How Much Should I Insure My Home For? And Other Insurance Questions

When you’re thinking about getting home insurance, the first question that likely pops in your mind is, “how much should I insure my home for?” While more than 60 percent of homes typically don’t have enough coverage, the coverage amount isn’t the only thing you need to worry about.

If you’re like most homeowners, figuring out which questions you need to ask your insurance agent can be a bit confusing.

Your insurance agent can’t help you find the best coverage for your home if they don’t fully understand what your concerns are. Here’s what you need to ask them when shopping for coverage.

How Much Is My House and the Property Worth?

Unfortunately, the amount you paid for the house isn’t always what your house is truly worth. If you paid less than the house is worth, congratulations! You saved yourself a lot of money!

However, if you paid more than the house and property are truly worth, don’t despair.

Your home insurance policy covers the entire property and each structure on that property. The higher it’s valued at, the more insurance you’ll need.

Once you have that value in mind, you’ll need to think about how much it would cost to fully replace your home.

Look at the square footage of the house and consider current construction costs in your area. It’s always a good idea to buy enough insurance to fully cover the replacement cost of your property. Otherwise, the payment you receive from the insurance company may not be enough to help you rebuild.

What About the Items In My Home?

It’s your insurance agent’s job to help you get the coverage you need to fully protect your home. This means they should be able to guide you through the process from the very beginning.

However, you will need to do a little bit of leg work to make sure the coverage amounts they suggest are, in fact, what you need.

Start by performing an inventory of your home. Write down the estimated value of everything you keep inside.

This means clothes, electronics, kitchen supplies, appliances, and even the food in your pantry. If anything happens to your home, you need to have enough coverage to fully repair or replace those items without forcing you to dip into your personal savings.

What Disasters Does the Policy Cover?

Believe it or not, most standard home insurance doesn’t protect against every type of disaster. Instead, it provides general protection against the most common threats.

These typically include damage caused by hail, fire, wind, lightning, extreme cold, theft, and vandalism.

When getting a quote for coverage, make sure you understand exactly what the policy covers. If you have questions, ask the insurance provider or your insurance agent for clarification.

The more you understand the limits of your policy, the better you’ll be able to protect your home completely.

Do I Need Supplemental Policies?

Since standard home insurance doesn’t cover every possible threat, insurance providers often offer supplemental policies to round out your coverage. These policies get purchased in addition to your standard policy and only protect against very specific threats.

For example, if you’re worried about earthquakes in your area, you’ll need to invest in earthquake insurance. If you’re worried about floods, you’ll want to get flood insurance.

No matter what type of supplemental coverage you’re looking into, you’ll always want to shop around. Get quotes from each provider you speak with and compare their costs and the quality of their coverage with the other quotes you receive. If you’re not sure how much to spend, consider using something like a flood insurance cost calculator to help give you an idea of what your budget will be like.

What About Liability Coverage?

As a homeowner, you’re responsible for everything that happens on your property. This means that if a visitor or guest gets injured while at your house, you could end up having to pay for their medical treatments.

Worse, the injured person could try to sue you for additional damages.

Believe it or not, your home insurance policy will also protect you from most liability lawsuits. If you’re facing a liability lawsuit, the policy will help cover the cost of your legal fees and any settlement amounts you’re assessed up to the limits of your policy.

If you’re especially worried about your liability coverage, it may be worth investing in additional liability insurance with your insurance provider. They’ll be able to add it to your existing policy so you’ll always know you have enough insurance.

What If I Work From Home?

These days, more people are starting to work from home. If your work involves seeing clients or storing work-related equipment on your property, your home insurance might not be enough.

It’s always best to look into work-related insurance coverage to make sure you’re fully protected.

Discuss your concerns with your insurance agent and let them help you find the best coverage for your needs. This might mean additional liability protection, a business owner’s policy, or even just higher coverage limits for your home insurance plan.

The right answer is unique to your personal needs and only your insurance agent will be able to accurately assess how much coverage is best for your situation.

How Much Should I Insure My Home For?

Ultimately, your property’s insurance needs will depend on how much your house is worth, the cost to rebuild, and the types of policies you want to add to the standard coverage options.

The best thing you can do is speak with your insurance agent and discuss your options. They’ll be able to find the best insurance policies to give you the complete protection you need.

Get the Right Coverage for Your Home

Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to the question, “how much should I insure my home for?” It will depend entirely on the value of your home and your personal insurance concerns.

If you’re ready to start looking at policies, begin online. Get quotes from multiple providers and take the time to compare them in detail and choose the policies you’re most comfortable with.

For more helpful tips on keeping your home safe, check out our latest posts!