Homeowner's Insurance

Your home is an oasis away from the chaos of the world. It's the one place you can go to, close the door behind you, and feel fully relaxed knowing you're safe and surrounded by what makes you happy. But what if that home is ever jeopardized by a fire, water damage, or a freak thunderstorm? It pays to have the best home insurance policy for your home should the worst ever happen. This gives homeowners peace of mind knowing their sanctuary will be fully protected. But where should you begin? How do you know which policy is right for you? AFS&V is here to help!

Home insurance covers the hazards that most homeowners face. When a loss occurs, you will file a claim with your insurance carrier, and you are paid for the expenses, minus any outstanding deductible amounts.

Insurance also covers personal liability exposures, to protect you from many situations that could lead to lawsuits from others.

For instance, if someone slips and falls in your home or is injured somewhere on your property, you can be held responsible. Liability coverage is there to protect you.

You could also potentially need insurance to protect you from having to pay for:

• Storm damage, fire, windstorm, lightning, and hail
• Dog bite liability 
• Manufactured home coverage
• Trampoline or swimming pool liability insurance
• Wind damage
• Sinkholes
• Flood damage
• Sewer or septic backups
• Replacement cost for personal property
• Umbrella liability insurance

When you see an independent insurance agent like us you have the chance to explore all your options for insurance, and protect the things that are most important to you.

There are many things about insuring a home that most consumers aren’t aware of. We are here to make sure you avoid potential problem areas, including:

• Most policies will not cover sewer backup, unless you purchase a special endorsement
• Damages caused by surface water or water that flows below the surface of the ground aren’t usually covered
• A standard homeowners policy typically does not include Flood Insurance
• A standard homeowners policy only covers jewelry, up to set limits if the loss resulted from one of the perils named on the policy
• Many policies default to actual cash value, which means if you purchased a widescreen TV and home theater system for $1,000, it may now only be worth $450, so that's all you'll receive on the claim. Just like the dwelling limit mentioned above, replacement cost insurance pays out the total replacement value of your possessions, not their market value, in the event of a claim.
• IMPORTANT: You can combine your Home and Auto policies (and others) for even more savings.

• Frame houses
• CBS homes (Concrete Block Structure)
• Manufactured homes
• Mobile homes on acreage
• Condos
• Townhouses
• Secondary homes
• Homes you rent to others
• Seasonal resident homes
  

What is the average cost of home insurance in California?

The average cost of home insurance in the state of California is $1,030 per year or approximately $89 per month. While this may seem expensive, it's actually 35% cheaper than the average home insurance cost across the United States.

What is covered by homeowners insurance in California?

While homeowners insurance varies depending on a variety of factors, standard home insurance in California typically covers damage caused by smoke, vandalism, theft, rain, hail wind, and lightning. Given that the homeowners insurance is for the state of California, standard policies usually include wildfire coverage as part of the fire protection that's included.

While homeowners insurance provides coverage in the event of house damage, standard policies also include reimbursements for living expenses if alternative housing is required while your home is being repaired.

Standard policies also include coverage for medical fees should someone sustain an injury on your property, as well as heating systems, A/C systems, kitchen appliances, and more. Outbuildings and other external permanent structures are also usually covered as well.

What are the most common home insurance claims?

Dealing with theft, weather damage and more at home can be stressful. This is why it pays to have a great homeowners insurance policy in place should the worst occur. Incidents at home happen more than people think! These 5 homeowners insurance claims were the most commonly filed claims in 2021:

1. Hail and wind damage - Hail and wind damage lead the way for the most common homeowners insurance claim since 2014 among homeowners. While you may think this is related only to damage caused by hurricanes or tornadoes, hail and wind damage can also wreak havoc on a property over a single day. With the average claim filed being worth approximately $11,000, it's important to have hail and wind damage coverage should your home ever be affected.
2. Fire damage - Not only is fire damage one of the leading homeowner's insurance claims to be filed year on year, but it also accounts for the most expensive claims to be filed coming in at approximately $80,000 per claim.
3. Theft - Having your home burgled not only is a massive invasion of privacy, but it also can result in losing your treasured items of value. This common home insurance claim demonstrates the importance of protecting your home as much as possible.
4. Water damage - Water damage can be caused by plumbing leaks or weather such as snow or rain. Water damage accounts for nearly 30% of all homeowners claims across the United States each year.
5. Property damage - While property damage can account for a variety of things, it's one of the leading homeowner's insurance claims filed each year. Issues such as a tree falling on a home or another driver accidentally backing into your garage account for these types of claims.

Do you pay homeowners insurance monthly or yearly?

Depending on the type of homeowners insurance acquired, customers typically have the option of paying either monthly or annually. Annual payments ensure that the payment is out of the way and completed while monthly payments allow customers to break up payments but may result in paying longer in the long run if interest is involved.

While most insurance products are similar in price and function, insurance providers vary when it comes to structuring a policy tailored to you. After all, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all insurance policy when it comes to your personal policy.

Navigating the complex world of home insurance shouldn't be stressful. Let our experts help you find a policy that works for you. We're happy to provide you with a home insurance quote to see if you could be saving your valuable money on a policy better suited to your needs. We're experts in the Connecticut home insurance market and can't wait to help you protect your home!

Contact us today, and we'll help you protect what matters most.