Homeowners insurance protects one of life’s biggest investments. Should a tree fall through your roof or a fire break out in the kitchen, insurance for your home helps cover the cost to repair or rebuild. It also may cover other buildings on your property like a garden gazebo or storage shed. If the damage is extensive enough to prevent you from living in your home, homeowners insurance also helps cover the costs of temporary housing and living expenses.

Lenders almost always require first time buyers to purchase insurance.

No. A standard homeowners policy does not generally cover damage caused by earthquake and floods. These sources of damage require additional coverage or a separate policy. If you live in an area that is prone to these types of events, talk to your local Safeco agent about making sure you’re properly covered.

Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program.

The damage can be similar but the cause is different.

Water damage is usually caused by water coming from something like a burst pipe, an overflowing toilet, a dishwasher that leaks all over the kitchen floor, or a roof that leaks after a hard rain.

Flood damage is caused by water coming from something like an overwhelmed levee that breaks, a clogged drainage system, a river or lake that overflows or even just the ground being inundated with too much water after a torrential storm. Water seeping into your basement after a heavy rain or winter runoff is usually also considered flood damage.

According to the National Flood Insurance Program, “A flood is a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow.”

Learn more about floods on the Flood Smart website.

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