skip to main content
Travelers Logo
  • About
  • Careers
  • Agents
  • Investors
  • Sustainability
  • Contact Us
  • For Individuals
    • Overview
    • Products
      • Car
      • Home
      • Renters
      • Condo
      • Landlord
      • Boat & Yacht
      • Flood
      • Motorcycle
      • Travel
      • Pet
      • Weddings
      • Umbrella
      • All Products
    • Prepare & Prevent
      • Insurance 101
      • Home Central
      • Travelers Garage
      • Managing Through COVID-19
    • Affinity Group Discount
    • Online Service
    • Pay Your Bill
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • For Business
    • Overview
    • Products & Solutions
      • Overview
      • Boiler & Machinery
      • Commercial Auto & Trucking
      • Cyber
      • Environmental Liability
      • Excess Casualty & Umbrella
      • General Liability
      • Global Insurance
      • Inland Marine
      • Management & Professional Liability
      • Ocean Marine
      • Property
      • Business Owner's Policy
      • Surety Bonds
      • Workers Compensation
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Industries
      • Overview
      • Agribusiness
      • Architects, Engineers & Surveyors
      • Auto & Truck Dealers
      • Business & Professional Services
      • Construction
      • Education
      • Energy & Renewable
      • Equipment Dealers
      • Financial Institutions
      • Food Services
      • Health & Related Services
      • Hospitality & Recreation
      • Manufacturing
      • Marine Industries
      • Museums & Fine Art
      • Non-Profit
      • Oil & Gas
      • Public Entities
      • Real Estate
      • Retail
      • Technology
      • Transportation
      • Wholesale & Distribution
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Services
      • Overview
      • Risk Control
      • Claim
      • Premium Audit
      • Online Customer Tools
      • Risk Management Information Services
      • Travelers Client Advantage
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Small Business
      • Overview
      • Automobile Insurance
      • Business Owner's Policy
      • Data Breach
      • Employment Practices Liability
      • Professional Insurance
      • Umbrella Insurance
      • Workers Compensation Inurance
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Large Business
      • Overview
      • Casualty
      • Cyber
      • Management & Professional Liability
      • Property
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Multinational Business
    • Prepare & Prevent
      • By Topic
      • By Industry
      • Navigating Your Business Through COVID-19
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • Claim Center
    • Claim Center
    • Should I File a Claim?
    • File a Claim
    • Roadside Assistance
    • Find a Service Provider
    • Check Your Claim Status
    • Manage Your Claim Experience
      • Understanding the Claim Process
      • Claim Guide Library
      • Workers Compensation Resources
    • Claim Capabilities
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • Prepare & Prevent
    • For Individuals
    • Home Central
      • Buying & Selling
      • Home Maintenance
      • Home Renovation
      • Home Safety
      • Moving
      • Smart Home
    • Travelers Garage
      • Buying & Selling
      • Car Maintenance
      • Distracted Driving
      • Safe Driving
      • Teen Driving
      • Boating
    • Insurance 101
    • Weather
    • For Business
    • Industries
      • Construction
      • Manufacturing
      • Nonprofit
      • Small Business
      • Technology
    • Topics
      • Business Continuity
      • Cyber
      • Driver and Fleet Safety
      • Facilities Management
      • Internet of Things
      • Product and Services Liability
      • Supply Chain Management
      • Workplace Safety
    • Travelers Risk Index
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • About Travelers
    • Overview
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Careers
      • Community
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Sustainability
      • History
      • Investors
      • Media Resources
      • News
      • Travelers Championship
      • Travelers Institute
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
    • Get a Quote
    • Find an Agent
    • File a Claim
    • Pay Your Bill
Main Navigation
  • For Individuals
      • Insurance for Individuals
      • Products
        • Car
        • Home
        • Renters
        • Condo
        • Landlord
        • Boat & Yacht
        • Flood
        • Motorcycle
        • Travel
        • Pet
        • Weddings & Events
        • Umbrella
        • More
      • Prepare & Prevent
        • Insurance 101
        • Home Central
        • Travelers Garage
      • Affinity Group Discount
      • Online Service
      • Pay Your Bill
    • Get a home quote now

      It's easy to get a free quote for home insurance from Travelers in just a few minutes.

