Will My Home’s Damage Be Covered By Insurance?
Homeownership often comes with its set of challenges, one of the biggest being the potential for exterior damage to your property. Understanding which types of damage are typically covered by homeowners’ insurance plans can save you time, stress, and unexpected costs.
Let’s dive into common forms of exterior damage and what homeowners should know when it comes to insurance coverage.
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Understanding Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners’ insurance is designed to protect your home and personal property against a range of damages and losses. Insurance policies vary widely, but understanding the basics can help homeowners feel more confident when facing the unexpected.
While each policy can differ, there are some standard types of coverage that many plans include. Basic coverage often protects against damage from fire, storms, theft, and vandalism, providing a safety net for homeowners.
Weather Damage and Other Natural Causes That Are Typically Covered
Several types of exterior damage are commonly covered by homeowners’ insurance. Most of the time, the types of damage covered by insurance are types that are outside of a homeowner’s reasonable ability to avoid.
For example, natural disasters can wreak havoc on your home’s exterior, and while there are many ways to prepare your home, accidents and damage can still happen. Strong winds and intense rainfall can cause significant damage to roofs, siding, and windows. Similarly, hail can dent and damage roofing and siding materials. Most homeowners’ insurance policies will also cover damage caused by fires, allowing for necessary restorations like repairing the roof or siding.
Is Damage Caused By Crime Covered by Insurance?
Intrusions and other types of crime can leave physical scars on your home’s exterior. For example, intruders might damage your doors and windows to enter your home and leave you needing repairs or replacements. Further, vandalism like spray paint might leave you needing new siding. Many insurance policies cover damage from intruders or vandalism, ensuring that you can reclaim your property’s value.
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What May Not Be Covered?
While many types of damage are covered, certain limitations and exclusions may apply. It is crucial for homeowners to document the damage immediately to ensure that their policies can evaluate the situation and provide timely assistance. If you wait too long or do not follow the necessary steps to submit your claim, you risk not being covered.
Damage due to regular wear and tear over time is usually not covered under homeowners’ insurance policies. This is especially true if there is damage as a result of neglecting necessary home maintenance, which can lead to structural issues.
Finally, if there is damage done to your home that could have been reasonably avoided or was purposefully done by the homeowner, many insurances will reject the claim.
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Trust Advance Inc. to Help You Recover From Damage
Understanding the limits and offerings of your homeowners’ insurance can empower you as a homeowner. While many types of exterior damage, including storm, fire, and vandalism-related incidents, are generally covered, it’s vital to be aware of the exclusions such as wear and tear and poor maintenance. Always read your policy carefully and consult with your insurance agent to ensure you have the proper coverage in place to protect your valuable investment.
Once you have contacted your insurance provider, contact Advance Inc. to discuss next steps in recovering from the damage with repair or replacement of your home’s exterior.