How Much Is House Insurance?

Whether you’re a house owner or a renter, you might want to take out house insurance to assist protect your house and/or belongings.

Whether you’re purchasing a new house or you’ve already paid off the mortgage, you may have pondered about the value of house insurance. Your house is possibly one of the most important assets you have. House insurance facilitates protect that investment — and you — in a plethora of ways.

The article explores what is house insurance, how much is house insurance, what does house insurance cover, and more.

What is House Insurance?

House insurance is meant to cover you financially should something happen to your house and/or belongings. There are three main types of house insurance – building insurance (which covers the building itself and the fixtures), contents insurance (which covers your personal belongings), and combined house and contents insurance (which covers both).

If you own your house, you may want to purchase a combined house and contents insurance policy. If you have a house loan, it may even be a prerequisite of your loan that you have building insurance. However, if you are a renter, you would only require contents insurance (sometimes referred to as renters insurance). For landlords, you may want to buy a separate kind of house insurance called landlord insurance. This usually covers loss or harm to your investment property and furnishings. It may also cover tenant default (even though some insurers are not currently offering this option due to COVID-19).

You may have the option of purchasing a ‘sum-insured’ or a ‘total replacement’ house insurance policy. The sum-insured cover is where you give an estimate of how much it would cost you to reconstruct your house if it was totally damaged. Total replacement cover protects you from the total cost of refurbishing or rebuilding your house to the same standard.

Different Types of House Insurance

You’ll choose from 8 kinds of policies, all with different house coverage needs in mind.

HO-1 – Basic form (uncommon)

HO-1 is a restricted, bare-bones policy that mortgage companies don’t offer much any longer. It only covers 10 potential damages (compared to a more standard 16) and doesn’t contain liability.

HO-2 – Broad form

A broad form of HO-2 policy comprises more than an HO-1 — it covers the replacement cost of your house and the cash value of the personal property. However it’s a “named perils” policy, which implies it only covers 16 types of damages, and like an HO-1 it doesn’t include liability coverage.

HO-3 – Special form (most common)

This is what most single-family house owners get hold of. It’s the minimum level of coverage needed by most mortgage issuers, and unless you have an exceptionally high-value house or a high-risk location, it’s perhaps all you require.

HO-3 policies are “all risks” implying they’ll offer dwelling coverage after almost any damaging cause unless the cause is recorded as an “exclusion” in the policy (like earthquakes, floods, or neglect). Personal property coverage, however, is limited to “named peril” damages. Liability and medical coverage are incorporated, as well as extra living expenditures in case you need to leave your house after a covered event.

HO-4 – Renters insurance form

If you’re renting or leasing a house or apartment, you’ll get hold of an HO-4 policy. It comes with named-peril coverage, personal property at replacement cost, and liability. Because you don’t own the building, you don’t require dwelling insurance.

HO-5 – Comprehensive form

This is the highest level of coverage, and as you possibly deduced, the most costly. An HO-5 policy has some benefits an HO-3 policy doesn’t, like “all risks” replacement cost coverage for both dwelling and personal property, and higher coverage limits for high-priced items. There may still be named exclusions.

Your insurer’s more likely to recommend HO-5 policies for newer houses in low-risk areas, especially to buyers with good credit. If you can pay for the additional protection and you have precious items you want fully covered, an HO-5 may be worth it.

HO-6 – Unit owners form (condo insurance)

An HO-6 policy covers a condo or co-op. Like HO-4 renters insurance policies, HO-6 covers personal property and liability. You may or may not require dwelling coverage, based on how much coverage your condo association already has for the building.

HO-7 – Mobile house form

An HO-7 policy alters an HO-3 policy slightly for mobile or manufactured houses, as well as trailers or any “tiny houses” you can take on the road. Dwelling insurance covers all risks, while personal belongings are covered if they’re harmed by named perils.

HO-8 – Modified coverage form (uncommon)

If your house is older or built with older, riskier materials, it’s tougher to insure at replacement cost, which may be much higher than market value. An HO-8 policy is devised for these houses, offering named-perils cash value coverage for the dwelling and personal property. Historic houses, which are purposely left in their original condition or close to it, typically have HO-8 coverage.

You can often be eligible for the higher coverage of an HO-3 policy after replacing obsolete materials and appliances because your house will be less exposed to damage as a result.

House Insurance Coverage

A normal house insurance policy covers you in three key areas: the structure of your house, your belongings, and your personal liability for injury and property destruction to others. While the only way to know exactly when coverage does or does not apply is to read your house insurance policy, house insurance usually safeguards both your house and possessions from a wide range of dangers, or causes of harm. Typically, earthquakes and floods are explicitly excluded and necessitate the buying of extra insurance.

