How Much Homeowners Insurance Do I Need?

Homeowners insurance provides important protection against financial loss. But some property owners may wonder, "How much insurance do I need?" This guide will help answer that question so homeowners can get the best homeowners insurance for their properties.

How much dwelling coverage do I need?

Dwelling coverage is the first place to start if you want to know, "How much home insurance do I need?"

When homeowners buy hazard insurance to protect against common risks, the dwelling coverage component of it pays for repairs of a home. If a home is destroyed, dwelling coverage pays for rebuilding the property. Dwelling coverage covers the physical structure of the home. It also covers anything permanently attached to it. This includes built-in appliances or wall-to-wall carpeting.

Hazard insurance protects against common sources of loss to their dwelling. This includes fire or water damage. Depending on where they live, property owners may also wish to obtain additional types of coverage for their dwelling. This could include:

• Flood insurance
• Wildfire insurance
• Earthquake insurance

Standard types of home insurance policies often exclude coverage for these perils.

Policyholders answering the question, "How much home insurance do I need?" must do more than just make sure insurance covers likely hazards. Homeowners should generally choose replacement cost insurance coverage. This provides enough money to rebuild the home as it stands in the event of a total loss. The alternative, market value coverage, pays only what the property is currently worth. That might not be enough.

How to calculate your home replacement cost

When deciding, "How much homeowners insurance do I need?" pay attention to policy limits. Homeowners should ensure the coverage limit is high enough to rebuild the home if something goes wrong.

It can be complicated trying to figure out how to calculate replacement cost. Different approaches include:

• House value calculators: This is a handy tool for people trying to answer the question, "How much home insurance do I need?" Many insurers make these available online for homeowners to answer questions about their property. The calculator then estimates the cost of reconstructing it.
• Professional appraisals: Appraisers can estimate not just market value, but also construction costs to rebuild a home.
• Homeowner calculations: Property owners familiar with the cost of construction materials can estimate a home's replacement cost independently.

Accurately answering the question, "How much home insurance do I need?" is crucial to ensure dwelling insurance provides full protection from losses.

Factors that affect the cost to rebuild

One problem homeowners may encounter when deciding "How much homeowners insurance do I need?" is construction costs.

The price of labor and materials are the two main drivers of cost. Unfortunately, it can be hard to predict what they will cost in the future. If a hurricane or wildfire destroys many homes at the same time, the price will typically rise due to high demand.

Because of this, homeowners should often err on the side of caution. They can do this by increasing their higher limit on dwelling insurance.

How much personal property insurance do I need?

Personal property insurance is an important component of any homeowners insurance policy. When deciding, "How much insurance do I need?" policyholders should purchase enough protection for their possessions.

Personal property insurance is often sold as a percentage value of the home. For example, the total coverage for personal property generally defaults to equal 50% to 70% of the home's insured value. If the property is insured for $350,000, the default coverage would provide $175,000 to $245,000 in personal property protection.

However, homeowners shouldn't just choose the default coverage. Instead, they should consider their unique situation. This helps them determine how much home insurance they really need. This means estimating the value of all covered property. That's essentially all items in the home a property owner would move with them if they relocated.

Conduct a home inventory

A home inventory is another important component to determining, "How much homeowners insurance do I need?" It enables homeowners to accurately estimate coverage needs. It also makes filing an insurance claim easier.

There are many online tools to help homeowners do a home inventory. Property owners can use one, or they can simply make a detailed list of all the items they own and their estimated value. This includes large items, such as electronics and furniture. It also includes miscellaneous small items. This can range from clothing to sports equipment to toys.

Home insurers have default estimates for the value of most personal possessions. However, individual property owners may need to change their coverage from the default. It depends how much their possessions are worth.

Consider adding replacement value coverage

Personal property coverage comes in two different types: actual cash value or replacement cost.

Actual cash value coverage pays the depreciated value of personal possessions. Say a homeowner's five-year-old television was stolen. Insurance would pay the amount the old TV would sell for on the open market.

Actual cash coverage is rarely sufficient for homeowners to replace their possessions with new items. When deciding, "How much home insurance do I need?" property owners should consider replacement cost coverage for personal property. This would provide the property holder with the money to replace damaged possessions.

Consider extending coverage for expensive items

Many insurers set separate coverage limits for certain kinds of personal property. For example, an insurer may limit coverage for antiques or art. Or an insurer may cap the value of covered jewelry at $1,500.

Property owners with especially valuable items may need add-on coverage. A homeowner with a $10,000 engagement ring would likely want separate coverage for it. Otherwise, homeowners insurance wouldn't pay for replacement if it was stolen or damaged.

When deciding, "How much homeowners insurance do I need?" take these individual coverage limitations into account.

How much liability coverage do I need?

Liability coverage protects against claims made by people who are injured on the homeowner's property. It also covers claims by people who sustain property damage. It covers things such as dog bites, slip-and-fall accidents, or a homeowner's tree falling on a visitor's car.

If a homeowner has insufficient liability coverage and is sued, they can be held personally responsible for any additional damages. If a victim of a slip-and-fall was awarded $250,000 but the property owner only had $100,000 in liability coverage, the property owner could be held personally responsible for paying the other $150,000.

Most possessions are at risk if a property owner is sued with too little insurance. There are limited exceptions, such as retirement accounts. The more assets a homeowner has, the more liability coverage they should buy. This is an important consideration.

In some cases, homeowners with substantial assets may want more liability protection than home insurance offers. They could purchase an add-on umbrella insurance policy. This would provide additional coverage after the homeowner's policy paid out the maximum limit.

When assessing, "How much homeowners insurance do I need?" consider the value of assets. Make sure coverage is sufficient to protect against loss of bank accounts and other valuable property.

How much additional living expenses coverage do I need?

Additional living expense (ALE) coverage pays for costs incurred while a home is being repaired or rebuilt after a covered loss. It could include rent or hotel charges. Or it could include moving expenses and extra food costs if there's no kitchen to cook in.

Additional living expense coverage is typically a fixed percentage of the amount of dwelling coverage. For example, policies may default to 30% ALE coverage. However, homeowners can add more protection. Policyholders who'd face high costs if displaced from a property, such as families with lots of animals who would need to be boarded, may want to buy more than the required minimum.

To decide, "How much home insurance do I need?" consider additional expenses that would arise if forced to leave home for an extended time.

Do I need additional homeowners insurance coverage?

Beyond these basic types of coverage, it may be beneficial to purchase optional additional protections. This could include:

• Flood insurance
• Wildlife insurance
• Earthquake insurance
• Sinkhole coverage
• Sewer backup coverage
• Watercraft endorsement to protect boats
• Home-based business coverage
• Identity theft protection

Policyholders interested in learning, "How much home insurance do I need?" should think carefully about all the risks they wish to transfer to insurers.

How can I lower my homeowners insurance premiums?

The best way to lower homeowners insurance premiums is to shop around carefully for coverage. Comparing quotes from multiple insurers helps homeowners get the best price. Homeowners should avoid claims as much as possible to qualify for claims-free discounts. And they should ask about other homeowners insurance discounts for things like upgraded plumbing or alarm systems. The best homeowners insurance companies will help you understand exactly what's included in your policy -- and what isn't.