5 Surprising Things Your Homeowners Insurance Doesn't Cover
Unless you have read all of your homeowners insurance policy, you may think that your home and property are protected against any issues. The truth is, there are things your insurance policy doesn't cover that you may not be aware of. Many homeowners know that water damage and flooding isn't covered, but these five other things may surprise you.
Termites
Termites can severely damage the structure of your home, but the damage from these pests is not covered under typical homeowner insurance policies. Many insurance companies consider damage from termites to be preventable, so make sure to take note of moisture around your home and take a close look at any wood for possible damage. Be sure to keep woodpiles and plants a good distance from your home.
Earthquakes
Just as floods are not covered by homeowners insurance, neither are earthquakes. What is interesting about this is that many policies cover damage from a volcanic eruption. Your insurance also will not cover landslides, mudslides or earth tremors. If you live in an area where earthquakes occur, you should consider purchasing extra earthquake insurance.
Expensive Jewelry/Personal Property
Your expensive jewelry is not covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Many policies will cover personal artifacts up to $1,000, but after that you will need a separate rider to cover the value of the rest of your items.
Your Home Business
It is logical to believe that your home business is covered by your homeowners insurance policy, but this is not always the case. If you own a catering business that you run from your home and someone gets sick with food poisoning, you aren't covered for that. If you are training a client in your home gym and he or she breaks a bone, you are not covered. This is especially true if your home business is run in a structure on your property separate from your home.
Certain Dog Breeds
Many dogs are covered under homeowners insurance policies, but only if they are not considered to be aggressive or a high risk. You may be shocked at how many dog breeds are considered uninsurable. Breeds such as Rottweilers, chow chows, Doberman pinschers, pit bull terriers and Akitas are all uninsurable breeds.
Does your homeowners insurance policy cover any of these? If not, you should consider getting special riders to ensure that you have all the coverage your home will need.