Homeowners Insurance covers the cost to repair your home, condo, and your personal property if they were to be damaged in a fire, natural disaster, or even theft.
Homeowner policies include Personal Liability coverage as well. Personal Liability coverage protects against bodily injury or property damage claims made against you by others. We recommend carrying Personal Liability coverage at the highest limit available, usually $500,000 or $1,000,000 if your carrier will allow.
Homeowners policies also cover Loss of Use or Additional Living Expenses incurred for temporary accommodations while your home is being rebuilt.
Homeowner policies include Personal Liability coverage as well. Personal Liability coverage protects against bodily injury or property damage claims made against you by others. We recommend carrying Personal Liability coverage at the highest limit available, usually $500,000 or $1,000,000 if your carrier will allow.
Homeowners policies also cover Loss of Use or Additional Living Expenses incurred for temporary accommodations while your home is being rebuilt.
What Is Homeowners Insurance?
Homeowners insurance is a comprehensive insurance policy designed to protect your home, personal belongings, and liability risks associated with owning a home. It provides coverage for damage to your structure, losses from theft or disasters, and financial protection if someone is injured on your property.
A standard homeowners policy typically includes:
A standard homeowners policy typically includes:
- Dwelling Coverage — Protection for your home’s structure
- Other Structures Coverage — Detached garages, sheds, fences
- Personal Property Coverage — Furniture, electronics, clothing, and more
- Personal Liability Coverage — Protection if you’re legally responsible for injury or property damage
- Medical Payments to Others — Limited coverage for minor injuries, regardless of fault
- Additional Living Expenses (Loss of Use) — If your home becomes temporarily uninhabitable due to a covered loss
Why Homeowners Insurance Matters
Your home is more than a place to live — it’s where life happens. But unexpected events like fires, storms, theft, or liability claims can happen too. Without the proper insurance coverage, you could face significant out-of-pocket costs for repairs, replacement, or legal expenses.
Without proper homeowners coverage, you could face significant out-of-pocket expenses for:
Homeowners insurance protects both your property and your assets.
Without proper homeowners coverage, you could face significant out-of-pocket expenses for:
- Repairing or rebuilding your home
- Replacing personal belongings
- Medical bills if someone is injured on your property
- Legal fees and settlements if you’re found liable
- Fire or smoke damage
- Windstorms, hail, or lightning
- Theft or vandalism
- Water damage from plumbing failures
- Liability claims from guest injuries
- Loss of use if you’re displaced from your home
Homeowners insurance protects both your property and your assets.
Understanding Personal Liability Coverage
Personal liability is one of the most important — and often overlooked — parts of your homeowners policy.
Personal liability coverage helps protect you if:
If you are found legally responsible, personal liability coverage can help pay for:
Liability claims can easily exceed $100,000 — which is why reviewing your liability limits is critical.
Personal liability coverage helps protect you if:
- A guest slips and falls at your home
- Your dog bites someone
- Your child damages a neighbor’s property
- You accidentally cause damage away from home
If you are found legally responsible, personal liability coverage can help pay for:
- Medical expenses
- Legal defense costs
- Court judgments or settlements
- Property repair or replacement
Liability claims can easily exceed $100,000 — which is why reviewing your liability limits is critical.
Do You Need More Liability Protection?
Many homeowners choose to increase their liability limits or add a Personal Umbrella Policy for additional protection beyond standard homeowners limits.
Umbrella coverage provides an extra layer of financial protection over your home and auto policies — helping safeguard your savings, investments, and future earnings.
Your Brock-Norton agent can help determine whether your current liability limits are sufficient for your situation.
Umbrella coverage provides an extra layer of financial protection over your home and auto policies — helping safeguard your savings, investments, and future earnings.
Your Brock-Norton agent can help determine whether your current liability limits are sufficient for your situation.
Additional Coverages to Consider
Depending on your home and needs, you may want to add:
We’ll help you customize your policy so there are no surprises.
- Scheduled personal property for jewelry or collectibles
- Sewer or water backup coverage
- Flood insurance (not included in standard policies)
- Earthquake coverage
- Replacement cost endorsements
We’ll help you customize your policy so there are no surprises.
How Premiums Are Determined
Your homeowners insurance premium is based on several factors, including:
We’ll help you find the right balance between coverage and cost so you get reliable protection that fits your budget.
- Replacement cost of your home
- Location and local weather risks
- Age and condition of your home
- Your deductible amount
- Personal property value
- Claims history
We’ll help you find the right balance between coverage and cost so you get reliable protection that fits your budget.
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In addition to your standard underlying coverage, we can help you with complex policies specific to your needs:
Personal Property Dwelling Flood Liability Protection Medical Expense Fire Natural Disasters Additional Living Expenses (ALE) Replacement Costs Vandalism Neglect Personal Liability Loss of Use Identity Theft |
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What Does a Homeowners Policy Include?
