Home Insurance: What’s Not Covered

Home Insurance: What's Not Covered

You’ve bought yourself a new home insurance policy to protect your beloved home from all sorts of disasters, but before you kick back and relax, let’s talk about something crucial – what your home insurance might not cover. Some things might not be covered by your policy, and it’s essential to be in the know to avoid any unpleasant surprises down the road.

1. Earthquake and Flood Damage

Most standard home insurance policies don’t include coverage for these natural disasters. So, if you live in an earthquake-prone area or near a flood zone, you might want to consider purchasing separate earthquake and flood insurance policies to keep your home and finances protected.

2. Sewer Backup

A nasty sewer backup flooding your basement could cause a huge mess. Gross, right? Unfortunately, many standard home insurance policies won’t cover this icky situation. You can usually add a sewer backup endorsement to your policy or purchase a separate policy to deal with this stinky issue.

3. Mold Infestations

Mold can be sneaky, creeping into your home and causing all sorts of health problems and property damage. However, not all mold situations are covered by home insurance. If the mold is a result of a covered peril like sudden water damage from a burst pipe, you might be covered. But if it’s due to negligence or lack of maintenance, you might be out of luck.

4. Termite Infestations

Termites – those tiny wood-munching monsters we’d all rather do without. Sadly, these little critters aren’t typically covered by your home insurance policy. Preventative measures and regular inspections are key to keeping termites at bay and protecting your home from their destructive tendencies. Check out smarterhomeandyard.org to receive help with termites and similar pest infestations.

5. Home Business and Equipment

If you’re running a home-based business, be aware that your business equipment and liabilities might not be covered by your standard home insurance policy. You can usually purchase a separate business insurance policy to safeguard your business assets and protect against potential lawsuits.

6. Certain Valuables and Collections

While your home insurance likely covers your personal belongings, there may be limits or exclusions on certain high-value items like jewelry, art collections, or rare artifacts. If you own such valuables, consider getting a separate policy or adding a valuable item endorsement to ensure you’re protected.

7. Wear and Tear

General wear and tear or gradual deterioration won’t be covered by your insurance. It’s your responsibility as a homeowner to keep up with regular maintenance and repairs to avoid any denied claims due to neglect.

Closing Thoughts

Understanding what your home insurance doesn’t cover is just as important as knowing what it does cover. Take the time to review your policy carefully, and if you find any gaps in coverage that leave you feeling uneasy, talk to your insurance agent.

Find cheap home insurance near you

"*" indicates required fields

Sources

https://www.insurance.wa.gov

About Rate Retriever

At Rate Retriever, our mission is to make the way you shop for insurance transparent and fair through user-friendly tools that respect your privacy and deliver reliable, comprehensive results.

So we took everything we hated about comparing insurance quotes online – the spam, the long questionnaires, the limited choices, the inaccuracy of quote prices – and threw it out the window, favoring a short form that more accurately estimates what you’ll pay at each of the top insurance providers near you.

Rate Retriever is an independent company that is not owned by an insurance provider, nor do we provide insurance ourselves. This independence allows us to be your free and impartial insurance research tool, helping you make the best decisions for your insurance needs.

We may earn a commission when you click one of the links or call one of the providers listed on our site; however, we do not allow our partnerships to influence which information we provide.

Share this article

Home Insurance: What’s Not Covered