Dwelling coverage is a crucial part of every standard homeowners insurance policy. Dwelling coverage can help you in the event the physical structure of your home incurs serious damage. However, it’s important to understand what types of damage are covered.
Here is a basic guide to the types of damage covered by your dwelling insurance:
Why you need dwelling coverage
You can use dwelling coverage to pay for damage sustained from natural hazards, also called perils. You may be eligible for financial compensation if the main structure of your home is damaged by any of the following:
- Fire/smoke
- Windstorms
- Lightning strikes
- Hail
- Snow, sleet or ice
Other than natural or weather related hazards, there are more types of damage covered under dwelling insurance. These hazards include:
- Vandalism
- Theft
- Falling objects
- Damage from motor vehicles
- Damage from aircraft
If any of these perils cause damage to the structure of your home, your dwelling coverage is there to help you.
Important exceptions
Not all natural hazards are covered by dwelling insurance. For example, windstorms do not include tornadoes. If you live in a region prone to tornadoes, you will need to purchase a tornado-specific insurance policy.
Other major natural perils like earthquakes, mudslides and floods typically require their own specific policy. Other non-natural hazards might be covered by auto insurance or personal liability insurance.
Hopefully, you’ll never need to make a claim to your homeowners insurance for one of these issues. However, the more you know about what hazards are included in your dwelling coverage can give you greater peace of mind as a homeowner.
About the Author
Kimberly Hering
Kimberly Hering's devotion to helping people achieve their real estate goals stems from her genuine enjoyment of the process. Whatever the task, Kimberly makes it her mission to get it done, however she can, without compromising her client's needs. Often, that means thinking outside the box. After working with Kimberly, clients describe her as being Trustworthy, Creative, Patient, Highly Skilled, Attentive to the Process and having a lot of Integrity.
After spending more than 15 successful years working on Wall Street, Kimberly transitioned into Real Estate, joining Alain Pinel Realtors, then moving to Zephyr, now Corcoran Global Living, in 2018. During her career on Wall Street, Kimberly was a Vice President working as an Institutional Equity Salesperson for Montgomery Securities for 10 years. She covered the top money managers throughout the US and Canada. She joined Jefferies & Co as a Senior Vice President managing the Western Region Institutional Sales group, while continuing to cover the top money managers.
Kimberly leverages her extensive experience selling equities to top money managers throughout the US and Canada, to successfully negotiating any Real Estate transaction seamlessly for her clients. Kimberly is well versed in Marin's neighborhoods, towns, cities, and education system.
Living in the Bay Area for 35 years, 25 years in Marin and having 2 sons in local Marin schools, Kimberly spends a lot of time volunteering in the community and serving on various local Boards. Kimberly has a collection of resources ranging from the best local breakfast spots to vetted contractors. With her reliable list of valuable resources, Real Estate experience and unsurpassed knowledge of Marin's many communities, Kimberly can guide her clients through every aspect of a Real Estate transaction seamlessly.
Relocating to Marin, downsizing, upsizing, first time home buying, final home purchase or sale, or a lot to build a dream home, no matter the undertaking, Kimberly works seamlessly until the job at hand is completed with 100% satisfaction.