What raises your homeowners insurance premium and what does not: how rebuilding cost, location, roof age, claims history, credit-based insurance scores, deductibles and discounts affect your rate, which states limit credit scoring, how to check your CLUE report and what you can actually change. Continue reading What Raises Your Homeowners Insurance Premium (and What Does Not): A Factor-by-Factor Guide
Got a homeowners insurance nonrenewal notice? Learn the difference between nonrenewal and cancellation, why insurers nonrenew policies, state notice rules such as Florida's 120 days and California's 75 days, how to shop for replacement coverage, FAIR plans and insurers of last resort, and how to file a complaint. Continue reading Homeowners Insurance Nonrenewal: Why It Happens, Your Notice Rights and What to Do Next
Homeowners liability coverage explained: what personal liability (Coverage E) and medical payments to others (Coverage F) pay for, common exclusions, how dog bite claims work, Triple-I and State Farm data on dog-related claims, how to choose liability limits and when to add an umbrella policy. Continue reading Homeowners Liability Coverage Explained: Coverage E, Medical Payments and Dog Bite Claims
Loss of use coverage explained: what Coverage D and additional living expenses pay for when your home is unlivable after a covered loss, how limits and time periods work, civil authority coverage, fair rental value, California's extended ALE protections and how to document ALE claims. Continue reading Loss of Use Coverage (Coverage D): How Additional Living Expenses Work After a Home Insurance Claim
How homeowners insurance treats jewelry, watches, firearms, silverware, collectibles and other valuables: the special limits of liability in standard policies, how a scheduled personal property endorsement or floater works, appraisals, agreed value vs. replacement cost and how to decide what to schedule. Continue reading Insuring Jewelry and Valuables: Special Limits and Scheduled Personal Property Coverage
Water backup coverage explained: why standard homeowners policies exclude water that backs up through sewers and drains or overflows from a sump, how a water backup and sump discharge endorsement works, how it differs from flood insurance, how to choose a limit and how to reduce the risk. Continue reading Water Backup Coverage Explained: Sewer, Drain and Sump Pump Overflow Endorsements
Earthquake insurance basics: why homeowners, renters and condo policies exclude earthquake damage, how earthquake policies and deductibles work (with California Earthquake Authority examples), what is excluded, how retrofitting can lower costs and how to decide whether you need coverage. Continue reading Earthquake Insurance Basics: What It Covers, How Deductibles Work and Who Needs It
Does homeowners insurance cover mold? Learn how standard policies treat mold that follows a sudden covered water loss versus mold from long-term leaks, humidity or flooding, what mold sublimits and endorsements are, what the EPA recommends after water damage, and how to document a mold claim. Continue reading Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold? When It’s Covered, When It Isn’t and How to File
Landlord insurance vs. homeowners insurance explained: why a rental property usually needs a dwelling fire policy, how DP-1, DP-2 and DP-3 forms differ, what fair rental value coverage does, why liability is often separate, and what tenants must insure themselves. Continue reading Landlord Insurance vs. Homeowners Insurance: How Dwelling Policies (DP-1, DP-2, DP-3) Work for Rentals
Condo insurance explained: what an HO-6 policy covers, how it works alongside your association's master policy, the difference between all-in, all-in excluding improvements and bare walls coverage, loss assessment coverage, the master policy deductible, what condo insurance does not cover and how to choose limits. Continue reading Condo Insurance (HO-6) Explained: How Your Policy Works With the HOA Master Policy
