Coverage for your house or apartment and your belongings, from the same broker who handles your business.
The structure of your house and attached structures.
Furniture, electronics, clothing and more.
If someone is hurt at your home or you damage their property.
Help with costs if you can’t live at home after a covered loss.
Most homeowners and renters policies are written on standard forms. The form number tells you what’s covered and how.
Carriers also write their own versions of these forms, so two HO-3 policies can differ. We’ll point out the differences when we compare quotes.
Replacement cost pays to repair or replace damaged property with materials of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation. Actual cash value deducts depreciation, so an older roof or a five-year-old TV is paid at what it was worth, not what a new one costs.
According to the California Department of Insurance, most standard homeowners policies cover the house at replacement cost, while belongings are often settled at actual cash value unless you add replacement cost coverage. Some policies also settle roofs at actual cash value, especially older roofs. Ask how your policy handles both.
The amount you insure your home for matters too. Many policies require you to carry a minimum percentage of replacement cost to get full payment on partial losses. Rising building costs can leave a policy short, so review your dwelling limit at each renewal.
Standard homeowners and renters policies don’t cover flood damage, including water from heavy rain that rises and enters the home. Flood coverage is a separate policy, available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in participating communities, and from some private flood carriers.
NFIP policies generally have a 30-day waiting period before coverage starts, with some exceptions, such as when the policy is bought with a new mortgage. Don’t wait until a storm is in the forecast. You don’t have to live in a high-risk flood zone to buy flood coverage.
California has earthquake and wildfire risk in many areas, and standard homeowners policies don’t cover earthquake damage. Earthquake coverage is a separate policy, usually with a deductible set as a percentage of your dwelling coverage, such as 5 to 25 percent, which can mean a much larger out-of-pocket cost than a flat deductible.
Check the declarations page for every deductible on your policy. If you’re shopping, ask how each quote handles wildfire and whether earthquake coverage is offered through the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) or a private carrier.
Homeowners policies usually give only a small amount of coverage for business property and often exclude liability arising from business activities. If clients visit your home, you store tools or inventory in the garage, or you keep business equipment in the house, you may need a home business endorsement or a separate business owners policy. Contractors who keep tools in a truck or trailer should also look at business packages that include tools and equipment coverage.
Personal liability covers you if someone is hurt at your home or you damage someone else’s property, depending on the policy. It’s worth pricing higher limits, and a personal umbrella can sit on top. Other common add-ons include water backup from drains or sewers, scheduled coverage for jewelry or firearms, and identity theft coverage. Keep a home inventory with photos to make any claim easier.
Keep your home, auto and life insurance with the same broker who handles your business. One contact, one renewal calendar, and carriers that may offer bundle discounts.
Usually only in a limited way. Tools, equipment and inventory for your business often need their own coverage. We can review both.
Yes. Your landlord’s policy covers the building, not your belongings or your liability.
An HO-3 usually covers your house on an open-perils basis but your belongings only for named perils. An HO-5 usually covers both on an open-perils basis, which is broader. Availability depends on the carrier and your home.
It depends on the cause. Sudden and accidental water damage, like a burst pipe, is often covered, while flood, long-term leaks and water backup from drains are often excluded unless you add coverage. Check your policy’s wording.
It’s worth considering. Flooding can happen outside mapped high-risk areas, and homeowners policies usually exclude it. Flood policies have their own rules and waiting periods, so plan ahead.
If you’ve been turned down, the California FAIR Plan offers basic fire coverage as a last resort, and you can pair it with a separate policy for liability and other risks. We can help you look at standard market options first.
Usually not, unless they’re a relative living in your household or listed on the policy. Each roommate typically needs their own renters policy.
Tell us what you’d like to cover and we’ll compare options from multiple carriers.
