Some exclusions to your home insurance policy and some important endorsements, coverage and upgrades to consider adding on to your policy.

1. Forms: The HO3 provides the most comprehensive coverage for the building. This form covers the home against losses of all types of risks that can damage the structure. To qualify for this form some insurance companies require that the market value of the home be at least of 70 percent of what it costs to rebuild the structure. For example rebuilding value of a typical Philadelphia row home built in the 1950's may be around worth $110,000 today. If the market value falls anywhere above $77,000 then it may be eligible for HO3 coverage. To receive a free rebuilding value estimate see our Rebuilding Cost Estimator questionnaire and call your local real estate agent to determine the current market value of your home.
2. Guaranteed Replacement of the Structure: Is an endorsement that guarantees full replacement of a home with like materials. The home will be replaced even if the cost to rebuild exceeds the structure limit written on the policy. This endorsement may be available if the home's market value and age fall with in certain insurance company guide lines and if the home structure is insured to the full replacement value. These guide lines vary with each individual carrier. There may be no charge or only a nominal charge to include this coverage.
3. Other structures on the property: Any additional building located on a residential property is generally insured to 10 percent of the coverage of the home. This includes sheds, detached garages and carriage houses. Some large detached garages with one family apartments above and carriage houses may cost significantly more to rebuild. Coverage amount can be increased to insure the detached structure at replacement cost for an additional charge.
4. Contents (Personal Property): Insurance companies usually provide more than enough coverage to insure the contents of the home. This amount is based on a percentage of the coverage on the home. The coverage limit may range from 50 percent to 75 percent of the home structure depending on the carrier. If additional coverage on contents is required then increase contents limit can be provided at an additional charge.
5. Contents Replacement Cost: Home insurance policies cover the Contents (Personal Property) at Actual Cash Value coverage. Items are paid at a depreciate amount over their age. For an additional charge some carrier offer a Replacement Cost endorsement to provide replacement coverage to damaged or stolen personal effects paid at current cost to purchase the items new. For example a sofa destroyed by fire today that cost $500 five years ago might cost $600 for a new replacement model comparable to the damaged sofa.
6. Increased Liability: Most companies provide a basic limit of $100,000 for liability coverage. This covers the home residents for any negligent bodily injury or property damage they cause to others. Increased limits to $300,000 or $500,000 may be available at a nominal charge.
7. Personal Injury Liability: Is injury arising out of any of the following offenses: false arrest, detention or imprisonment, malicious prosecution, wrongful eviction, oral or written publication of material that violates a person's right of privacy or slanders a person or organization or disparages the products or services of a person or organization. This will cover any resident of a home against a legal suite originating from above charges. This may be available at an extra charge.
8. Medical Payment to Others: Pays the medical expense to a person injured by a covered home resident regardless of proof of fault. This coverage is generally provided at a basic limit of $1,000 can be increased to $5,000 at a nominal charge.
9. Fine Art and Antiques: The home policy does not cover such items to their fine art or antique values. For example a 200 year old table that may have an antique value of $10,000 will be covered only for its function as a table. If the table is destroyed by a covered peril the carrier will replace it with an average table of like size and dimensions at contemporary furniture prices with out regard to its value as an antique. Some companies offer coverage to the fine art or antique values with a recent receipt or an appraisal from a certified appraiser dated with in the past 3 years.
10. Jewelry and Silverware: The home policy provides basic limits covering these items. These limits rage from $2,000 to $5,000 and is by certain listed perils. Scheduled coverage may be purchased to insure these items to full specified appraised value for an extra charge. The increased coverage also provides an All Risk of Perils which includes losses by mysterious disappearance. Companies will generally require a recent receipt or an appraisal from a certified appraiser dated with in the past 3 year.
11. Food Spoilage: Food that spoils in a refrigerator resulting from a covered loss that interrupts the electricity or damages the refrigerator may be covered by endorsement for a nominal charge.
12. Back Up of Drains and Sewers and Overflow of Sump Pump: Contents and dwelling structure damage by water backing up into the lower floor from drains, sewers and sump pump failure may be added as an endorsement. Coverage may be limited to a specific amount.
13. Flood Losses: Flooding of surface water, tidal wave, overflow of streams, lakes and rivers are excluded in all Homeowner policies. A separate flood insurance policy must be purchased.
14. Earthquake: Damages from earthquakes aren't covered in standard policies. You will want to buy a separate policy or, if available in your state, add an endorsement to your policy that will cover you for earthquake.
15. Business Contents: Most insurers strictly limit the amount they'll pay for equipment in your house that's used for business. So if you use your computer for work or have a home based business, you may need a business policy.
16. Animals: birds or fish cannot be added to your policy as contents.
17. Motor vehicles: Cannot be added to your policy. Your policy does cover vehicles or conveyances not subject to motor vehicle registration which are used to service an "insured's" residence or designed for assisting the handicapped.
18. Others: Property property of roomers, boarders and other tenants, except property of roomers and boarders related to an insured.
19. Ordinance or Law meaning enforcement of any ordinance or law regulating the construction, repair, or demolition of a building or other structure, unless specifically provided under this policy. Some companies offer endorsements for this coverage.
20. Power Failure: Damage to or in your home resulting from power failure is not covered if the failure of power or other utility service takes place off the "residence premises."
21. Neglect: Meaning neglect to use all reasonable means to save and preserve property at and after the time of a loss will not be covered.
22. War: No endorsement available. See policy for further explanation.
23. Nuclear Hazard: See policy for further explanation
24. Intentional Loss: meaning any loss arising our of any act committed by or at the direction of an "insured" and with the intent to cause a loss is not covered.
25. Freezing of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic fire protective sprinkler system or of a household appliance is excluded for coverage if the dwelling is vacant, unoccupied or being constructed, unless you have used reasonable care to maintain heat in the building and shut off the water supply and drain the system and appliances of water.
26. Freezing, thawing or the weight of ice: Damaging fences, pavements, patios, swimming pools, foundations, retaining walls, bulkheads, piers, wharves or dock is excluded for coverage.
27. Building under construction: Theft to the materials and supplies for use in the building construction is excluded. A "Building Under Construction" policy is available from most insurance companies. Some companies offer a "Building Under Construction" policy as an endorsement to the Homeowners policy. This assumes that the homeowners will be occupying the home upon completion of the contraction.
28. Vandalism and malicious mischief is excluded if the dwelling has been vacant for more than 30 consecutive days immediately before a loss. Dwellings being constructed is not considered vacant.
29. Normal Wear and Tear including marring, deterioration, latent defect, mechanical breakdown, smog, rust or other corrosion, mold, wet or dry rot, smoke from agricultural smudging or industrial operations and seepage of pollutants are all excluded.
30. Settling shrinking, bulging or expansion, including resultant cracking, of pavements, patios, foundations, walls, floors, roofs or ceilings are excluded.
31. Birds, Vermin, Rodents, or Insects or animals owned or kept by an insured that cause damage to a home is excluded.
32. Mold can be excluded from a policy.
33. Note that this list of exclusions should only be used as a guide and is not limited to the above, not limited to all insurance companies and can change at any time.