       

      Get a home quote now
  • For Business
      • Products & Solutions
        • Commercial Auto & Trucking
        • Cyber
        • General Liability
        • Management & Professional Liability
        • Property
        • Business Owner's Policy
        • Surety Bonds
        • Workers Compensation
        • More
      • Industries
        • Construction
        • Energy & Renewable
        • Financial Institutions
        • Healthcare
        • Manufacturing
        • Real Estate
        • Technology
        • Transportation
        • More
      • Prepare & Prevent
      • Services
        • Risk Control
        • Claim
        • Premium Audit
        • More
      • Pay Your Bill
      • Small Business
      • Large Business
      • Multinational Business
      • For Business Overview
    • Tips for Managing Risks Related to a Remote Workforce

      Tips for Managing Risks Related to a Remote Workforce

      With the current reality of more employees working from home through the pandemic, is your business ready for all the implications?

      Learn more
  • Claim Center
      • Claim Center
      • Should I File a Claim?
      • File a Claim
      • Roadside Assistance
      • Find a Service Provider
      • Check Your Claim Status
      • Manage Your Claim Experience
        • Understanding the Claim Process
        • Claim Guide Library
        • Workers Compensation Resources
      • Claim Capabilities
    • Send us your receipts, photos, invoices and more with just a push of a button.

      Securely share information with your Claim team.

      Send us your receipts, photos, invoices and more with just a push of a button.

      Upload a File
  • Prepare & Prevent
      • For Individuals
      • Home Central
        • Buying & Selling
        • Home Maintenance
        • Home Renovation
        • Home Safety
        • Moving
        • Smart Home
      • Travelers Garage
        • Buying & Selling
        • Car Maintenance
        • Distracted Driving
        • Safe Driving
        • Teen Driving
        • Boating
      • Insurance 101
      • Weather
      • For Business
      • Industries
        • Construction
        • Energy
        • Manufacturing
        • Nonprofit
        • Small Business
        • Technology
      • Topics
        • Business Continuity
        • Cyber
        • Driver and Fleet Safety
        • Facilities Management
        • Internet of Things
        • Product and Services Liability
        • Supply Chain Management
        • Workplace Safety
      • Travelers Risk Index
    • Managing Through COVID-19

      Managing Through COVID-19

      Resources to help you adapt to the realities of COVID-19.

      Learn more
  • Home
  • Prepare & Prevent
  • Home Central
  • Insuring
  • Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Remodeling?
Get a Quote*
Homeowners

INDIVIDUAL

COMBINE & SAVE

Or Call 1.888.695.4625 1.555.555.5555 1.777.777.7777 1.888.342.5977 1.844.754.0044 1.855.656.3103 1.844.403.1464 1.844.719.2120 to get a quote.* Retrieve a saved quote
Find an Agent Log in to MyTravelers®

Travelers is proud to work with the finest Independent Agents

Travelers customer? Log in to MyTravelers®

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Remodeling?

Image of woman making renovations in the bathroom of her home. Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Renovations? Image of woman making renovations in the bathroom of her home. Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Renovations?

Your homeowners insurance may provide coverage for minor renovations you made to your home (like painting updating/replacing carpet) prior to a covered loss. However, if your remodel or renovation includes things like adding a room, upgrading a kitchen or bathroom, or installing a pool, your policy may need to be updated to provide the amount of coverage you need.

If you’re looking to renovate or expand your home, there are several things to review in your insurance policy before diving into a renovation project.

Improvements can increase a home’s value, which can potentially impact your dwelling coverage.

It’s important to work with your insurance company or agent to evaluate your coverages and needs.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

A typical homeowners insurance policy generally protects your home and your personal property from damage caused by a number of unforeseen events including fire, windstorm, hail or lightning. Your policy typically includes dwelling coverage to help pay to repair or rebuild your home if damaged or destroyed by a covered cause of loss.

Many policies also provide coverage for other structures on the property that are not attached to your home, such as garages, sheds and fences. Additionally, many policies offer loss of use coverage and personal liability coverage.

How Does a Renovation Impact My Homeowners Policy?