Threats that house insurance shields against

The most common type of house insurance is an HO-3 policy. HO-3 policies provide open perils coverage on the structure of a house and named perils coverage for your personal property.

Open perils coverage implies that you’re covered for all causes of damage except for those that are in particular excluded. Common exclusions consist of war, earthquakes, and nuclear explosions, but check your policy to be certain.

Named perils policies also typically have exclusions listed, even though the way named perils and named exclusions interrelate are at times complex, and differ from state to state. For instance, in California, if an earthquake triggers a fire that damages your house, you’re covered, even though earthquakes are commonly excluded from house insurance.

If you have named perils coverage for your house or personal property, it’s expected to incorporate the following common named perils.

  • Theft
  • Fire or lightning
  • Windstorm or hail
  • Smoke
  • Falling objects
  • Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
  • Vandalism and malicious mischief
  • Explosions
  • Riots and civil disturbances
  • Aircraft and vehicles
  • Volcanic eruption
  • Overflow or freezing of pipes, heating, A/C, fire sprinkler, or other household appliances
  • Tears, cracks, and burns in water, heat, A/C, or fire sprinkler systems
  • Damage from electrical currents in appliances and wiring

What does House Insurance Cover?

Here are the main coverage types that a standard house insurance policy can come up with. In most policies, what is covered is unambiguously listed out, and can be assembled into the categories below. There are several perils of extra protections that aren’t normally included in policies by house insurance companies. House insurance companies will payout for any claims covered net of your deductible.

The structure of the house

Sometimes referred to as “dwelling coverage,” this part of the policy covers physical damage to the house itself. Damage to any walls, roof, floor, or doors is all involved in this section. The basis of your house and other parts that might not certainly be evident are also covered.

Personal belongings

House insurance also pays for the cost to repair or replace your belongings. You’re covered no matter where in the world the belongings are stationed — so if your cellphone is stolen while you’re on vacation, you’ll be compensated. It also covers the belongings of others if the person lives with you, and the belongings of guests while the policyholder is present.

Personal belongings contain things such as furniture, electronics, clothing, sporting equipment, watercraft, silverware, firearms, furs, and jewelry. Trees, plants, and shrubs are also usually protected, except for wind damage and disease.

Bear in mind that very precious items, like jewelry, cash, or firearms may have restricted or no coverage under a standard house insurance policy. If you have any high-value items, check with your insurer to make sure they’re appropriately insured.

Documenting the belongings you own is vital to making the most out of your house insurance protection. Most people are unable to remember all of their possessions in the incident of a partial or total loss. For that reason, policyholders need to list the belongings they would claim if harmed or lost due to a peril. The list of belongings should consist of photos or video of the items as well as any receipts and evidence of purchase to attach, which is much easier in this current age of smartphones.

Liability coverage

This coverage shields the policyholder and their family members (including pets) from charges for physical injury or property damage that they are accountable for. It will pay for court expenses as well as any awards you’re requested to pay in court, up to the limit of the policy. The liability part of your house insurance also goes with you and your family members to your neighbors’ house or anywhere else in the world.

For instance, if you spill a glass of wine and spoil a neighbor’s rug, house insurance would cover the cost, but it will not cover your own rug if you spill wine and ruin it. If you’re hosting a party and you spill wine on your neighbor’s original fur coat, that’d be another liability situation formed that house insurance could cover. Another case would be if your dog bites someone – house insurance would cover that unpleasant incident. If you are bit by your own dog, house insurance will not cover that incident.

Covered by house liability coverage

  • You spill wine on your neighbor’s rug
  • You rip a guest’s fur coat
  • Your dog bites someone on the street

Not covered by liability coverage

  • You spill wine on your own rug
  • You rip your own coat
  • You are at mistake in a car accident

House insurance also occasionally offers no-fault medical coverage, implying if a friend or neighbor is wounded in your house, they can submit medical bills to your insurance company. This permits their expenditures to be paid without filing a liability claim against you. This part of the policy will not protect from medical bills of the policyholder, their family, or pets — for that you’d have to look for health insurance or pet insurance if you have any.

Additional living expenses (ALE)

Sometimes abbreviated to ALE, this portion of a house insurance policy covers the cost of living elsewhere if your house is dilapidated. ALE covers things like hotel bills, restaurant meals, and other expenditures.

For instance, if an insured peril obliterates the roof of your house, it’s possible you will need to find somewhere else to stay until it is restored. ALE would cover the expenses of a hotel room and restaurant meals. An example of an extra expense might be the cost to wash clothing if you don’t have access to your own washer or dryer.

