Home Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does homeowners insurance cover?
2. How do I know how much coverage I need for my home?
3. Can I lower my homeowners insurance premium?
4. Do I need Personal Liability coverage?
5. I don't live in a flood zone. Why would I need flood insurance?
6. I live in a condo. What sort of coverage does my condo association provide?
7. Is there anything in my home that would require a separate insurance policy?

1. What does homeowners insurance cover?
 
Homeowners insurance typically covers:
 

• the actual structure of your home and anything attached, like your garage
• other structures on your property
• personal possessions inside the home such as furniture, appliances and clothing
• personal liability claims like bodily injury or personal property damage sustained by someone while at your home

And that's not all. The National General Insurance Homeowners Program also includes invaluable benefits like open perils coverage that protects against fire, lightning, wind and other specific causes of damage or loss. And should you ever need it, Loss of Use Coverage is also included in your homeowners policy to help you pay for additional expenses incurred if your home is damaged or destroyed in a covered loss and you have to move temporarily.
 
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2. How do I know how much coverage I need for my home?
 
The type and amount of coverage you need depends on:
 

• the type of home you live in
• the value of your home
• the value of your other assets
• whether or not you have a mortgage on your property
• the cost to rebuild should you ever suffer a covered loss

Life happens and your needs are constantly changing. To make sure your home is properly protected, National General always recommends evaluating your coverage needs on a regular basis.
 
And with the National General Insurance Homeowners Program, there’s no need to stress over the cost of rebuilding your home. Our Home Rebuilding Cost Calculator allows us to do the work for you. Here’s how it works: simply call for a quote, provide us with some basic information about your home, and we provide you with the cost to rebuild your house. It’s as simple as that.
 
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3. Can I lower my homeowners insurance premium?
 
The first priority of The National General Insurance Homeowners Program is to protect your home and your property. With just a few simple steps, you can increase the safety and security of your home, and in some cases, lower your home insurance premium. Here are some of our favorite money-saving products and ideas:
 

• Security systems
• Smoke alarms
• Sprinkler systems
• Deadbolt locks

National General Insurance has earned an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best, as well as the backing of the Better Business Bureau, so it’s no wonder thousands of customers like you entrust us with your home insurance needs. But did you know that we also offer auto, RV, motorcycle, and umbrella insurance? And by combining your homeowners policy with any one of these services, you have an additional opportunity to save as much as 20%!
 
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4. Do I need Personal Liability coverage?
 
Personal liability coverage is a standard part of most home insurance policies. It provides protection from those who experience bodily injury or personal property damages while visiting your home. Think of it this way: if someone falls and breaks a leg on your stairs, you could be financially liable. A few dollars a month can essentially prevent financial disaster down the road.
 
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5. I don't live in a flood zone. Why would I need flood insurance?
 
By signing up for flood insurance, you protect yourself from common occurrences like pop-up storms or flash flooding. In fact, some mortgage companies even require you to purchase flood insurance before you can obtain financing. With National General Insurance, you get the flood coverage you need at a price you can afford.
 
By partnering with the National Flood Insurance Program, we’re able to offer you ample protection for both your home and your belongings. It only takes one hurricane or extreme weather event to cause damage to your home and property, and we want you to be prepared.
 
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6. I live in a condo. What sort of coverage does my condo association provide?
 
Insurance for condo owners is different from traditional homeowners insurance. In fact, condo owners are required to carry a specialized form of homeowners insurance, called HO-6, which is designed to protect the unique needs that condo owners face.You don’t own the whole building and your coverage should reflect that. In fact, the Condo Association is generally required to carry a master policy that covers the building and its common areas. It’s important to note, though, that master policies differ from one condo association to the next. Be sure to know exactly what is covered by the master policy, and make sure that your HO-6 coverage takes care of the rest.
 
It's also important to know that condo owners still need insurance to protect personal property from common perils like fire, storms, vandalism, theft and more. Additionally, condo owners need to take extra steps to insure that improvements made to the structure of the condo are insured. If you add special fixtures to your unit or update your balcony or garage, for example, you will want to notify your condo association. Anything not part of the original structure of your unit should be covered by your condo insurance policy to properly protect your investment.
 
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7. Is there anything in my home that would require a separate insurance policy?
 
Most home insurance policies cover personal belongings up to a certain dollar amount. For items with a high-dollar value, we recommend scheduled personal property coverage. Jewelry, collectibles, and fine art, for example, can be properly protected when scheduled into your homeowners policy.
 
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