{"id":323272,"date":"2025-11-08T00:28:22","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T05:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?page_id=110935"},"modified":"2025-11-08T00:28:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T05:28:22","slug":"guide-homeowners-insurance-coverage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/guide-homeowners-insurance-coverage\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Homeowners Insurance Coverage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div id=\"block_aa1fb26ed95c1\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">How much do I need to know about my homeowners insurance?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>Homeowners insurance does more than name coverages \u2014 it sets the rules for how claims are settled and what you pay out of pocket. Since 2020, many insurers have adjusted HO-3 policies with new endorsements, special deductibles, and tighter roof and water-damage terms, so two policies that look alike can pay very differently. Consumer resources from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a> explain this variability and why it\u2019s essential to review your exact forms and attached endorsements before you buy.<\/p>\n<p>Premiums have also climbed in recent years, reflecting higher catastrophe losses, reinsurance costs, and rising claim severity. Federal price data for &#8220;tenants\u2019 and household insurance&#8221; show sustained high single- to low double-digit increases through 2023\u20132024, with ongoing pressure into 2025 (<a href=\"https:\/\/data.bls.gov\/timeseries\/CUUR0000SEGD\">BLS CPI series<\/a>; see also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\/research\">NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/trends-in-homeowners-insurance\">Insurance Information Institute<\/a>). Coming prepared \u2014 knowing where exclusions apply, when special deductibles trigger, and which endorsements you may need (e.g., water backup, service line, equipment breakdown, or home\u2011sharing) \u2014 will help you ask focused questions and set realistic cost expectations.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"insurance\" title=\"What does homeowners insurance cover?\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does homeowners insurance cover?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The majority of homeowners purchase what\u2019s known as an \u201cHO-3\u201d policy. Authoritative consumer sources confirm that HO-3 typically provides open-perils coverage for your dwelling and other structures, while personal property is covered on a <a href=\"#named-perils\">named perils<\/a> basis. In practice, <strong>an HO-3 protects against all causes not excluded, but details vary by insurer and state<\/strong> \u2014 especially for roofs, wind\/hail, and water losses (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/types-of-homeowners-insurance-policies\">Insurance Information Institute<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>). These exclusions generally include: <\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"list-items\">\n<li>Earth movement \u2013 earthquakes, landslides, or sinkholes  <\/li>\n<li>Water damage \u2013 flooding, storm surge and surface water, sewer or drain backup (usually requires an endorsement), or groundwater seepage<\/li>\n<li>Poor maintenance \u2013 neglect, wear and tear, deterioration, or faulty construction\/materials<\/li>\n<li>Social causes \u2013 war, nuclear hazard, government ordinance without endorsement, or new building codes<\/li>\n<li>Intentional loss \u2013 damaging the home on purpose to get an insurance payout<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>Many policies also include clarifying provisions that can affect outcomes, such as anti-concurrent causation language for some excluded perils, mold\/fungi sublimits, and animal liability limits; in some states, regulators have restricted breed-based underwriting (e.g., Colorado\u2019s 2024 law curtailing dog-breed discrimination in homeowners insurance \u2014 see <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.colorado.gov\">Colorado Division of Insurance<\/a>). Trampolines and pools may carry underwriting restrictions or liability requirements, underscoring the importance of reviewing your insurer\u2019s state-specific forms and notices (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under an HO-3 policy, if your home is damaged by a covered cause, the insurer pays up to your limits subject to deductibles and loss-settlement terms. Today, many carriers use age-based or ACV roof settlements unless you add replacement cost, and some apply \u201ccosmetic damage\u201d exclusions that limit payment for aesthetic hail\/wind damage. Separate percentage deductibles for wind\/hail or hurricanes are common in exposed regions and can be much higher than your all-perils deductible. Verify how your policy handles roofs and special deductibles before buying (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/does-homeowners-insurance-cover-roof-damage\">III: roof coverage<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tdi.texas.gov\">Texas Department of Insurance<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/background-on-hurricane-and-windstorm-deductibles\">III: hurricane and wind deductibles<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"core\" title=\"Homeowners insurance covers six core areas\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Homeowners insurance covers six core areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The exclusions listed above dictate <em>when<\/em> your homeowners insurance will pay out. Within that framework, HO-3 policies organize protection into Coverages A\u2013F: dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use\/ALE, personal liability, and medical payments. That structure is still standard, but exact terms depend on the insurer\u2019s filed forms and your state (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/types-of-homeowners-insurance-policies\">III<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"list-items\">\n<li><strong>Home or \u201cdwelling\u201d coverage<\/strong> pays to repair or replace your main house if it\u2019s damaged by a covered cause<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coverage for \u201cother structures\u201d<\/strong> pays to repair or replace other structures, like detached garages, sheds, fences, and guest houses <\/li>\n<li><strong>Personal property coverage<\/strong> replaces the things inside your home. Note: personal property is the only thing covered on a <a href=\"#named-perils\">named perils<\/a> basis under an HO-3 policy<\/li>\n<li><strong>Loss of use coverage<\/strong> helps pay for living expenses, like alternate lodging, if you\u2019re displaced from your home while it\u2019s being repaired <\/li>\n<li><strong>Personal liability insurance<\/strong> covers losses and legal fees if someone outside your family is injured or has belongings damaged while on your property<\/li>\n<li><strong>Medical payment insurance<\/strong> helps cover medical bills for anyone injured on your property or by your pets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>Each coverage has its own limit. Your dwelling (Coverage A) should reflect full reconstruction cost; other limits are often set as percentages of Coverage A. Given code updates and post-disaster demand surge, ask about extended or guaranteed replacement cost and ordinance or law coverage to avoid shortfalls, and check for any separate wind\/hail or hurricane deductibles that could change your out-of-pocket costs (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/background-on-hurricane-and-windstorm-deductibles\">III<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"options\" title=\"Optional coverages add extra protection\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Optional coverages add extra protection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An HO-3 policy covers all the basics. But depending on your location, home type, and how you use the property, you may need add-ons (\u201cendorsements\u201d) to close gaps. In 2025, high-impact options include water backup\/sump overflow endorsements (commonly offering limits such as $5,000\u2013$50,000), service line coverage for buried utilities on your lot, and equipment breakdown\/home-systems protection for HVAC and electrical breakdowns (these are excluded in base policies). If you rent all or part of your home through a platform, a home\u2011sharing\/short\u2011term rental endorsement is often required to avoid business\u2011use gaps. Availability and terms vary by state and insurer \u2014 review policy forms and endorsements carefully (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehartford.com\">The Hartford: Water Backup<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amfam.com\">American Family: Service Line<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/home-sharing-and-insurance\">III: Home sharing<\/a>). In wildfire\u2011exposed areas, some carriers pair mitigation credits with response services; California\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insurance.ca.gov\/01-consumers\/105-type\/95-guides\/03-res\/safer-from-wildfires\/\">Safer from Wildfires<\/a> framework reflects this broader push for resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_62c86d2ec52bc\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Sewer or sump pump backup coverage<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>Water damage is generally covered under an HO-3 if it is sudden and accidental and originates within the home (e.g., burst pipes). However, water that backs up through sewers or drains, or overflows from a sump, is typically <em>excluded<\/em> unless you buy an endorsement. Choose limits that match the value of any finished basement and mechanical systems; many insurers offer $5,000\u2013$50,000 options. Ask how mold remediation and tear\u2011out are handled and note this coverage does not replace flood insurance (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehartford.com\">The Hartford<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tdi.texas.gov\/consumer\/water-damage-and-mold.html\">Texas DOI: water &#038; mold<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_648ffb963bac1\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Enhanced or \u201cscheduled\u201d personal property coverage<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>\u201cScheduled personal property protection\u201d lists specific items and insures them for an agreed value, often expanding causes of loss and removing sublimits that apply in the base policy. Consider scheduling for high\u2011value jewelry, art, instruments, antiques, or collectibles. Some insurers also offer HO\u20115 policies that broaden personal property from named perils to open perils \u2014 ask your agent which option fits your collection (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_ce7a436b4ee40\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Inflation guard coverage<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>This optional coverage increases your dwelling limit over time to track construction inflation. Because material and labor costs have remained elevated since 2020 and severe-weather losses have driven demand surge after catastrophes, inflation guard, extended replacement cost, and periodic re\u2011valuations can help keep limits adequate (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/trends-in-homeowners-insurance\">III: homeowners trends<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_4a2ef267e8abd\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Ordinance or law coverage <\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>When repairing an older home, current codes may require upgrades (electrical, plumbing, energy, or structural work). Ordinance or law coverage helps pay the added cost to comply with those codes, which is not covered by standard dwelling limits. This endorsement has become more important as building codes