Southgate Homeowners Insurance

Southgate is home to approximately 30,000 people. Many find this Detroit suburb to be a great place to buy a house thanks to its affordable housing, low crime rate, and quiet residential streets. If you have purchased a house in this Downriver community, you can protect your investment with a solid homeowners insurance policy.

Local independent insurance agents can help you find great coverage at a competitive price. Contact an insurance agent near you to get answers to your insurance-related questions and to start comparing customized homeowners insurance quotes.

How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cost in Southgate, MI?

The average cost of homeowners insurance in this state is lower than the national average. And, in Southgate, rates tend to be even lower.

• National average yearly premium: $1,211
• Michigan average yearly premium: $942
• Southgate average yearly premium: $722

Of course, the homeowners insurance quotes you will actually receive are likely to be different from the average rates mentioned above. This is because costs are calculated individually according to several different factors such as:

• The age, size, and value of your home
• The type of home you are insuring (e.g., single-family house, condo, manufactured home, vacation home, etc.)
• The number of stories in your house and whether it has a basement
• The crime rate and weather risks where your house is located
• Your claims history and credit score
• The size of your deductible
• The insurance company providing the quote

Every insurance company has its own way of assessing risk and calculating rates, so comparing a variety of quotes lets you choose the homeowners insurance policy that offers the coverage you need at the lowest price. Independent insurance agents in Southgate make comparison shopping easy.

What Damages Are Covered by Southgate Home Insurance?

Home insurance policies are designed to cover your property against damages caused by most of the hazards you are likely to face as a property owner in Southgate, Michigan. Dwelling insurance covers the structure of your house while contents insurance covers the personal property inside it.

Catastrophic events in Michigan

• Number of federally declared disasters in Michigan: 42
• Most common causes of disasters in the state: Floods, severe storms, and tornadoes
• Avg. number of tornadoes per year in Michigan: 16
• Avg. amount of property damage per year in MI: $1.2 billion
• 1 in 15 insured homes has a claim each year

The risk of tornado activity in Southgate is 35% greater than the national average. Tornadoes that have touched down within three miles of the Southgate city center have included an F1 twister in 1987, an F2 in 1980, and an F4 in 1956.

If a tornado touches down near your house it can damage your roof, uproot trees that can fall on your house, or, in worst-case scenarios, completely destroy your house. You will therefore want to be sure that your dwelling and structural coverage are high enough to enable you to fully rebuild and replace your lost belongings.

In addition to tornadoes, Southgate residents are most at risk for damages caused by accidental fires, property crime, severe storms, strong winds, hail, heavy snows, ice accumulation, and freezing temperatures.

Fortunately, each of these hazards is covered by most home insurance policies. Flood damage, however, is not.

What about Coverage against Floods?

In May of 2019, prolonged, heavy rains caused several Downriver communities, including Southgate, to flood. Several residents of this city experienced flood-related property damage. What many learned too late, however, is that homeowners insurance does not cover against floods.

To be covered against flood damage, you will need to have a flood insurance policy.

Your insurance agent can help you supplement your homeowners insurance with an affordable flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program. These policies take 30 days to go into effect, so do not wait until heavy rains are imminent to purchase your policy. Learn more about flood insurance by talking to a local independent agent.

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Why Is Liability Insurance Important for Southgate Homeowners?

Anyone can find themselves on the wrong end of a liability lawsuit. It just takes one lapse of judgment for an expensive accident to occur. Fortunately, homeowners insurance provides personal liability insurance as a standard part of every policy.

Homeowners liability insurance is designed to cover court costs, legal fees, and financial damages if you or someone in your household is unintentionally responsible for property damage, injuries, or financial losses to others.

Some examples when your homeowners liability coverage may prove invaluable include:

• If a visitor to your home is badly injured in an accident that can be attributed to negligence of upkeep on your part, such as if a neighbor’s child falls from the trampoline in your backyard.
• If you accidentally cause serious injuries to someone during a friendly game of softball at Homer Howard Park.
• If your dog manages to get out of your fenced-in yard and bites a neighbor.
• Somebody accuses you of libel or slander.

Most homeowners insurance companies offer between $100,000 and $300,000 in personal liability coverage. If you want even more liability coverage than your policy can provide, your local insurance agent can also help you find an affordable umbrella insurance policy. Umbrella insurance is an affordable way to significantly boost all of your liability coverage.

Talk to a local independent insurance agent to learn more about homeowners liability insurance.

Does Southgate Homeowners Insurance Cover against Burglaries?

The burglary rate in Michigan is lower than the national rate, and in Southgate, the rate is even lower. This does not mean that the risk doesn’t exist. Residents of this city report about 40 burglaries a year.

• Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in the US: 3.76
• Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in Michigan: 3.17
• Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in Southgate: 2.32

Although the risk of burglary is relatively low in this city, having a burglar alarm installed can prove beneficial. Because they are so effective at deterring theft, many insurance companies offer discounts to policyholders who use home security systems.

Unfortunately, nothing is 100% foolproof against a determined burglar. If your house is broken into, your homeowners insurance can reimburse you for your property losses and for any property damage the burglar may have caused.

If you own any particularly valuable possessions, you may need to purchase special endorsements with your homeowners insurance policy in order for them to be fully covered. A local independent insurance agent can help you be sure that all of your property is properly insured.

What about Southgate Residents with Extra Properties?

If you are among the Southgate residents who own more than one residential property, you will need to be sure that all of your houses are covered by appropriate homeowners insurance policies. In some cases, you may be required to purchase specialized home insurance coverage.

Vacation homes that are frequently left empty and unattended have an increased risk of property damage. Your insurance company may require you to have vacant home insurance during the times your property is unoccupied.

Second homes that are occupied by tenants have higher liability and structural damage risks, but lower contents coverage needs. Landlord insurance offers the perfect blend of coverage for these types of properties and is typically required by insurance companies for rental homes.

A local independent insurance agent can help you be sure that all of your secondary residential properties are suitably covered.

Why Is Shopping with an Independent Agent Better than Shopping Online?

Sure, getting quotes for homeowners insurance online is easy, but it’s not the best way to shop for coverage. The policy that is offered at the lowest price might come with restrictions or limitations on coverage that you are unaware of. Too many homeowners find out the hard way that they are not covered for certain hazards after they occur.

Local independent agents live and work in your community, so they understand the risks you face as a homeowner in Southgate. They are also aware of which insurance companies offer the best coverage in your area.

These agents can review a variety of policies and quotes with you and can make sure that you understand what the policies do and do not cover. They can also serve as a valuable resource when you have insurance-related questions or need to change or update your coverage.

Find an independent insurance agent with an office near you to schedule a one-on-one consultation. You will soon discover how easy it can be to find the best and most affordable homeowners insurance policy.