What is Homeowners Insurance?
In the most simple terms, homeowners insurance is a form of property insurance that provides coverage to a person’s home and possessions within that home. That being said, not all homeowners insurance is the same.
Most property insurance does not cover “acts of God” such as floods and earthquakes. To obtain coverage for acts of god, supplemental policies are often required. Still, the scope of “acts of God” can vary greatly. While some natural disasters are not covered, others such as tornadoes, lightning damage/fire, and even volcanic eruptions are commonly covered.
Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Foundation Repair?
Like all things in life, the short answer is: it depends. In this case, it is not the severity of the damage to the foundation, but instead the cause of the foundation damage that makes a large difference when filing a claim.
If the damage to your foundation comes from one of the commonly covered situations, you should be entirely covered outside of your deductible.
Still, some of the most common reasons for needing foundation repair are not traditionally covered. Situations that are commonly not covered by homeowners insurance include:
- Natural Settling
- Poor Quality Initial Construction
- Flooding
- Tree Root Damage
Assessing Risk & Supplemental Policies
It is important before moving into your new home to understand the risks which face the property and purchase the appropriate coverage for your house. If your property lies in a flood-prone area, it is best to purchase coverage that fully covers flooding.
If you suspect your home might have foundation damage, it is best to contact a professional like WTX Foundation Repair to assess the damage immediately. Once a professional understands the causes and extent of the damage, they can provide you with information that will help you decide if you would like to file an insurance claim.