Homeowners Insurance

Insurance, any kind, is your protection against the uncertainties of day-to-day living. For most people, their home is their single most valuable possession - and their biggest investment. Homeowners insurance protects your investment as well as you, the members of your family and your household possessions.

If you were to suddenly lose your home due to fire or a tornado or have the contents damaged or stolen, like most of us, you probably could not afford to replace everything all at once. And if somebody sued you for an injury or damage caused by you or your property, the cost of defending that suit could run into thousands of dollars just for legal fees - regardless of the outcome of the suit.

All of these situations are covered by the homeowners package policy. And while it may be unpleasant to think about fire, theft, and other "uncertainties of life," let's face it, they are there and things happen.

Yet another reason you need to carry homeowners insurance is that mortgage lenders require it. No mortgage company will lend the large amounts of money needed to finance homes at today's prices without requiring an insurance policy to protect that investment.

Remember that policies vary but homeowners insurance usually covers damage to both structures and personal property caused by:

• Fire or lightning
  
• Windstorm or hail
  
• Explosions
  
• Riot or civil commotion
  
• Aircraft
  
• Vehicles
  
• Smoke
  
• Theft or vandalism (sometimes called malicious mischief)
  
• Falling objects
  
• Weight of ice, snow or sleet
  
• Freezing of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or other such household system

In fact, your coverage is most likely even more comprehensive than the above list. Many homeowners policies cover damage by "just about everything", unless the coverage is specifically excluded. In these cases, it is even more important to understand what is not covered.

InsPro Agents & Brokers Insurance Services, 1055 Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road, Sunnyvale, CA 94087. Tel: 408-481-9002; Fax: 408-481-0997.