Homeowners Insurance & Other Structures
Updated January 1, 1 . AmFam Team
You know the importance of having homeowners insurance in order to protect your home from the unexpected — and it’s also important to understand what’s included in your policy, so you can make sure you’re properly covered. When choosing your coverage, a couple terms you may run into are Other Structures or Coverage B. What does Other Structures mean and how does it protect your home? Let’s take a look.
What Is Covered by Other Structures in Home Insurance?
When an insurance company refers to Other Structures or Coverage B on a homeowners insurance policy, they’re talking about detached buildings on your property. Other structures could include things like:
- Detached garages
- Gazebos
- Sheds
- Swimming pools
- Fences
Keep in mind that the other structures on your property are covered for the same types of events that your home is covered for, such as damages from vandalism, fire and falling objects. For example, if a tree falls on your shed, other structures coverage helps cover repairs. Your policy will include everything you need to know about what’s covered or not covered, so make sure to take a look to help you understand how you’re covered. Then connect with an agent — with their knowledge and experience, they can explain each section so you gain more confidence in your coverage.
Property Coverage for Other Structures
It’s important to know that other structures coverage protects the structure itself — not the things you store inside. That’s where the personal property coverage of your homeowners insurance policy steps in to help.
The personal property on your home insurance covers your belongings whether or not they’re in your home. So when deciding your coverage amounts and creating a home inventory, be sure to take into account the contents of your shed, garage and other detached structures where you might have personal property.
Are Other Structures Included in My Homeowners Insurance?
When shopping for a homeowners insurance policy with American Family Insurance, you’ll have three options for other structures coverage:
1. You can choose a blanket coverage amount that covers all buildings and structures on your property (except structures used for farming or agriculture).
2. You can pick and choose which buildings or structures to cover and appropriate coverage levels for each. Your agent can help you evaluate the value of your detached structure so you have accurate coverage limits.
3. If you don’t have any structures or you don’t want coverage for your other structures, you won’t need to select this type of coverage.
Connect with your American Family agent (Opens in a new tab) to review your coverage. They’ll be happy to answer your questions and help you determine if you need Other Structures coverage added to your policy.
Related Articles
- 9 Steps to Create a Home Inventory for Insurance Claims
Your home is more than a roof over your head. It’s where your dreams grow, your family thrives and memories are made. But the possessions you keep inside are important, too.
Whether you’re renting an apartment or own your home, you’ve most likely got an insurance policy designed to protect your dwelling and the things inside. Should the unthinkable happen and you have to use that insurance policy, it’s important to have a plan in place. And a home inventory list is a great way to get started!
We’ll walk you through how to create a home inventory so — in the event of the unexpected — you’ll be more prepared and have a streamlined recovery.
What Is a Home Inventory?
Quite simply, a home inventory is a complete list of all the items, especially valuables, in and around your home. The best home inventories include photos, descriptions and dollar values of each of your belongings. The more detail, the better! It’ll help you provide a comprehensive list to your agent of items lost in the event your home is damaged or destroyed, allowing you to get the most out of your coverage.
When your describing the items in your list, remember that the more information, the better. Here’s a quick reference list of the type of information you should include in your home inventory list:
- An in-depth description of the items. For example, rather than writing down “diamond ring,” be more descriptive, such as: “an emerald cut diamond ring, with white gold shank, accent stones and initials inscribed below the bridge.”
- Make, model, and/or serial number of the items.
- Date of purchase, receipts and photos.
- Estimated replacement cost if you bought it today. Do note that the value of the items might be different today than it was when you first bought them. This is especially true with jewelry, and other valuables.
- Appraisals at time of purchase. Especially if your items were appraised for insurance purposes.
Why Do I Need a Home Inventory?
Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, everyone can benefit from a home inventory!
If you ever have to make a claim, a home inventory is a great asset to have, especially after stressful events like theft, storm damage or a fire (take a look at how one renter used their home inventory after facing an apartment fire).
When you make a claim, you typically submit information on everything that was lost — which can be difficult to do off the top of your head for all your possessions. Remembering to replace your TV or computer are no-brainers, but when it comes to remembering each piece of jewelry in your jewelry box, things tend to get overlooked. Having a personal property inventory will help, along with knowing how to properly insure your jewelry.
When you have your home inventory checklist, you know exactly what needs to be replaced, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing your entire household is protected.
- Reasons Why a Roof Leaks
You’re admiring the rain from the comfort of your home when you notice a sound — the unmistakable drip of water dropping onto your floor. The first and hardest step is figuring out why your roof is leaking. And with these tips, you’ll find the culprit in no time!
Here’s Why Your Roof Is Leaking
The list of reasons why your roof is leaking may seem long, but don’t worry — when it comes to finding the leak and fixing it, the finding is the hardest part. And the good thing about these problems? They can all be fixed. Check out the list and see what’s troubling your roof:
Your roof is old
Roofs don’t last forever. Protecting your home and everything inside it from the elements comes with a cost. And with all that rain, snow, ice, wind and even sunlight wearing down your roof, it becomes more susceptible to leaks. Every roof will eventually need to be replaced, so learn more about how long your roof should last based on what it’s made of.
- How to Check Your Roof for Storm Damage
There’s no good time to find out your roof needs repair — but you may be able to mitigate that pain by routinely checking your roof for damage after severe weather. Waiting for a leak or damage to present itself gives the problem time to grow and worsen.
And sometimes, you’ll be faced with expensive roof and interior damage repairs if you’re not diligent. By being proactive and checking your roof for damage after severe weather hits can help your roof — and your savings — stay healthy.
