Home Insurance

We offer coverage for your home, its contents, plus other valuable possessions. We also offer additional endorsements so you can customize your coverage to fit your needs.

To understand more about homeowners insurance and how it can help you, please review the following topics:

• Some background information
• Dwelling (a.k.a. Coverage A)
• Other structures (a.k.a. Coverage B)
• Personal property (a.k.a. Coverage C)
• Loss of use (a.k.a. Coverage D)
• Covered perils
• Exclusions
• Limits of liability
• Deductibles
• Optional coverages
• Personal property exclusions and limits of coverage
• Personal liability (a.k.a. Coverage E)
• Medical payments (a.k.a. Coverage F)
• Bodily injury
• Property damage
• Liability coverage exclusions
• Umbrella or excess liability coverage

Homeowners insurance is basically designed to bring your home and possessions back to the same condition they were in before a loss occurred. There are several different types of homeowners policies offered by a wide variety of insurance companies and not all coverage's are the same or are available in all states. You should speak directly with an agent about your specific coverage needs.

While reading through the information below, you should keep in mind a couple definitions: (a) Exclusions are situations where your policy does not provide coverage; and (b) Liability is something for which you are legally responsible.

Imagine your house on moving day...empty, waiting to be filled. This is the part referred to as Coverage A: your physical home (rooms, fireplaces, tile floors, carpeting, etc.) and the structures attached to it, such as an attached garage.

The amount of coverage assigned to your dwelling should reflect the amount it would cost to completely repair or rebuild your home should it suffer a covered loss. Often this is determined by your home's purchase price plus inflation. However, if it's been a while since you last updated your policy coverage or if you are not sure that your dwelling is adequately covered, you can get help form your Tri-Town Agent.

Not all structures that exist on your property are actually attached to your house. Therefore, Coverage B offers insurance protection for other structures such as a detached garage, gazebo, or storage shed.

Your personal possessions such as furniture, clothing and appliances are covered. Certain types of possessions are excluded or have limited coverage. Please see personal property exclusions and limits of coverage for more specific information.

The coverage is also called Additional Living Expense. Essentially, this pays for your housing and other living expenses (like meals and laundry) if a major loss makes your house uninhabitable and you have to move out temporarily while it's being repaired.

• Coverage B liability limit is $10,000
• Coverage C is $50,000
• Coverage D is $20,000.

With a homeowners policy, a deductible applies to the property portion of the policy. A deductible is the amount you would have to pay out of your own pocket before the insurance coverage kicks in. Typical deductibles are $250, $500, $1,000 or higher and some policies have several deductibles. The higher the deductible you select, the lower your premium payment.

There are a number of optional coverages (also called endorsements) which enhance your basic homeowners policy either by adding or removing certain coverages. Some of the more common add-on coverages include:

Broadened coverage for contents - provides special protection for your possessions. This means that your personal property is covered in most situations, regardless of the cause of loss.

Contents replacement cost coverage - after a loss, you would be paid based on the replacement cost...with no deduction for depreciation...subject to your policy limits and deductible. Special limits apply to certain items such as jewelry, watches and furs.


Various Endorsements: provides higher limits and worldwide protection for special property such as jewelry, silverware, fine art, furs, cameras, firearms, musical instruments, and home computers for an extended variety of losses. Should you need even higher amounts of coverage than that offered by the policy form. Separate scheduled article coverage is available.

Certain classes of property are specifically excluded from coverage because of the nature of what they are or because they are generally covered by other types of policies:

• Animals, birds or fish
• Motorized vehicles or aircraft, including equipment and accessories
• Radios, CB radios, tape decks, etc., while in or on a motor vehicle
• Articles separately described and specifically insured in any other insurance
• Property of boarders (renters insurance is available and should be considered by boarders).
• Aircraft or aircraft parts
• Property in an apartment held for rental by the insured
• Property rented to others off the residential premises.

Provides coverage for bodily injury or property damage for which you are legally responsible. For example, let's say your dog bites someone, a guest falls down your front stairs, or your son throws a ball through your neighbor's window. You are legally responsible for these actions. Personal Liability helps to cover the associated costs of these related damages.

Most homeowner policies provide a minimum of $100,000 of liability protection. However, you can opt to increase this amount. Also, Excess Liability Insurance 101 can help you determine whether the liability limits available on your homeowners policy are sufficient for your needs. Of course, an independent agent is your greatest resource for this evaluation.

Accidents do happen ... and sometimes they happen to other people while at your home, or by a member of your household. This coverage helps to pay for the expenses created in the event that a physical injury to others is caused by you, residents of your household, or your pets.

If someone's property is accidentally damaged by you, members of your household, or your pets, your homeowners policy will help to repair or replace it.

A homeowners policy does not provide coverage for:

• Bodily injury or property damage which is expected or intended by the insured
• Bodily injury or property damage arising out of business pursuits
• Bodily injury or property damage arising out of rental of any part of the premises
• Liability arising out of ownership, maintenance, use, loading or unloading of aircraft, motor vehicles or water craft
• Liability arising out of war or insurrection.

• Liability assumed under contract or agreement
• Property damage to property owned by, used by or in the care of the insured
• Bodily injury which is covered under a workers compensation policy.

Umbrella or excess liability coverage provides liability coverage over and above what's covered by your auto, homeowners or other policy for personal liability and lawsuits. Such coverage can be purchased as an attachment to your policy or as a separate policy. Our Excess Liability Insurance 101 course provides much more information on this important protection. Or you can speak directly with an independent agent about your specific coverage needs.

Pays all reasonable and necessary medical expenses for a period of three years from the date of an accident to a person or persons injured while on your property. This coverage does not apply to the insured or regular residents of the insured's household.