Home insurance endorsements: How to customize your coverage
Updated August 28, 2026 . AmFam Team
A standard homeowners insurance policy can offer valuable protection for your home and belongings. But every household is different, and sometimes standard coverage may not go far enough for your needs.
That's where homeowners insurance endorsements can help. Customizing your policy with optional endorsements may help you address certain coverage gaps, increase limits for some belongings, and better align your policy with your needs.
In this guide, we’ll explain what homeowners insurance endorsements are, how they work, and a few common options to discuss with your American Family Insurance agent.
What is a home insurance endorsement?
A home insurance endorsement is an optional coverage you add to your existing homeowners policy. It’s designed to modify your policy by adding protection, changing limits, or expanding coverage for specific situations.
A standard homeowners policy covers many common risks, but it also has limits and exclusions. For example, coverage for certain valuables may be limited. Or some types of water damage may require additional coverage, depending on the cause of loss and your policy terms.
If you want protection beyond what your base policy includes, an endorsement helps you tailor your policy to your unique needs.
Why homeowners choose endorsements
Adding endorsements can help you:
- Increase protection for valuable belongings
- Address specific risks that may not be covered by a standard policy
- Customize your policy for your household and lifestyle
- Reduce out-of-pocket costs after a covered loss
The right options depend on your home, your belongings, and the coverage already included in your policy.
Common home insurance endorsements
There are a variety of endorsements available, and options can vary by policy and state. Here are a few common examples homeowners may want to review.
Scheduled personal property
If you own high-value items, scheduled personal property coverage may be worth considering. This optional endorsement can help provide additional protection for certain valuables that may have limited coverage under a standard homeowners policy.
Examples may include:
- Jewelry
- Watches
- Fine art
- Collectibles
- Musical instruments
If an item is especially valuable, your policy may need higher limits or more specific coverage than your base homeowners policy provides.
Home business coverage
If you run a business from home, you may need more coverage than what’s included in your base homeowners policy.
A home business endorsement may provide limited additional protection for certain business-related property or liability exposures, depending on your policy and state. This can be an important option for people who work from home, store business equipment at home, or regularly meet with clients on their property.
Sewer backup and sump pump overflow coverage
Water damage can be costly, and not every type of water loss is covered the same way.
If water backs up through a sewer or drain, or if a sump pump fails or overflows, coverage for the resulting damage may be limited or excluded under your standard homeowners insurance. Adding an optional water backup and sump pump overflow coverage endorsement can help protect your home and belongings from these specific types of water losses.
Identity theft protection
Identity theft can affect more than your finances. It can also take time and effort to restore your credit and financial reputation.
Identity theft protection offers services and support to help you recover after identity theft. Depending on the coverage, it may assist with certain expenses or restoration services.
How to know if you need homeowners endorsements
Want to make sure you have the right coverage and endorsements in place? Start by reviewing your current policy and think about what you want to protect.
You may want to ask:
- Do I own valuables that may exceed my policy’s standard limits?
- Do I have a sump pump or concerns about water backup?
- Do I run a business from home?
- Would identity theft recovery support be helpful for my household?
You can review your policy details on your declarations page or coverage summary. You can also schedule a personal insurance review with your American Family agent to talk through your options.
How do endorsements affect home insurance premiums?
Because endorsements add coverage, they typically increase your premium. The cost depends on the type of endorsement, the amount of coverage you add, and other policy factors.
While added coverage could mean added cost, it may also protect you from larger out-of-pocket expenses after a covered loss. The key is choosing coverage that matches your needs and budget.
Talk with an agent about customizing your homeowners coverage
Your home is more than a house. It’s where life happens and protecting it should feel personal.
American Family can help you review your homeowners insurance and identify optional endorsements that may make sense for you. Talk with your agent to learn more about available coverages, limits, and options in your state.
This information represents only a brief description of coverages, is not part of your policy, and is not a promise or guarantee of coverage. If there is any conflict between this information and your policy, the provisions of the policy will prevail. Insurance policy terms and conditions may apply. Exclusions may apply to policies, endorsements, or riders. Coverage may vary by state and may be subject to change. Some products are not available in every state. Please read your policy and contact your agent for assistance.
