Getting home insurance can be confusing and daunting endeavor. Especially in the state of Florida, a high catastrophe state surrounded by water and currently embattled with a wave of litigation. Home insurance premiums on the rise. In this review, we go over what is typically covered in your Florida home insurance policy. As always, we recommend you speak with a licensed agent to review your specific needs and risks. Feel free to inquire for a quote below or schedule a time to speak with us.
This guide will provide you an in depth review of the various types of Florida homeowners insurance policies, depending on the property type and occupancy status. These policies are provided by a wide range of insurance providers, as different homeowners insurance companies cater to different home types and geographic locations.
Florida homeowners insurance policies provided insurance coverage for six sections of insurance coverage. A typical home policy form is broken down into the following six primary coverage sections.
Coverage A. Dwelling
Coverage B. Other Structures
Coverage C. Personal Property
Coverage D. Loss of Use
Coverage E. Personal Liability
Coverage F. Medical Payments
Let us review each of these lines of coverage individually and then we will summarize some key focus areas to review when getting your home insured properly. These are the coverages your standard home insurance policy will have.
Let’s start first with your Coverage A. This is your dwelling coverage and provides coverage for the actual home itself. It is important that the value of your Coverage A is at least in an amount equal to what it will cost to rebuild your home, otherwise knows as your replacement cost coverage. It is better to have more coverage than less as you never want to be in a situation where your home is not able to be fully rebuilt or replaced. Mortgage lenders require homes are insured at a minimum to their replacement cost
This second section provides coverage for other structures on your property. Examples of these structures are fences, sheds, and detached garages. Typically this coverage is set at about 10% of your Coverage A: Dwelling Coverage. Example Coverage A $400,000 x 10% = $40,000.
This line of coverages provides for protection of your personal belongings. This can be described as what would fall out of your home if it was turned upside down and shaken. Think things like furniture, electronics, toys, clothes and tools. You are able to purchase additional coverage if you need more protection for your personal property.
This section provides for reimbursement for additional living expenses if a covered peril does damage your home to an extent requiring you to temporarily move out of it. This may be applied to a hotel or rental home in such a situation. There is typically a coverage limit attached for this in terms of time and cost.
This coverage provides for medical bills and legal fees if someone happens to be injured on your property or in the case you are found liable, ie your dog bites someone. If you happen to have a pool or trampoline, you may want to consider increasing your liability coverage for peace of mind.
This section covers against payments for minor medical bills to those injured on your property. It is important to know that this applies regardless if the injury was your fault or not. The typical coverage amount is $5,000 per claim.
HO-1: Most Limited
HO-2: Slightly Better than HO-1
HO-3: Most common
HO-4: Renters
HO-5: Second most common type of homeowners
HO-6: Condo Owners
HO-7: Mobile or Manufactured Homes
HO-8: Older or Higher-Risk Homes
Question: What is Florida homeowners insurance for?
Answer: In the event of a covered loss, your homeowners insurance company should pay to help repair and rebuild your home and replace your lost or damaged property.
Question: Am I required to have home insurance?
Answer: Unlike car insurance or auto insurance, you are not required by law to have home insurance. States mandate carrying car insurance in order to operate on their roads. Check your specific state guidelines and minimums. Home insurance on the other hand is not required or mandated by the state or federal laws. It is your mortgage provider that will require homeowners insurance.
Question: What doesn't my homeowners insurance cover?
Answer: Typical exclusions include things like earthquakes, sinkholes, nuclear war and floods. Flood insurance needs to be purchased separately through the national flood insurance program
Question: Why is the annual premium for my home insurance so high?
Answer: Florida residents in particular ask this question a lot. A variety of other rating factors contribute to the overall cost of a policy. This includes wind mitigation features, claims history, natural disasters common to the Sunshine state and more.
Question: What discounts are available?
Answer: Discounts help reduce your overall insurance costs. Just as an in ground swimming pool will increase the risk of loss and maybe your insurance premium, other features of a home can reduce your rate. This includes things like hurricane proof windows, gated community or a burglar alarm.
Question: How do I make sure not to underinsure my home?
Answer: Instead of jumping at the cheapest homeowners insurance quote, it is important to err on the side of caution when insuring your home. You don't want to be left coming out of pocket in the event of loss.
We hope this review helps you identify the foundational lines of coverage for your homeowners insurance in Florida. It is important to remember that every home is different and your individual risks and situation will vary. We recommend you speak to a licensed insurance agent familiar with your If you’d like a complimentary review of your current coverages or would like to discuss shopping around for home insurance in Florida, a licensed insurance professional on our team is ready and able to help.
To see how Worth can reduce your risk.
