Are the Investments and Upgrades to Your Home Properly Protected?
Insurance Influencer: Michelle Silvester
When it comes to protecting your home, understanding what your insurance covers can save you from costly surprises. Water and wind damage are two of the most common concerns, but whether or not your insurance policy will cover it depends on a few factors. The source of the water, and the updates and improvements made to mitigate the wind damage.
What Types of Water Damage Are Covered?
If water damage occurs suddenly and accidentally— such as from a burst pipe—your homeowner’s insurance policy will likely cover the repairs. However, if the damage results from neglect or lack of maintenance, such as a leaky air conditioning unit or a roof with cracked tiles that were never repaired, your claim may be denied.
Flood Damage Requires Separate Coverage
Homeowners insurance typically does not cover water damage from external sources, such as rising water levels due to heavy rain, an overflowing lake, or blocked street drainage that directs water toward your home. To be protected from these risks, you need a separate flood insurance policy.
Can a Wind Mitigation Inspection Lower Your Insurance Costs?
A wind mitigation inspection can sometimes lead to reduced insurance premiums, but it depends on the updates and improvements made to your home.
Photo by Carri Lager on location at JMC Luxury Homes
When Will a Wind Mitigation Inspection Help Lower Costs?
• If you’ve upgraded your garage door to an impact- rated model.
• If you replaced a roof that was installed before 2003 when stricter building codes took effect.
• If you upgraded your roof’s connection from toe nails to clips, which provides stronger resistance to wind damage.
When Won’t It Make a Difference?
If you had shutters and later replaced them with impact glass, a new inspection will not provide additional discounts since the opening protection discount was already factored into your policy.
Understanding these factors can help you make informed decisions about home maintenance and insurance policies, ensuring that the investments made to your home remain protected without unnecessary costs
