Homeowners Insurance FAQs

Homeowners insurance can protect you from the unexpected. If your home is damaged, your belongings are stolen or someone gets injured on your property, it can help cover repairs or replacement, temporary housing, medical bills, legal fees and more. 

A homeowners policy is recommended for anyone who owns a home or condo and may even be required by your mortgage lender. In certain areas, you may need separate policies or coverage to help protect your home and personal belongings against damage due to  floods, earthquakes, windstorms or hail. 

Most policies have three key elements: the premium, which is how much you pay for coverage; deductibles, which are how much you’re responsible for out of pocket in the event of a covered claim; and limits, which are the most your insurer will pay for a covered claim. 

Home insurance is coverage you hope to never have to use, but if the unexpected happens, it can help you restore your life back to normal.

Learn more about homeowners insurance.

An insurance representative can help you determine the homeowners coverage that best fits your needs and budget, but a typical policy can cover: 

When figuring out how to choose home insurance, consider these key questions:  

Our licensed insurance representatives are happy to walk you through all of this step-by-step and can help you review your needs on an annual basis. 

Choosing a homeowners insurance policy starts with choosing the right insurance company. 

Travelers has been one of the nation’s leading and largest property casualty companies for over 165 years. We offer a variety of policy options and packages to help you get the coverage that meets your unique needs. We can provide you with information to help protect the place you call home.  

Travelers gives you peace of mind with a claims process that is simple and stress-free. 

It depends. Most homeowners policies come up for renewal each year, but customers must remain eligible and pay their premiums to renew. 

It’s a good idea to review your coverage with an insurance representative every year.

Umbrella insurance is additional personal liability coverage that can offer an additional layer of protection beyond what your homeowners insurance can provide. 

If you or a family member is found personally responsible for serious property damage or personal injury to others, the cost of damages can quickly add up beyond the liability limits of your home policy. Umbrella insurance can provide extra protection, especially if you have many assets to protect. 

Learn more about umbrella insurance.

The cost of your insurance, or premium, partly depends on the coverages, deductibles and policy limits you choose. Here are a few tips that may help lower your premium: 

Your home insurance deductible is the amount you’ll be responsible for paying toward the costs due to a loss before your insurance coverage pays. It can vary and may be either a dollar amount or a percentage. Some policies even have multiple deductibles. So if you have a deductible of $500, then you will pay the first $500 of each covered claim. 

Your premium is how much you pay for coverage. Typically, if you have a higher deductible, you may pay a lower premium, and vice versa. A lower premium may be nice for your wallet, but remember to choose a deductible you can actually afford in the event of a loss. Your insurance representative can help you with this. 

Dwelling coverage (Coverage A) pays to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged by a covered loss. The amount of dwelling coverage you need is determined not by the market value of your home, but by the estimated cost to rebuild it. If you have a mortgage, your lender may even require certain dwelling coverage options, limits and deductibles. 

Learn more about dwelling coverage.

Other structures coverage (Coverage B) covers the structures on your property that are not attached to your home, such as garages, sheds and fences. 

An insurance representative can help you determine what it would cost to repair or rebuild these structures when choosing your deductibles and policy limits. 

Personal property coverage (Coverage C) is required on all homeowners policies. It pays to repair or replace personal items in your home like furniture, clothing or electronics that may be damaged by a covered loss. 

Other assets like cash, collectibles, jewelry, furs and silverware may have limited coverage, but additional coverage may be available with a valuable items endorsement or a separate policy. Think about what it would cost to repair or replace your personal belongings and valuable items, and if additional coverage would make sense for you. 

Loss of use coverage (Coverage D) helps you pay for temporary housing and living expenses if you and your family have to move out of your home during covered repairs. 

Learn more about loss of use coverage.

Liability insurance can help protect your assets and cover your defense costs if you or a household family member is found legally responsible for causing injury to other people or their property.  It can provide coverage for bodily injury, property damage, medical payments and legal expenses. 

Do you have a high level of risk or many assets to protect? You can always discuss your liability coverage needs, options, deductible and policy limits with your insurance representative. 

Learn more about liability coverage.

A deductible is the amount of a covered claim that is your responsibility. And a policy limit (or “limit of liability”) is the maximum amount your insurance company will pay for a covered claim.

Some homeowners opt for higher deductibles in favor of a lower premium. But if the unexpected happens, you need to make sure the amount you choose as a deductible is one you can afford to pay out of pocket. 

An insurance representative can help you balance your individual needs. 

Possibly. Updates to your home like adding a room, renovating a kitchen or installing a pool may affect the amount of coverage you need. 

Check in with an insurance representative when you’re doing a big project, making a big purchase or on an annual basis to help ensure your policy remains adequate and up to date.