Home Insurance Articles
Understanding Exclusions In Your Home Insurance Policy
2010-09-15
It is important for any homeowner to have an understanding of the home insurance exclusions that are present in their homeowners insurance policy. There are certain things insurance companies have deemed to be uninsurable because insuring these acts would make it almost impossible for them to make a profit. A large event that occurred and caused widespread damage to a large number of insured people would make it too difficult for the insurance companies to resolve the situation.
One of these situations excluded in homeowner's insurance policy is earth movements such as earthquakes or mudslides. These types of events are both so unpredictable and potentially widespread that the insurance companies could not prepare for or predict their happening. These types of home insurance exclusions are referred to as earth movements because of the idea that the earth suddenly moves with no warning and no way to predict it would occur.
Water damage to your home such as those caused by floods, sewer back-ups and water that seeps through the foundation are generally excluded under your homeowner's insurance policy. Flood insurance is usually offered in some areas by government agencies but is rarely ever offered in the private business world. If you live in an area prone to floods you should see what types of options you have to protect your home.
Intentional acts such as starting a fire or causing physical damage to your home are common home insurance exclusions as well. This goes against the idea of home insurance providing coverage in instances where you can't predict events are going to happen. In addition to intentional acts there are exclusions relating to the way that you treat your home. If you have obviously been neglecting repairs or safe-guarding your home you are neglecting your home and insurance will not pay for that. Check your homeowner's insurance policy to see if there are other exclusions in addition to these relatively common and obvious exclusions.
What you must remember about your homeowner's insurance policy is it's there to protect you from events that you could not prepare for or know are going to happen. Any event that causes widespread damage such as a flood, earthquake or even an act of war will not be covered under any homeowner's insurance policy. When you purposefully cause harm to your home or neglect your home and cause harm to befall it you are going to be responsible for your own repairs to the situation. Check your home insurance exclusions to make sure that you aren't causing damage to your home that will not be covered.