evolve and municipalities strengthen resilience standards (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_91a08652e7aa5\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\"> \u201cGreen\u201d home coverage<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>If you\u2019ve installed eco\u2011friendly or high\u2011efficiency systems (solar, heat pumps, high\u2011SEER HVAC), they may cost more to repair or replace. Green home coverage can increase limits to use sustainable materials or to restore efficiency ratings after a loss; pairing this with equipment breakdown coverage can address sudden mechanical\/electrical failures of home systems (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5f8547c19c62f\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\"> Personal umbrella liability coverage<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>Umbrella liability provides extra liability limits above your homeowners and auto policies, protecting assets against large claims or lawsuits. If you have higher\u2011risk features (pools, trampolines) or host frequently, consider an umbrella. Note that some state rules limit certain liability underwriting practices (e.g., Colorado\u2019s 2024 bar on breed\u2011based decisions) \u2014 ask your agent how state law and policy exclusions interact (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.colorado.gov\">Colorado DOI<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_e75626d4eb29f\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Watercraft \/ sports equipment coverage<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>This endorsement can extend coverage to certain small watercraft, trailers, or sports\/utility vehicles stored on the property if damaged by a covered peril. Review horsepower and size limits, off\u2011premises use, and theft restrictions, which can vary by insurer and state (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_e43724d43dbf5\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Home business coverage<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>If you run a business out of your home or host short\u2011term rentals, standard HO-3 forms may exclude or limit coverage. Ask about business property and liability endorsements, and for hosting, a dedicated home\u2011sharing endorsement to cover guest\u2011caused damage, theft by a renter, or premises liability during rental periods (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/home-sharing-and-insurance\">III: home sharing<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_eb77bfd779fa9\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\"> Identity theft coverage<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>Identity theft insurance can help with expenses like credit monitoring, legal help, and lost wages after an ID theft event. Many insurers now also offer broader personal\u2011cyber endorsements that address online fraud or cyber extortion; ask your agent how these options differ and what sublimits apply (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"flood\" title=\"Flood insurance is sold separately\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flood insurance is sold separately<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Homeowners insurance does not cover flooding or flood-related damages. Flood protection is purchased separately, either from private insurers or via the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fema.gov\/flood-insurance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">National Flood Insurance Program<\/a> (NFIP) in participating communities. NFIP policies typically have a 30\u2011day waiting period before coverage begins, with limited exceptions such as policies bought in connection with a loan closing. Standard NFIP limits for most 1\u20134 family homes are up to $250,000 for building and $100,000 for contents; NFIP does not cover additional living expenses (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fema.gov\/flood-insurance\">FEMA<\/a>). Private flood policies may offer higher limits, different waiting periods, or added features, but lenders will require that any private policy used to satisfy a mortgage requirement meet federal criteria (<a href=\"https:\/\/selling-guide.fanniemae.com\">Fannie Mae<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you need flood insurance depends on location and lender rules. If your mortgaged building is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, federal law generally requires flood insurance for the life of the loan; lenders may accept NFIP or qualifying private flood policies (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2022\/06\/29\/2022-13120\/interagency-questions-and-answers-regarding-flood-insurance\">Interagency Q&amp;As<\/a>). NFIP pricing now uses property\u2011specific Risk Rating 2.0, and many communities earn premium discounts (up to 45% in SFHAs) through FEMA\u2019s Community Rating System \u2014 ask your agent about your community\u2019s class (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fema.gov\">FEMA: Risk Rating 2.0<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fema.gov\/floodplain-management\/community-rating-system\">CRS<\/a>). In Florida\u2019s residual market, many Citizens policyholders must carry separate flood coverage as a condition of their homeowners policy, with requirements phasing in through 2027 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensfla.com\">Citizens Property Insurance<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A note on &#8220;named peril&#8221; policies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some homeowners insurance policies operate on a \u201cnamed perils\u201d basis, meaning they only pay out if your home is damaged by a cause specifically listed on the policy. Although HO-3 policies don\u2019t work this way when it comes to your home \u2014 instead using exclusion-based coverage \u2014 they <em>do<\/em> use a named perils system when it comes to personal property. Current consumer and carrier materials indicate the standard