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What is NOT covered in a standard homeowners insurance policy?

Homeowners insurance provides valuable protection in the event of certain types of losses to your property or other possessions and can be an essential part of insuring your most valuable assets. However, it’s important to understand that a standard homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover everything—these are some things not included in most standard policies. Before searching for the top Florida homeowners insurance companies to work with, keep reading to learn more.

Maintenance Issues

When you’re thinking about your first home, or moving into an apartment where maintenance isn’t included, it might seem like homeowners insurance will cover all issues that crop up around your property. It won’t. Homeowners insurance typically only covers issues that are directly related to natural disasters such as tornadoes and floods. So if lightning strikes a tree branch on your property and snaps off one of your gutters—without actually striking anything on your house—your claim may be denied by most insurers.

Water or Mold Damage

Most homeowner’s policies don’t cover water or mold damage. Unfortunately, if you have an issue with either of these (or any other non-specific calamity) then your coverage won’t kick in. That said, most home insurers will add flood coverage for an additional premium. You should check your individual policy to see if that applies to you!

Earthquake Damage

A standard homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover damage caused by earthquakes. This means that if you live in an area prone to seismic activity, you should consider additional coverage through a stand-alone earthquake insurance policy or by increasing your deductible on your existing homeowners policy.

Flood Damage

Flooding can quickly cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to your home and its contents. Typically, flood insurance isn’t included in standard home insurance policies; however, you can purchase additional coverage from your local FEMA office. If you live near a body of water—even if it’s just a large river or stream—it’s important to protect yourself against potential flooding.

High-Valuables

While most homeowners insurance policies include coverage for high-value items such as jewelry, laptops, and antiques, many will not cover these expensive items if they are left on display. For example, if you have an antique display case that’s filled with your priceless collection of eighteenth century porcelain dolls and you accidentally break it during a dinner party, you could end up facing thousands of dollars in damages.

Now with a better understanding of what’s not included in a standard homeowners insurance policy, you’ll be able to communicate with the top Florida homeowners insurance companies about your insurance needs better. If you need further assistance in determining what coverages you might need, reach out to a Get-a-Quote professional today! Get-a-Quote is a great insurance shopping tool that provides a focused one-on-one experience.