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Homeowners Insurance Quick Links

Did You Know?

Colorado is in the
top 10 states with catastrophe-related homeowners insurance claims.

Homeowners Insurance Basics

Insurance is something most people don't even want to think about until they need it the most. But, understanding what is and isn't covered in your homeowners insurance policy can mean the difference of being able to rebuild your home and replace your personal belongings. Homeowners need to do annual insurance policy "check ups" to make sure they keep up with local building costs, home remodeling and inventories of their personal belongings.

The typical homeowners insurance policy covers damage resulting from fire, windstorm, hail, water damage (excluding flooding), riots and explosion as well as other causes of loss, such as theft and the extra cost of living elsewhere which the structure is being repaired or rebuilt.

Your policy also covers your legal liability (up to policy limits) if you, members of your family or even your pets hurt other people or their property, not just in your house, but away from it, as well. Click here for more information on general liability coverage and umbrella policies.

When you insure your home, you are really insuring two distinct things:

  1. The structure of your home
  2. Your personal belongings

The Structure of Your Home

Three ways to insure the structure of your home:

  1. Replacement Cost. Insurance that pays the policyholder the cost of replacing the damaged property without deduction for depreciation, but limited to a maximum dollar amount.

  2. Extended Replacement Cost. An extended replacement cost policy, one that covers costs up to a certain percentage over the limit (usually 20%). This gives you protection against such things as a sudden increase in construction costs.

  3. Actual Cash Value. This covers the cost to replace your home minus depreciation costs for age and use. For example, if the life expectancy of your roof is 20 years and your roof is 15 years old, the cost to replace it in today's marketplace is going to be much higher than its actual cash value.

Tips for Insuring Your Home to Value
You should insure your home for the total amount it would cost to rebuild your home if it were destroyed. That's not the market value, but the cost to rebuild. If you don't have sufficient insurance, your company may only pay a portion of the cost of replacing or repairing damaged items. Here are some tips to help make sure you have enough insurance:

  • For a quick estimate on the amount to rebuild your home: multiply the local building costs per square foot by the total square footage of your house. To find out the building rates in your area, consult your local builders association or a reputable builder. You should also check with your insurance agent or company representative. (Note: This is only an estimate and shouldn't replace annual coverage reviews).

  • Factors that will determine the cost to rebuild your home: a) construction costs b) square footage of the structure c) type of exterior wall construction—frame, masonry or veneer d) the style of the house (ranch, colonial) e) the number of rooms & bathrooms f) the type of roof g) attached garages, fireplaces, exterior trim and other special features like arched windows or unique interior trim.

  • Check the value of your insurance policy against rising local building cost EACH YEAR. Check with your insurance agent or company representative if they offer an "INFLATION GUARD CLAUSE." This automatically adjusts the dwelling limit when you renew your policy to reflect current construction costs in your area. However, you still should keep up with local building costs by checking in periodically with your local builders association.

  • Check the latest building codes in your community. Building codes require structures to be constructed to minimum standards. If your home is severely damaged, you might have to rebuild it to comply with the new standards requiring a change in design or building materials. These generally cost more.

  • Do not insure your home for the market value. The cost of rebuilding your home may be higher or lower than the price you paid for it or the price you could sell it for today.

  • Most lenders require you to buy enough insurance to cover the amount of your mortgage. Make sure it's also enough to cover the cost of rebuilding.

  • Advise your insurer and increase the limits of your policy if you make improvements or additions to your house.

Your Personal Belongings

Two ways to insure your personal belongings:

  1. Replacement Cost Coverage. Insurance that pays the dollar amount needed to replace damaged personal property with items of like kind or quality without deduction for depreciation.

  2. Actual Cash Value. Insurance under which the policyholder receives an amount equal to the replacement value of damaged property minus depreciation. Unless a homeowners policy specifies that property is covered for its replacement value, the coverage is for actual cash value.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you're insuring your stuff:

  • Check the limits of your policy on personal items, such as jewelry, silverware, furs and computer equipment. If the limits are too low, consider buying a special personal property endorsement or a "floater." An endorsement is an addition to your policy. A floater is a form of insurance that allows you to insure valuable items separately.

  • Make an inventory of everything you own in your home and in other buildings on the property. Write down major items you own along with all available information, such as (a) serial numbers (b) make and/or model numbers (c) purchase prices (d) present value (e) date of purchase. Click here for more on home inventories.

  • Document your inventory. Take either still or video pictures and attach receipts to the inventory when available. Store the inventory and visual records AWAY from your home—perhaps in a safe deposit box.

  • Update the inventory when you make major purchases.

The most important thing you can do to safeguard your home and property is to understand that your insurance policy is a contract and you need to know what's in it. Your insurance agent or company representative will be able to walk you though it and answer any questions.

The bottom line: Don't put your policy up on a shelf somewhere and let it collect dust! Review your policy every year.

When Buying a Home, Put Insurance on the Top of Your "To-Do" List

Don't Forget the KeysAre you buying insurance on a new home, selling a home, or just wanting to gain a better understanding of the factors that affect your ability to get and keep affordable homeowners insurance? Let us provide you some of the major keys to how homeowners insurance works, help you avoid common pitfalls and offer some ways you can save money.

Most lenders won't provide a mortgage without homeowners insurance coverage, so work with your insurance company or agent, together with your Realtor, to help you move into and protect your dream home.

Download the brochure or request a copy by mail. Please include your mailing address.

Know what your homeowners insurance covers.

  • It typically covers damage from fire, windstorm, hail, water damage (excluding flooding), riots, explosion, as well as other sudden and unexpected losses., i.e. theft, and the extra cost of living elsewhere while your home is repaired or rebuilt.

