Most homeowners take out home insurance policies because they want to ensure their personal belongings are protected and their house is safe against theft and vandalism.

Read more: 9 Things You Didn’t Know Were Covered By Home Insurance

But were you aware there’s much more to a home insurance policy than theft and vandalism coverage? That’s right.

Let’s dive right into nine things you didn’t know that home insurance covers.

1. Pets

If you have a pet, it’s natural that you may be worried about their well-being in case of an accident at your home. Hence, it would be somewhat comforting to know that your home insurance will cover the animal if it’s kept inside your house. This includes dogs and cats but not birds, rabbits, or other pets. It also doesn’t cover reptiles such as turtles or snakes that are generally kept in cages. However, they can be covered if kept outside their cages.

Some homeowners claim that their homes are already covered by existing policies and therefore don’t need additional coverage for their animals. However, this isn’t always true.

Even if there is an existing policy covering damage caused by fire or theft within reason, many companies require an endorsement stating that no additional coverage exists beyond what is already offered under normal circumstances. This will include things like losing your pet due to an accident.

2. Freezing Pipes

Freezing pipes are a common occurrence in many homes. While it may seem like an inconvenience, your insurance provider will cover you for this issue if it happens frequently enough.

Coverage can vary from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on the severity of damage caused by frozen pipes and how long they remain frozen. Home insurance providers also cover the cost of replacing damaged plumbing.

However, besides freezing pipes, the following aren’t covered by your policy:

• Water damage caused by flooding
• Burst pipes due to high pressure
• Damage done while repairing or cleaning up after an overflow

3. Damage Caused By Pesticide Infestation

Pests can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to homes. Your home insurance provider will cover damages caused by pests such as rats and mice if they come in contact with food, clothing, or other items stored in your home.

However, there’s no coverage for rodents eating through walls or chewing through electrical wires inside the home unless they chew through wiring on an outside wall where others can see them outside the house.

4.  Stolen Furniture

If you’re one of those individuals who have sentimental value attached to their furniture, then we understand how frustrating it can be it gets stolen or damaged somehow.

But with a home insurance policy, you don’t have to worry about that because of its coverage in such cases. This includes items like tables and chairs and electronics like TVs and computers. It also may include jewelry and other valuables if they are kept in your bedroom or inside a closet.

The amount of coverage depends on the value of the items. For example, if you store valuable electronics in your bedroom, you could get up to $250,000 for their loss or damage. If you keep expensive jewelry or an entire bedroom set in your house or garage, you could get up to $10,000 for its loss or damage.

5. Volcanic Eruption

Damages caused by volcanic eruptions are another thing you might not have known is covered by home insurance. For example, a volcanic eruption can cause a lot of damage to your home and neighborhood.

If your house is in a place where volcanic eruptions are common, then this is something you should talk about with your insurance agent before taking out any policies on your home.

You may also want to get quotes from multiple companies to know how much the home insurance policy will cover in case of such disasters.

6. Burglary

Although an incident of burglary can leave you in a state of shock, it’s of utmost importance that you file a claim with your insurance agent immediately after the incident so they can start investigating what happened.

If you’re burglarized and have to pay for the damages, your insurer may still cover some of them if they’re part of an emergency or medical emergency.

Suppose this happens while you’re out of town on vacation or a business trip somewhere else away from home. In that case, you don’t have to get frazzled over trying to figure out how much money you need to spend repairing broken windows, etc. Because such cases home insurance policy covers most of the damage.

7. Weather-Related Damage To Awnings, Fences, And Patios

White picket fences and beautiful patios are a dream for many. But only when they have it do they realize how high-maintenance fences and patios can be during harsh weather conditions.  

8. Damaged Landscaping And Trees

Landscaping is another common thing that many people don’t consider when it comes to home insurance. But landscaping and trees are covered under the policy whether storms, wind, and fire damage them.

Landscaping can also be susceptible to animal damage like snakes and squirrels or vandalism like vandals throwing rocks at your house. But all of these damage costs will be covered by your home insurance.

9. Home-Based Businesses Coverage

One aspect of home insurance that most people are unaware of is that home-based businesses are also covered by a home insurance policy. But there’s a specific criterion that you need to come under to be eligible for the coverage:

• Your business must be located in your home and use the same premises as your primary residence. This means that you cannot have another place of business on the same property, but you can have multiple businesses operating from different locations within the same building. For example, a farm operation and an artisan bakery in one house would fall under this category.
• The business needs to generate a profit. If it doesn’t make money, then there’s no reason for it to be insured. Examples include making crafts at home or selling products online through Etsy or eBay.

The Key Takeaway

It’s always good to know what your home insurance covers, so it’s not surprising if something goes wrong and your policy doesn’t cover you. Remember that homeowners insurance is only one piece of the puzzle. If your policy doesn’t cover other important situations such as theft or fire, you will need additional coverage from another provider.

Speak To An Insurance Agent In Indian Orchard

Since Western Auto Mass Insurance started operations in 2014, our goal has been to provide sufficient coverage to homeowners living in Indian Orchard. Our insurance agents will help you handle all the legalities of the insurance policies and guide you through the financial process to make an informed decision.

Other than home insurance, we also provide auto insurance and commercial vehicle insurance. The best part about buying insurance policies with us is the discounts you get when you bundle up home insurance with an auto insurance policy.

So, hurry up, and get in touch with one of our insurance providers!