Thursday, July 21, 2011

10 things your homeowners insurance DOESN'T cover

Surprise: Here are 10 things a typical homeowners policy doesn't cover:
  • Damage due to animals or rodents.
  • Mold, mildew or dry rot.
  • Earthquakes -- including earth movement, landslides, etc.
  • Slow leaks.
  • Flooding: You have to buy a separate flood insurance policy to be covered for floods, tidal surges and tsunamis.
  • Intentional damage.
  • Foundation settling and cracking.
  • Volcanoes: Damage from tremors caused by the eruption generally isn't covered, but removal of ash deposits -- or damage from them -- often are covered.
  • A home business: If you operate a home-based business, you might be uninsured and not even realize it. Your homeowners policy may provide a limited amount of coverage for business-related personal property in the home, but don't wait until you have a loss to find out if you're covered. Talk to your agent.
  • A second residence on the property: Most homeowner policies don't cover a second residence.
Here, on the other hand, is a list of what is covered under a typical homeowners policy.