named-perils list remains in place as of 2025; HO\u20115 policies are the primary way to get open\u2011perils coverage for personal property (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verisk.com\">ISO Homeowners Program<\/a>). Named peril coverage typically protects your personal property against the following 16 events: <\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"list-items\">\n<li>Fire or lightning<\/li>\n<li>Windstorm or hail<\/li>\n<li>Explosion<\/li>\n<li>Riot or civil commotion<\/li>\n<li>Damage caused by aircraft<\/li>\n<li>Damage caused by vehicles<\/li>\n<li>Smoke<\/li>\n<li>Vandalism or malicious mischief<\/li>\n<li>Theft<\/li>\n<li>Volcanic eruption<\/li>\n<li>Falling object<\/li>\n<li>Weight of ice, snow, or sleet<\/li>\n<li>Discharge or overflow of water or steam from plumbing, heating, air conditioning, fire-protective sprinkler system, or household appliance<\/li>\n<li>Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning, or bulging of a steam or hot water heating system, air conditioning, or fire-protective system <\/li>\n<li>Freezing of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or fire-protective system, or household appliance<\/li>\n<li>Sudden and accidental damage from an artificially generated electrical current<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>*Source:<\/em> The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/what-disasters-are-covered-by-homeowners-insurance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Insurance Information Institute<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"next\" title=\"What\u2019s next?\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s next?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about how homeowners insurance works \u2014 and what to look for in your policy \u2014 check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/buyers-guide\/\">homeowners insurance buyer\u2019s guide<\/a>. As you compare policies, verify roof loss settlement (replacement cost vs ACV and any cosmetic\u2011damage limits), whether special wind\/hail or hurricane deductibles apply, and if you need add\u2011ons like water backup, service line, equipment breakdown, or home\u2011sharing endorsements (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/does-homeowners-insurance-cover-roof-damage\">III<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/background-on-hurricane-and-windstorm-deductibles\">III<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\">NAIC<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iii.org\/article\/home-sharing-and-insurance\">III<\/a>). Keep state context in mind: California is implementing a Sustainable Insurance Strategy to stabilize high\u2011risk markets (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insurance.ca.gov\">CDI<\/a>); Florida\u2019s Citizens program phases in a flood\u2011insurance requirement through 2027 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensfla.com\">Citizens<\/a>). Premiums have risen since 2020, so build a budget with current local quotes and track market signals from <a href=\"https:\/\/data.bls.gov\/timeseries\/CUUR0000SEGD\">BLS CPI<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naic.org\/research\">NAIC research<\/a>. Ready for the next steps? You can start comparing companies and quotes with our in-depth homeowners insurance reviews: <\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"list-items\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/best\/\">The Best Homeowners Insurance Companies<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-cheap\/\">The Best Cheap Homeowners Insurance Companies<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve also vetted homeowners insurance companies on a state-by-state basis. Click on your state for reviews of the top homeowners insurance providers where you live: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"row-content\">\n<div class=\"content-block\">\n<div style=\"float: left; width: 33%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-alabama\/\">Alabama<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-arizona\/\">Arizona<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-arkansas\/\">Arkansas<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-california\/\">California<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-colorado\/\">Colorado<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-connecticut\/\">Connecticut<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-delaware\/\">Delaware<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-florida\/\">Florida<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-georgia\/\">Georgia<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-hawaii\/\">Hawaii<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-idaho\/\">Idaho<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-illinois\/\">Illinois<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-indiana\/\">Indiana<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-iowa\/\">Iowa<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-kansas\/\">Kansas<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-kentucky\/\">Kentucky<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"float: left; width: 33%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-louisiana\/\">Louisiana<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-maine\/\">Maine<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-maryland\/\">Maryland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-massachusetts\/\">Massachusetts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-michigan\/\">Michigan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-mississippi\/\">Mississippi<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-missouri\/\">Missouri<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-montana\/\">Montana<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-nebraska\/\">Nebraska<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-nevada\/\">Nevada<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-new-hampshire\/\">New