what is covered under your home owners insurance?
I have a main wall in my house that over time hase become week due to high winds. I can actually see the wall move, i have a big moon window and a crack going done. I have folks out who hae told me that my house is level. My question is, is this something that is covered by homeowners insurance?
talked with my insurance agent, as long as it is not foundation (which it has been looked at by a foundation company who said the house was level) then it would be covered.
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August 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
If I were you I’d ask your own insurance as they are all different.
I wouldn’t know exactly what mine covers but my main concern is the roof (it’s a hailstone prone area) which is covered and the inside contents which are also covered for theft, the rest I am not sure.
If I were you I’d do something about the wall.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
You need to examine the policy and see what it says. There are many different policies and many different coverages. Sometimes a good contractor will be knowledgeable.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
If the damage is from wind, your policy might cover the damage. But if it is from age and wear, it probably doesn’t. Call your insurance agent and ask them to explain your policy.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Home owners insurance has a coverage section for Buildings. You may want to look at that. It should be covered under that policy. Call your insurer to file a claim and they will send a claim adjuster/appraiser.
It’s so happened that I am working on my home owner insurance policy with my lender. I am reading it as I am writing this answer.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Homeowners insurance provides coverage for unpredictable events: Wind storms, tornadoes, hail damage, most weather related occurrences.
It does not provide coverage for damage done "over time" or for poor workmanship and construction. If your problems can be linked with a singular event like one really bad wind storm, then you can file a claim. If your issue is a weak and wimpy house that rattles when the wind blows, then you need to find a contractor and get your place fixed.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Most homeowners insurance policies have exclusions for normal wear and tear and other things that happen over the course of time, for example your roof is old and develops a small leak that causes continuous and repeated damage to your home with each rainfall–that would not be covered! Settlement (which could be the cause of the crack you are describing) is also not covered under your policy. What is covered for example under most homeowners insurance policies if you had a very bad windstorm and it caused your wall to collapse.
I would call in a contractor to make sure. However, be forewarned–if you call in your insurance company and it turns out it is not covered they will then follow up and make sure that you have made the repairs and if you do not make the repairs in a timely manner they will cancel you for failure to maintain your property.
Good luck!
August 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
There are lots of different homeowners policies, and every state has it’s own rules. HOWEVER, in general, homeowners policies cover stuff that is sudden and accidental. Generally they EXCLUDE things like wear and tear, settling, collapse, termite damage, etc.
Walls do NOT become "week due to wind". Wind either flattens them, or it doesn’t. They DO become week due to termite damage (not covered), rot (not covered), settling (not covered), that sort of thing.
Likely, this is NOT going to be covered. So if I were you, I’d jump on it and find out what’s causing it, and get it fixed before your house collapses on you.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Damage covered under an insurance policy has to be sudden and accidental. While the damage incurred was accidental, it occured over a prolonged period of time, therefore it would not be covered.
August 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
you should check yout contract or call your insurance, every policy has its very own features so any answer you might get here would be a more or less accurate guess, but nothing sure
August 13th, 2010 at 11:39 am
The best thing to do, dear, is to read your policy (contract) and talk to the claims department. No one can possibly know what your policy covers, what, with riders and all, by answering this question. That is the best, and most accurate advice to youj.