Sponsor spotlight: One homeowners’ policy, two very different types of coverage

Homeowners insurance policies have many distinct components of coverage. Two of the biggest are the structure of the home and the belongings inside of it.

Here’s a closer look at how these two types of coverage work and how understanding the difference can help you make better-informed coverage decisions.

#1 – Coverage for your house

The physical structure of the home falls under dwelling coverage (often called Coverage A). This includes:

• The walls and roof
• Flooring and cabinets
• Built-in appliances
• Plumbing and electrical systems
• Attached garages

This part of your policy helps pay to repair or rebuild your home after covered damage. The coverage amount is usually based on what it would cost to rebuild the home today, not what you originally paid for it or what it could sell for on the market.

For example, a $500,000 home may actually need $700,000 to rebuild after a widespread disaster because of labor shortages, material inflation and updated building codes.

#2 – Coverage for your belongings

Furniture, clothing, electronics, appliances and other personal items fall under personal property coverage, also known as Coverage C. Most policies set this limit as a percentage of the home’s insured value, commonly 50% to 70%.

For example, a home insured for $500,000 may only include $250,000 to $350,000 in coverage for everything inside it. While that may look like plenty of coverage, you may be surprised how quickly replacement costs can add up after a major loss.

Belongings coverage also works differently than coverage for the structure itself. While the home is often insured at full replacement cost, personal belongings may be reimbursed at actual cash value unless the policy is upgraded. So a TV you purchased for $1,200 several years ago may only be valued at a fraction of that amount today.

Some belongings also come with strict coverage caps. Jewelry, firearms, collectibles and similar high-value items may only be covered up to limited amounts unless additional coverage is specifically added to the policy.

What you can do

A few simple steps can help you better understand your coverage and avoid costly surprises after a claim.

• Review your personal property limit. Ask your insurance agent how much coverage you actually have for belongings and whether it realistically reflects what it would cost to replace everything you own today.
• Check whether your belongings are covered at replacement cost or actual cash value. Upgrading to replacement cost coverage can make a significant difference in what you receive after a loss.
• Create a home inventory. Photos, videos, receipts and a room-by-room inventory can make the claims process smoother and help ensure you are properly insured.
• Ask about special limits for valuable items. Jewelry, firearms, collectibles and expensive electronics may require additional endorsements or scheduled coverage to be fully protected.

Understanding the difference between coverage for your home and coverage for your belongings can help you avoid unexpected gaps and make more confident insurance decisions before a claim ever happens.

Nancy J. Ekrem, CPA
Managing Shareholder
DME CPA Group PC
Certified Public Accountants & Business Consultants
[email protected]