Hampshire<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-new-jersey\/\">New Jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-new-mexico\/\">New Mexico<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-new-york\/\">New York<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-north-carolina\/\">North Carolina<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"float: right; width: 33%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-north-dakota\/\">North Dakota<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-ohio\/\">Ohio<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-oklahoma\/\">Oklahoma<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-oregon\/\">Oregon<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-pennsylvania\/\">Pennsylvania<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-rhode-island\/\">Rhode Island<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-south-carolina\/\">South Carolina<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-tennessee\/\">Tennessee<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-texas\/\">Texas<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-utah\/\">Utah<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-vermont\/\">Vermont<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-washington\/\">Washington<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-west-virginia\/\">West Virginia<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/insurance\/homeowners\/best-in-wisconsin\/\">Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What does homeowners insurance cover? The majority of homeowners purchase what\u2019s known as an \u201cHO-3\u201d policy. Authoritative consumer sources confirm that HO-3 typically provides open-perils coverage for your dwelling and other structures, while personal property is covered on a named perils basis. In practice, an HO-3 protects against all causes not excluded, but details vary [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":345,"featured_media":333532,"parent":1691,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/template-reviews.php","meta":[],"categories":[1268],"tags":[],"post_author":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Guide to Homeowners Insurance Coverage - Reviews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/guide-homeowners-insurance-coverage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Guide to Homeowners Insurance Coverage - Reviews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What does homeowners insurance cover? The majority of homeowners purchase what\u2019s known as an \u201cHO-3\u201d policy. Authoritative consumer sources confirm that HO-3 typically provides open-perils coverage for your dwelling and other structures, while personal property is covered on a named perils basis. In practice, an HO-3 protects against all causes not excluded, but details vary [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/guide-homeowners-insurance-coverage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Reviews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Reviewscom\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Homeowners2-526x240-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"526\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"240\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Reviews\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/guide-homeowners-insurance-coverage\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Insurance\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Homeowners\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Guide to Homeowners Insurance Coverage\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/\",\"name\":\"Reviews.com\",\"description\":\"Your Guide to the Best Services\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Guide to Homeowners Insurance Coverage - Reviews.com","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/guide-homeowners-insurance-coverage\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Guide to Homeowners Insurance Coverage - Reviews.com","og_description":"What does homeowners insurance cover? The majority of homeowners purchase what\u2019s known as an \u201cHO-3\u201d policy. Authoritative consumer sources confirm that HO-3 typically provides open-perils coverage for your dwelling and other structures, while personal property is covered on a named perils basis. In practice, an HO-3 protects against all causes not excluded, but details vary [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/guide-homeowners-insurance-coverage\/","og_site_name":"Reviews.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Reviewscom\/","og_image":[{"width":526,"height":240,"url":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Homeowners2-526x240-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@Reviews","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/guide-homeowners-insurance-coverage\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Insurance","item":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Homeowners","item":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/insurance\/homeowners\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Guide to Homeowners Insurance Coverage"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/","name":"Reviews.com","description":"Your Guide to the Best Services","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/323272"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/345"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=323272"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/323272\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1691"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/333532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=323272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=323272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=323272"},{"taxonomy":"post_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_author?post=323272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}