Your home insurance policy protects you, your home, and the things you own against unexpected losses. As a homeowner, getting the right policy is an important part of protecting your investment and your financial future. With the help of Jarosch insurance, it’s easy to find a policy that gives you confidence that you are covered against a wide range of potential losses.
Hazards and Perils
Home insurance policies cover many different types of losses. Depending on the type of policy you purchase, you may have coverage for only named perils, or you may have coverage for nearly any loss not specifically excluded by name. For example, home insurance often covers damages caused by:
- Fires and explosions
- Smoke
- Lightning
- Hail
- Wind
- Fallen objects
- Theft
- Vandalism
- And more
Additional coverage may be available for certain types of loss events, such as water discharge and sewer backup. Other types of events, such as floods, require a separate, stand-alone policy. We are happy to help you explore your coverage options and choose which policies and endorsements may be right for you.
Understanding Your Policy
Home insurance policies include several different sections, each of which outlines a different type of coverage. A standard policies includes protection for many different types of losses. As a homeowner, you should understand exactly what your policy protects you against and the limits on each type of coverage.
Structural Damages
When you think of home insurance, you probably think of the damages to your home’s structure. After all, your home is probably the most valuable thing you own. It makes sense that you would want to protect your investment against potential loss. Section A of a standard home insurance policy outlines coverage for the structure, followed by Section B, which outlines coverage for other structures on your property like detached garages, fences, and sheds. We typically recommend insuring your home for its replacement value to assure you have the funds necessary to rebuild based on the local construction and material costs at the time of the loss.
Personal Belongings
Home insurance may also include protection for the things you own, including the contents of your home. Many homeowners own tens of thousands of dollars worth of belongings, including:
- Clothes
- Textiles
- Décor
- Electronics
- Furniture
- Small appliances
- And more
Personal belongings coverage can reimburse you for damage, loss, or theft of these items due to a covered event. Standard coverage generally covers only the depreciated value (actual cash value) of your items. If you prefer coverage that instead pays for the full replacement of your items with new ones, be sure to ask how you can add replacement coverage to your policy.
To find out how much personal belongings coverage you need, we recommend taking frequent inventory of your home’s contents, as well as any possessions you may keep away from your property. Document your belongings with serial numbers, photos, and receipts when possible to substantiate any claims you may need to make against your policy in the future.
Liability
The liability section of your home insurance policy may provide payment for third-party injuries and losses, but it ultimately protects your own income and assets against financial responsibility. Liability insurance helps pay for medical bills, legal bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with an accidental injury or damages you or a member of your household is liable for. Without adequate coverage, a single lawsuit could threaten your life savings and future income.
Medical Payments
Like liability coverage, medical payments protection can help pay for the medical bills of a person who is injured on your property. However, it does not matter who is at fault for the incident. Instead, your insurance can issue payment up to the limits of your policy for necessary medical expenses, such as an emergency room visit or a health insurance deductible. This does not remove potential liability for the incident, but it may be enough to prevent a potential lawsuit.
Temporary Displacement
When homes are damaged or destroyed, the people who live inside them need to find temporary shelter. This section of your policy can help pay for rent, hotel costs, Laundromat expenses, and more until your home is repaired or rebuilt.
Lowering Arizona Home Insurance Costs
It’s common sense to want the maximum value for your money. No one wants to pay more for home insurance than they have to. Our goal is to help you increase your savings without sacrificing the quality of your coverage. We accomplish this in several ways:
- We evaluate your actual coverage needs based on different variables like local construction costs, your income, the value of your assets, and the rate of inflation.
- We shop and compare rates from multiple insurance companies instead of just one.
- We find money-saving discounts for things like home security systems or being claims-free.
- We show you how tweaks to your policy deductibles could affect the cost of your premiums.
Why Use an Independent Agent?
Independent agents work for customers – not companies. With an independent agent, you gain access to quotes from multiple insurance companies instead of just one. This makes shopping and comparing rates a faster and simpler process – all with the help of a trained and knowledgeable agent with years of experience.
If you need a new home insurance policy or simply want to explore your options with an independent agent, contact our office today. We look forward to serving you soon.