Quick question: do you know what your homeowner insurance policy covers?

Most homeowners think they do.

Until they file a claim.

Here’s the thing: there are some common gaps in homeowner policies that most folks don’t learn about until after home damage emergencies strike.

To help you know what to look for, I reached out to a few trusted insurance professionals I work with regularly.

Here are three questions they recommend asking.

🤔 Does my policy cover water damage from a slow leak?

👉 Why you should ask: Some policies only cover sudden, accidental leaks - like a burst pipe or an overflowing toilet - but don’t cover damage from slow leaks (like the ones that can happen under your dishwasher or behind your fridge).

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🤔 Are there any limitations for damage caused by mold or mildew?

👉 Why you should ask: Mold usually isn’t covered by homeowner policies unless it results from a covered event, like a burst pipe - and even then, there can be limitations. Your agent can tell you when mold is and isn’t covered and whether any policy add-ons are available to you.

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🤔 If I need to live somewhere else during home damage repairs, will my policy cover those costs?

👉 Why you should ask: This is called “loss of use coverage,” and while some policies include this under certain circumstances, others don’t. Your agent can tell you more about when your policy will and won’t cover temporary relocation expenses due to home damage.

If you ever want help translating what’s covered, what’s not, and what other questions to ask, reply to this email or give me a call. I’m always happy to help.

To asking the right questions -

Stephen

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