Standard home insurance typically covers your dwelling structure, personal belongings, liability protection, and additional living expenses. It protects against common perils like fire, windstorms, hail, lightning, theft, and vandalism. However, it usually excludes floods, earthquakes, and maintenance-related issues, which require separate policies or endorsements.

You should insure your home for its full replacement cost, not its market value. This ensures you have enough coverage to rebuild your home completely if it's destroyed. For personal property, inventory your belongings and insure them for their actual cash value or replacement cost. Liability coverage should be at least $300,000, but higher limits are recommended for additional protection.

Your premium is influenced by your home's location, age, construction type, roof condition, square footage, and proximity to fire services. Your claims history, credit score (in most states), chosen deductible, coverage limits, and available discounts also impact your rate. Homes in high-risk areas for natural disasters typically cost more to insure.

You can reduce your premiums by bundling policies, increasing your deductible, installing security systems, maintaining a claims-free record, and taking advantage of discounts for features like fire alarms, storm shutters, or newer roofs. Shopping around annually and comparing quotes from multiple insurers can also help you find the best rates.

Actual Cash Value (ACV) pays for your damaged property minus depreciation, while Replacement Cost Value (RCV) covers the full cost to replace items with new ones of similar quality, without deducting for depreciation. RCV typically costs more but provides better protection, especially for older homes and belongings.

In most cases, you can get home insurance coverage within 24-48 hours after applying. The process involves providing basic information about your home, getting a quote, and completing the application. Some insurers offer instant coverage online, while others may require a home inspection for older properties or high-value homes.

No, standard home insurance policies do not cover flood damage. You'll need a separate flood insurance policy, typically through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurers. Flood insurance is highly recommended if you live in a flood-prone area or near bodies of water.

A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible and $10,000 in covered damages, you pay $1,000 and your insurer pays $9,000. Higher deductibles typically result in lower premiums, while lower deductibles mean higher premiums.

Standard policies provide limited coverage for high-value items like jewelry, art, collectibles, and expensive electronics. If you own valuable items, consider purchasing additional coverage through scheduled personal property endorsements or floaters to ensure full protection.

Document all damage with photos and videos, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage (save receipts), contact your insurance company immediately, create an inventory of damaged items, and keep all receipts for expenses related to the claim. Do not dispose of damaged items until the adjuster has inspected them.