Before you start a renovation, you should carefully review your homeowners policy to see what’s covered. Most home insurance policies have some protection in place if your home is damaged during a renovation, but it’s important to talk with your insurance agent before you renovate to make sure that you have adequate protection in place.

If you plan to hire a contractor to complete the project, confirm that the contractor carries the necessary insurance coverage. This may include coverage for personal liability, workers compensation and property damage in the event of damage to your home. If your renovation is a DIY job with family or friends helping out, you’ll also want to make sure that your liability coverage is sufficient.

There’s more to consider than risk of damage during a renovation, though. You also need to factor how improving your home or adding square footage may increase your home’s value. This may be beneficial for resale, but when it comes to your insurance policy, you’ll need to increase your dwelling coverage to match the new value of your home.

How Does My Dwelling Coverage Work?

Your dwelling coverage pays to repair or rebuild your home if it is damaged by a covered loss. The amount of dwelling coverage you need is generally determined by an estimation of the cost to rebuild your home. If you take on a renovation, such as remodeling your bathroom or upgrading your kitchen, your home’s value may increase and there may be an impact on the cost to repair or rebuild your home in the event of a covered loss.

This means your existing coverage may not sufficiently cover the improvements you made to your home. You’ll want to ensure that your insurance compay or agent knows about the improvements, so they can help recalculate the estimated cost to rebuild your newly renovated home. While the current market value of your home may be lower than you might like, the cost to rebuild may be higher than you think. Over time, economic changes — such as labor or material costs — could make rebuilding more costly than initially anticipated.

What Other Coverage Do I Need?

In addition to your home insurance dwelling coverage, you may want to review your liability coverage when you’re planning a home renovation project, as you may have increased the number of people on your property. In some cases, your general contractor may hire subcontractors for some of the work. Be sure to ask your contractor about the insurance coverage of any subcontractors. If you’re adding new furniture, electronics or other possessions to your renovated space, you may need to boost your personal property coverage to protect these items.

If you’re considering a home renovation, talk to your Travelers representative or insurance agent to get a better understanding of the home insurance coverage you’ll need before you begin the project. Contact your local independent agent or Travelers representative to get a home insurance quote.

Sources
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0242-hiring-contractor
https://www.iii.org/article/insurance-for-remodeling-your-home

Learn More About Home Insurance

More Prepare & Prevent

outdoor porch home renovation project

6 Home Renovations that Can Affect Your Insurance

What home renovations can change the amount of coverage you need? We cover six common scenarios that could affect your insurance, so you can plan ahead.

mother pushing son on playset in their backyard

Yard Safety

Backyard activities, such as swimming in a pool and grilling, have their own set of risks. Help prevent accidents with this yard safety guide.

Male working on home improvement project

5 Home Improvement Projects That May Have the Biggest Return on Investment

Find out about which home improvement projects may have the highest return on investment (ROI).

Top Stories
woman cleaning windows

Summer Home Maintenance Tips

Summer home maintenance can help keep your home safe from damage.

Learn more


Related Content

  • Tree Maintenance and Care [Video]
  • How to Help Prevent Water Damage [Video]
  • Call Before You Dig

Related Products & Discounts

Home Insurance

Protect your home the way it protects you by choosing the property insurance coverage that meets your needs.


Personal Property Coverage

Personal property insurance can cover your belongings if they're damaged in a covered loss.


Bundle Your Insurance and Save

There are benefits when you choose to bundle your car, home or other insurance policies. Get a quote today to see how much you could save.


See All Home Maintenance Content


Travelers logo

Travelers and The Travelers Umbrella are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries.
© 2023 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved.

  • Travelers on Facebook
  • Travelers on YouTube
  • Travelers on Twitter
  • Travelers on LinkedIn
  • Travelers on Instagram

Products & Services

  • For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • Claim Services
  • Prepare & Prevent

Our Company

  • About Travelers
  • Careers
  • Investors
  • Sustainability
  • Travelers Institute

Connect

  • Customer Support
  • MyTravelers®
  • For Agents
  • Find an Agent

Legal & Compliance

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy & Security
  • Cookie Settings
  • Accessibility
  • Producer Compensation Disclosure

*Quotes may not be available in all states or for all products. In CA, quotes for all products must be obtained through a local independent agent.