Although it is a common coverage under a house insurance policy, additional living expense coverage can differ greatly from company to company. Some companies provide expenditures up to a specific total limit. Others do not have an expenditure limit but only offer coverage for a restricted amount of time after an unpleasant incident.

ALE also will compensate policyholders for rent payable to them. For instance, say you rent part of your house but that part of it became destroyed as a result of a peril covered by your policy. In that situation, ALE would pay you the lost income from the tenant who had to move until space was fixed, subject to the terms of your policy.

Other Protections House Insurance Can Provide

Every insurance policy is distinct, but there are other coverages house insurance often provides. These are coverages one doesn’t usually think of when buying house insurance, but it’s essential not to ignore them if you would gain from having the coverage.

  • Debris removal: Companies typically incur reasonable expenditures to get rid of debris on the property from a covered peril that instigated a loss. Ash, dust, and particles from a volcanic eruption that triggered a direct loss or damage also fall under this category; trees downed by a peril are covered, too.
  • Grave markers: House insurance policies occasionally cover grave markers and tombs harmed or lost by a covered peril. The grave markers or tombs can be on or off the property of the policyholder’s residence.
  • Greenhouse coverage: Also referred to as “green improvement” or “green reimbursement”; This is an endorsement that lets the house to be reconstructed with green materials or items to be substituted with more energy-efficient versions in the event of a covered loss.
  • Identity fraud: Coverage that safeguards a house owner and pays to assist them to restore their identity in the event it is utilized illegally.
  • Loss assessment: If a peril affects your house or property covered by your house insurance, you’ll have to have a professional damage assessment received. Based on what is damaged and the magnitude of the damage, assessments might be expensive. Fortunately, house insurance policies often cover loss assessments up to a specific limit.
  • Unauthorized use of credit cards: Most house insurance policies cover you against unauthorized charges to your credit card. Nevertheless, the limit on this is typically low ($500) and most credit card companies will eliminate unauthorized charges from your card once you report them.

What House Insurance Doesn’t Cover?

There are several things house insurance will not cover. Some are apparent and some aren’t so clear. The two most crucial to take note of are earthquakes and floods. Both are common perils in some areas and have insurance products devised exclusively for each one. House insurance exclusions also vary between companies and from state to state.

Some other things house insurance will not cover contain negligence or failure to make repairs, wear and tear, corrosion and rust, contamination, animals and pests, fungi, nuclear hazards, power failure, government actions, and war.

How much is House Insurance?

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the average annual house insurance premium is $1,211. House insurance costs vary from state to state for a variety of reasons.

Average house insurance cost by coverage amount

Along with your ZIP code and deductible amount, your house’s rebuild cost, implying the amount of money it would expense to completely rebuild your house from the start following a catastrophe, is one of the leading factors insurers use when establishing your policy rate. Below is the average rate for five different coverage ranges, according to the evaluation of insurance quotes submitted with Policygenius.

COVERAGE AMOUNT AVERAGE ANNUAL COST
$100,000-$200,000 $1,485
$200,000-$300,000 $1,723
$300,000-$400,000 $1,971
$400,000-$500,000 $2,169
Greater than $500,000 $2,830

House insurance works somewhat like life insurance; if you’re at more risk, you’ll pay more.

Variables that can influence your house insurance cost include:

  • Weather and environment (location is probably the biggest factor in your cost).
  • Age of your house (older houses are more costly to insure)
  • Building materials employed.
  • Your house’s claims history (more claims make the price higher) and claims history of houses in the adjacent area).
  • Your credit history (and the possibility of filing a claim).

You’ll most likely incur more than average if you live in the main city or anywhere with a heavy population because house values are higher there. And it’s expensive to insure a house in any state with a track record of natural calamities.

If you’re purchasing a house in Texas, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, or another state near the Gulf Coast, you’ll pay more because of storm and hurricane threats. The same applies to house owners in inland, tornado-prone states like Oklahoma and Kansas.

Some of the least costly states for house insurance, on the other hand, are Delaware, Vermont, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania—spots where the weather has generally been a little less notable. Little elements that decrease your risk, like living near a fire station, might spare you money.

House insurance costs also differ based on the insurance company you choose. Some companies specialize in high-value houses, for instance, and they’ll obviously charge higher prices.

Ways to Cut Down House Insurance Costs

While it never pays to play it cheap with coverage, there are methods to slash insurance premiums.

