It’s important for homeowners in Chicago to understand their homeowner’s insurance – the coverage it provides and how it works. Homeowner’s insurance is a contract between you and your insurance company that helps protect your home, personal property, and other valuable assets from damage or destruction caused by certain events. It also provides liability protection if someone gets hurt on your property, or if you cause injury or damage elsewhere. Let’s take a closer look at what homeowners in Chicago need to know about their homeowner’s insurance policies.

What Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?

Homeowner’s insurance typically covers four categories of risks: property damage, liability, medical payments, and additional living expenses. Property damage covers losses due to fire, hail, windstorms, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils. Liability coverage can help cover costs associated with accidents or injuries that occur on your property, or those caused by you or family members off the premises. Medical payments coverage pays for medical expenses incurred after an accident on your property, even if you are not held liable for the accident itself. Finally, additional living expense coverage can help pay for any extra costs associated with temporarily relocating while your home is undergoing repairs after a covered event occurs.

How Much Coverage Should I Have?

The amount of coverage you should have will depend on several variables, like the size and value of your home and the type of coverage you want. Generally speaking, most people should consider getting a policy that covers at least 80-90% of their home’s value; this will ensure that you have enough coverage if something were to happen to your home. You should also consider additional riders for valuable items such as jewelry or electronics that may not be covered under a standard policy.

What Are Some Common Exclusions?

The most common exclusions on homeowner’s insurance policies are floods and earthquakes, which require separate policies available from the National Flood Insurance Program and private carriers, respectively. Other common exclusions include mold damage; power failure; wear and tear; poor maintenance; nuclear hazards; earth movements such as landslides, mudslides, and sinkholes; water damage from a flood or sewer backup; government action such as eviction or demolition orders due to zoning violations; and mechanical breakdowns, such as air conditioner failures due to lack of maintenance.

If you’re a Chicagoan who owns a home, it’s important for you to have a full understanding of your homeowner’s insurance policy so you can be sure you have sufficient protection in place should something unexpected happen at your residence. Knowing what is covered under your policy – as well as what isn’t – can help you make smart decisions about protecting your home and personal belongings down the road. You will also find it helpful to speak with an experienced agent who has knowledge of local laws, regulations, and development trends; they will be able to provide sound insurance advice that is tailored specifically for your situation.


If you’d like to talk more about homeowners insurance, or if there’s something else we can be of assistance with, please reach out to us. We’re always happy to help.