4 Surprising Things Covered By Homeowner's Insurance
When you bought your homeowner's insurance, you probably intended it to cover common issues such as water damage, fire, vandalism, and damage from elements like strong winds and heavy rains.
What you might not have known is that home insurance covers much more than that. Knowing all the options and benefits available to you is essential so you don't end up leaving money on the table when the unexpected happens. Here are four surprising things covered by homeowner's insurance.
Medical Costs for Persons Injured in Your Home
Imagine that you have invited people over for your birthday party and one of the guests gets seriously injured after tripping on your stairs. That could lead to huge medical costs. Luckily, your homeowner's insurance policy can accommodate medical pay protection, which can cover the medical bills of visitors injured while on your property.
Or, suppose that you're accidentally at fault for injuring a guest while they are on your property. In that case, you may also benefit from liability coverage if they decide to file a personal injury claim.
Injuries Caused by Animals
Many American households own pets like dogs. If your dog bites or injures someone who doesn't live in your household, like a guest, mail carrier, or neighbor, you could face a personal injury claim. With a home insurance policy that includes personal liability coverage, the medical bills and legal fees will be taken care of.
That said, not all insurers automatically cover injuries caused by pets. Some dog breeds may also be excluded from coverage. Hence, confirm with your insurer if your policy includes pet liability coverage and if your dog breed can be covered.
Emergency Accommodation Away from Home
If a covered event hits your home and it's no longer fit to live in, you may have to find temporary accommodation elsewhere, like in a hotel. Thankfully, most standard homeowners' insurance policies include additional living expenses coverage.
Following your loss, this coverage will pay for some of your expenses, including hotel bills, food expenses, and laundromat fees, among other expenses! However, the event that caused the damage must be covered on your policy, so it's important to carefully review your policy and seek clarification from your insurer if unsure.
Landscaping
Did you know that home insurance also covers trees, plants, and shrubs that you buy to increase the aesthetic appeal of your property? If a covered loss damages them, your insurance policy can compensate you for every tree, plant, or shrub.
The only downside here is that losses from poor maintenance and diseases aren't usually covered. You may have to dig into your own purse for that.
