverage may be provided for expenses related to identity recovery, lost wages, and expenses for the child or elder care, as well as help-line assistance and case management services for the identity-related loss. – Badger Insurance Advisors

Most homeowners insurance carriers have an option to include identity theft coverage for all family members that live in the household. This endorsement is usually $25 or less per year and is sometimes automatically included in your coverage. Pricing and availability vary depending on your homeowner’s insurance company and the state where you live. – Thomas Insurance Advisors

2. Your cell phone

Many insurers offer free replacement up to a certain value for cell phones under the homeowner’s policy. While your policy will cover your phone for damages, such as fire and theft, it will likely not cover losing or misplacing your cell phone.  – Five Star Insurance

3. Sewer lines

Many carriers are now offering sewer line coverage which was not available until very recently.  It offers coverage for your water/sewer pipes from the street to your home.  Especially in older homes, this can be an issue and their claims are typically $10K plus. – The Insurance Advisors

4. Family gravesite

You might be surprised to know that your homeowners insurance policy provides coverage for damaged grave markers. That means that if severe weather conditions or an act of vandalism damages your family tombstone, mausoleum, or another type of grave marker, you could receive up to $5000 whether it was located on your residential property or off. – Advocate Insurance

5. Items in storage

Homeowners insurance policies usually cover your personal property. Believe it or not, this can include property that you keep away from home. Your policy may cover furniture, electronics, clothes, and other belongings even if they’re damaged or stolen from a storage unit, hotel, or college dorm. There are limits to off-premises protection, however. Your policy may have a lower coverage limit for the off-premises property, and it’s unlikely to cover property maintenance or damage sustained from general use. For that kind of protection, you’ll want to supplement your policy with a home warranty. – Liberty Home Guard 

6. Your parents’ property if they’re living in an assisted living facility

If your parents live in a long-term or assisted living facility and they are dependent on you for support, their personal belongings may be covered by your home insurance policy. – Sahouri Insurance

Some of the incidents mentioned above may not be covered by your homeowners insurance plan, as coverage can differ by state, company, and the specific policy. To better understand your coverage, we recommend speaking with a Home Insurance Specialist.

 

 

Emily is part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about real estate trends and home improvement. Her dream home would be a charming Tudor-style house with large windows to let in lots of natural light.
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