  • It covers your legal liability (up to policy limits) if you, members of your family or even your pets hurt other people or their property, not just your house, but away from it, too.

  • Do annual insurance policy "checkups" to keep up with local building costs, home remodeling and inventories of personal belongings. Make sure that you have updated insurance to rebuild or repair your home for what it would cost in the current building market. Accurate inventories of personal possessions make for faster and smoother claims' settlements. Photos and videos offer easy ways to document your stuff.

Key Consumer Tip:
Understand what is and isn't covered by your homeowners insurance policy to ensure that you are able to rebuild your home and replace your personal belongings.

Know the factors that affect your homeowners insurance cost and policy renewal.

  • The square footage of the house and any additional structures, such as a detached garage.

  • Building costs in your area.

  • The type of construction, materials, and features on your home, including the roofing.

  • Crime rates in your neighborhood.

  • The likelihood of damage due to a disaster, such as a wildfire, hail or wind. For example, Colorado's homeowners insurance rates are impacted by the state's volatile catastrophe trends. Click here for a Colorado analysis from the Insurance Research Council's Trends in Homeowners Insurance, 2015 Edition.

  • Distance to a fire hydrant and a fire station, whether your neighborhood is protected by professional or volunteer firefighters, and any factors that affect the time it would take to extinguish a fire in your area.

  • The condition of the plumbing, heating and electrical systems in your home.

  • Many companies use good credit history to offer you a discount or as one of the factors in deciding to sell a policy to new customers.

  • The number of claims you file over a certain period of time can put you at risk for non-renewal or higher premiums. Insurance is designed for large, "sudden and unexpected" losses, not for minor "wear and tear."

Key Consumer Tip:
Many factors determine what you'll pay for homeowners insurance, so whether you're buying or building a new home or just reviewing the cost and coverage under your current homeowners insurance policy, be aware of what affects your bottom line.

To learn more about the cost of homeowners and renters insurance, or to view state-by-state costs and statistics, click here to see Insurance Information Institute data.

Avoid common pitfalls that may result in paying higher premiums or even losing insurance.

  • Consider carrying a higher deductible. It will save you money on your premium and discourage you from filing small claims that may put you at risk for non-renewal.

  • Do routine home maintenance check-ups. Preventing damage from water losses and other typical in-home disasters that can often be avoided may save you from future headaches and financial risk.

  • Get insurance early! Learn the claims history on the property you own and the property you're buying. If you want to know of prior losses that may impact the availability or price of your new home's insurance, ask the seller to provide a copy of the home's loss history report (called a CLUE ® or A-PLUST Report) with the disclosure statements. This is a record of home insurance claims that have been reported or filed in the past five years. Finding out what claims have been filed in recent years, such as water loss claims, can affect whether the property is considered higher risk. When you're selling your home, also make sure you know what the loss history is on your own home.

  • Do your homework. To order a CLUE ® Report, see www.choicetrust.com. To order a copy of your A-PLUST Report, call 1-800-709-8842.

Key Consumer Tip:
The more information you have going into the home buying process, the less likely you are to encounter pitfalls along the way. You wouldn't even think about buying a used car without knowing its history. The same goes for your dream home.

Keys to saving on homeowners insurance.

Consider taking some steps to make yourself a better risk and save money.

Install safety & security devices. You can often save up to 15 percent on you premium with deadbolt locks, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, burglar alarms and fire alarms that alert your local police and fire stations. Check with your agent to see if your insurance company has specific requirements to qualify.

Increase the deductible on your homeowners policy. Increasing your out-of-pocket payment from $250 to $500 or even $1,000 can save you money on your premium and it will discourage you from making small claims, which could put you at risk for being non-renewed.

Check into a multi-policy discount. Some companies offer a price break for having more than one type of policy with the same company.

Maintain good credit. Many companies provide discounts or consider good credit as one of the factors when selling new policies, so it can really pay off to manage your personal finances.

Invest in hail and fire resistive roofing products. Your roof is the most vulnerable part of your home and many companies consider the roofing materials into the premium you are charged. Depending on where you live, some companies charge a percentage, rather than a dollar deductible or surcharge on a roof made out of high-risk materials, like wood shingles or shakes.

It pays to shop around for insurance coverage. Keep in mind that the cheapest policy is not necessarily the best. Selecting a company that provides good customer service and one that fits your personal needs is critical, especially when it comes time to file a claim.

Home Buyer Checklist

Check on insurance early. When buying a home, the sooner you check with an insurance company or agency to price a policy and find out if you can insure that property, the smoother the process will be.

Check the claims-filing history of properties you are selling and buying.

  • Get a copy of your own loss history report, such as a CLUE report from ChoicePoint or an A-PLUS report from Insurance Services Office (ISO).

  • Ask the seller to provide a copy of the home's loss history report (called a CLUE or A-Plus Report) with the disclosure statements. This can alert you to any damage that may have occurred to that property. Depending on your insurance company, the loss history of your potential home may affect your insurance.

Make sure you buy the amount of insurance you need. Take the time to properly insure your home. Make sure that you have enough coverage to:

  • Rebuild the house if it is destroyed by fire or another insured disaster.
  • Replace everything in it.
  • Protect your assets if someone is injured on your property.

Consider a higher deductible. If you can afford a higher out-of-pocket deductible, it will save you in the short-term on your insurance premium and also discourage you in the long-term from making small claims that could put your insurance at risk for non-renewal.

Ask about extra coverage.

  • Replacement cost coverage for possessions.
  • Extended or guaranteed replacement cost coverage for the structure.
  • Building code upgrades.
  • Sewer and drain back-ups.
  • Inflation-guard.
  • Umbrella coverage if you have a lot of assets to protect or the property has high- risk features, such as a pool.
  • Special riders for jewelry, collectibles and expensive items.

Additional Information
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