Keep a security system

A burglar alarm supervised by a central station or tied directly to a local police station will assist reduce the house owner’s annual premiums, possibly by 5% or more. In order to get the discount, the house owner must usually provide evidence of central monitoring in the form of a bill or a contract to the insurance company.

Smoke alarms are another way. While standard in most modern houses, fixing them in an older house can spare the house owner 10% or more in annual premiums. CO detectors, dead-bolt locks, sprinkler systems, and in some cases even weatherproofing can also aid in cutting down house insurance costs.

Increase your deductible

Similar to health insurance or car insurance, the higher the deductible the house owner selects, the lower the annual premiums. Nevertheless, the dilemma with choosing a high deductible is that claims/problems that normally cost only a few hundred dollars to repair—such as shattered windows or damaged sheetrock from a leaky pipe—will most likely be incurred by the house owner. And these can sum up.

Explore various policy discounts

Many insurance companies provide a discount of 10% or more to customers who keep other insurance contracts under the same roof (such as auto or health insurance). Contemplate getting a quote for other kinds of insurance from the same company that gives your house owners insurance. You may end up saving on two premiums.

Plan for renovation

If you plan to construct an extra or adjoining structure for your house, consider the materials that will be utilized. Usually, wood-framed structures will cost more to insure for the reason that they are highly flammable. On the other hand, cement- or steel-framed structures will prove to be less expensive since these are less expected to yield to fire or unfavorable weather conditions.

Another thing most house owners should, but frequently don’t, take into account are the insurance costs related to constructing a swimming pool. In fact, items like pools and/or other possibly injurious devices (like trampolines) can increase the annual house insurance costs by 10% or more.

Pay off your mortgage

Obviously, this is easier said than done, but house owners who own their residences entirely will be expected to see their premiums fall. This is because the insurance company finds out if a place is 100% yours, you’ll take better care of it.

Conduct regular policy reviews and comparisons

No matter what starting price you’re quoted, you’ll want to do a little comparison with others, including checking for group coverage alternatives through credit or trade unions, employers, or association memberships. And even after buying a policy, investors should, at least once per year, assess the house insurance costs of other insurance policies to their own. Moreover, they should examine their existing policy and make note of any adjustments that might have ensued that could reduce their premiums.

For instance, maybe you have undone the trampoline, paid off the mortgage, or set up a modern sprinkler system. If this is the case, simply informing the insurance company of the change(s) and providing evidence in the form of pictures and/or receipts could considerably decrease insurance premiums.

Loyalty often pays. The longer you remain with some insurers, the lower your premium can become, or the lower your deductible will be.

To see if you have sufficient house insurance coverage to replace your possessions, make periodic assessments of your most important items, too. Many consumers are under-insured with the contents part of their policy since they have not performed a house inventory and added the total value to compare with what the policy is covering.

Consider the changes taking place in the neighborhood that could decrease rates, as well. For

instance, the installation of a fire hydrant within 100 feet of the house, or the formation of a fire substation within close vicinity to the property, may reduce premiums.

Property Insurance Calculator

Whether you live in a house, apartment, or condo, personal property coverage is one of the most crucial aspects of your insurance. It’s important to be well-informed about exact replacement costs so your property insurance can best serve you in the occurrence of a covered loss.

Most people don’t understand the value of their belongings and your household possessions have a good likelihood of being more precious than you think! It’s easy to ignore those vintage pieces of vinyl and collector’s items, too.

So, how can you discover out how much to insure your house for? Use perfectly simple renters, condo, and property insurance calculator.

When purchasing house insurance, it’s critical to think about both price and characteristics. Consider what type of coverage you would like – for instance, if you live in an area that is susceptible to flooding, you may want to select a policy that offers flood cover as a standard or non-compulsory inclusion. It’s also crucial to thoroughly read the insurer’s product disclosure statement (PDS) so you have a good knowledge of what you are and aren’t covered for.

John Otero

John Otero

John Otero is an industry practitioner with more than 15 years of experience in the insurance industry. He has held various senior management roles both in the insurance companies and insurance brokers during this span of time. He began his insurance career in 2004 as an office assistant at an agency in her hometown of Duluth, MN. He got licensed as a producer while working at that agency and progressed to serve as an office manager. Working in the agency is how he fell in love with the industry. He saw firsthand the good that insurance consumers experienced by having the proper protection. John has diverse experience in corporate & consumer insurance services, across a range of vocations. His specialties include Major Corporate risk management and insurance programs, and Financial Lines He has been instrumental in making his firm as one of the leading organizations in the country in generating sustainable rapid growth of the company while maintaining service excellence to clients.

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