You can think of homeowners insurance like a large package of different insurances all wrapped up together. Dwelling Insurance is one of the key pieces of that bundle. It covers your home, attached structures and can even include permanent appliances.   

What is covered by Dwelling Insurance? 

Most people think that a dwelling is just the physical structure they live in. They tend to picture a house or area of land, but what’s covered in dwelling insurance is so much more. Dwelling insurance also covers any attached structures to your home. This could be a garage, deck, patio, or any other permanent structure that is connected to your house.  

Dwelling insurance doesn’t just look at the outside, it can also apply to the permanent fixtures inside your house. These can include appliances such as an oven, washing machine or water heater that is hooked up to public utilities. Even fixtures that are not connected to any utility such as cabinets or windows might be included in dwelling insurance as well.  

What is not covered by Dwelling Insurance? 

While dwelling insurance can cover a wide range of structures and possessions, it can’t cover everything.  

If you have and structures on your property that are not connected to your house, such as a free-standing garage or shed, then these would not be covered by dwelling insurance. Fences, fountains, and other decorations that do not directly connect to the physical structure of the house are also not covered by dwelling insurance. Instead, these structures would be covered by your other/detached structures coverage, which is a separate part of your policy.  

Dwelling insurance also might not cover certain types of damages. For example, a standard home insurance policy does not cover floods, earthquakes or sewer backups. You may be able to buy additional coverage endorsements or a sperate insurance policy in order to protect your dwelling from these disasters. 

Dwelling insurance is just one part of a larger package, so be sure to talk to your insurance provider to make sure you are getting the right coverage for all parts of your home and property. 

Limits and Deductibles with Dwelling Insurance 

Like most insurance policies, dwelling insurance is also subject to limits and deductibles. Your limit is the maximum amount that your policy will pay toward a covered loss. Your deductible is the amount that you’ll need to pay out of pocket toward a covered claim.  

When buying homeowners insurance, you will need to choose a dwelling coverage limit. This is the maximum cost of damages that your insurance policy will cover. This limit should be based on the cost of rebuilding your house, not the market value of your home.  

Your dwelling coverage limit may also affect the other coverage limits of the insurances that make up your homeowners insurance policy. For example, the other structures coverage limit is usually calculated as a percentage of your dwelling insurance’s limit. 

For help choosing the dwelling coverage that’s right for you, just speak to one of our agents.