A standard homeowners policy is made up of several core coverage parts designed to protect both your property and your financial well-being.
Dwelling Coverage
Protects the structure of your home — including walls, roof, flooring, and built-in appliances — from covered perils such as fire, wind, hail, and certain types of water damage.
Other Structures Coverage
Covers detached structures on your property, such as garages, sheds, fences, or guest houses.
Personal Property Coverage
Helps pay to repair or replace your belongings — including furniture, clothing, electronics, and household items — if they are damaged or stolen due to a covered loss.
Loss of Use (Additional Living Expenses)
If your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered claim, this coverage helps pay for temporary living expenses such as hotel stays, meals, and other necessary costs.
Personal Liability Coverage
Provides financial protection if you’re found legally responsible for bodily injury or property damage to others. This coverage can help pay for legal defense costs, medical expenses, and settlements or judgments.
Medical Payments to Others
Covers minor medical expenses if a guest is injured on your property, regardless of fault — helping resolve small claims quickly and avoid larger liability issues.
A standard homeowners policy is made up of several core coverage parts designed to protect both your property and your financial well-being.
Dwelling Coverage
Protects the structure of your home — including walls, roof, flooring, and built-in appliances — from covered perils such as fire, wind, hail, and certain types of water damage.
Other Structures Coverage
Covers detached structures on your property, such as garages, sheds, fences, or guest houses.
Personal Property Coverage
Helps pay to repair or replace your belongings — including furniture, clothing, electronics, and household items — if they are damaged or stolen due to a covered loss.
Loss of Use (Additional Living Expenses)
If your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered claim, this coverage helps pay for temporary living expenses such as hotel stays, meals, and other necessary costs.
Personal Liability Coverage
Provides financial protection if you’re found legally responsible for bodily injury or property damage to others. This coverage can help pay for legal defense costs, medical expenses, and settlements or judgments.
Medical Payments to Others
Covers minor medical expenses if a guest is injured on your property, regardless of fault — helping resolve small claims quickly and avoid larger liability issues.
Key Coverages to Consider Adding
Standard policies may not include every type of protection you need. Depending on your home and location, these additional coverages can provide valuable protection:
Water & Sewer Backup Coverage
Protects against damage caused by water backing up through sewers or drains — a common loss that is typically excluded from standard policies.
Service Line Coverage
Helps cover the cost to repair or replace underground utility lines (water, sewer, gas, electrical) that run from the street to your home if they are damaged.
Personal Injury Coverage
Extends liability protection to cover claims such as libel, slander, defamation, or wrongful eviction — risks that can arise in today’s digital world.
Water & Sewer Backup Coverage
Protects against damage caused by water backing up through sewers or drains — a common loss that is typically excluded from standard policies.
Service Line Coverage
Helps cover the cost to repair or replace underground utility lines (water, sewer, gas, electrical) that run from the street to your home if they are damaged.
Personal Injury Coverage
Extends liability protection to cover claims such as libel, slander, defamation, or wrongful eviction — risks that can arise in today’s digital world.
Blog Articles on Homeowners Insurance
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Prepare Customers for Freezing Temperatures
It is that time of year again. Winter often brings glacial temperatures and when temperatures start to tumble, the water that supplies your home’s faucets and fixtures can be in the danger of freezing inside of the pipes. Because water expands as it turns into ice, frozen pipes are prone to bursting, which can result in costly water and plumbing damage throughout your home. At the highest risk of freezing are pipes that run along exterior walls of your home and those in unheated or uninsulated places, such as attics, basements, or garages. |
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Inflation: A Pickle for Property Insurance
All of us are feeling the grip of inflation. Building materials costs have spiked over the last 2 years. Supply chain disruptions and labor shortages are causing major delays in construction projects. As a result, it now costs more to rebuild your home than it did before. When was the last time that you checked your policy limits? Are they high enough to cover a 26% increase in building costs? If not, then you have to pay the difference out of pocket. |
For more Information:
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Insurance Information Institute has a lot of useful and informative information on homeowners insurance. Please click on the image to learn more. |
How We Can Help
At Brock-Norton Insurance, we take the time to understand your home, your lifestyle, and your liability exposure. We’ll help you:
Your home protects what matters most — let us help protect your home.
👉 Click below to request a quote or contact your agent today.
- Evaluate your dwelling and personal property limits
- Review your personal liability coverage
- Identify potential coverage gaps
- Customize a homeowners policy that protects both your home and your financial future
Your home protects what matters most — let us help protect your home.
👉 Click below to request a quote or contact your agent today.