Homeowners Insurance in Cape Girardeau, MO

Cape Girardeau is home to nearly 40,000 people. With its two renowned hospitals, various entertainment and shopping venues, and small-town feel, this Missouri city is a great place to buy a house. A good homeowners insurance policy can protect the investment you have made in your property.

When you are shopping for suitable coverage for your Cape Girardeau home, a local independent agent can help. These agents are free to work with several of the area's top insurance companies to find you the best and most affordable policy. Contact an independent insurance agent near you to learn more.

What Is Homeowners Insurance, and Is It Required in Cape Girardeau?

Homeowners insurance is a policy designed to protect your personal finances in the event of a liability lawsuit and cover expenses related to loss and damage to your house and property.

If you are still paying off your mortgage or you have taken out a home equity loan or line of credit, your lender will likely require you to carry homeowners coverage for the duration of your loan. Otherwise, homeowners insurance is optional but highly recommended.

How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cost in Cape Girardeau, MO?

Missouri's average homeowners insurance rate is somewhat higher than the national average.  

• National average yearly premium: $1,211
• Missouri average yearly premium: $1,285

Of course, an average rate can only give you a general idea of what you might actually be expected to pay. Home insurance companies calculate their rates according to several factors, such as: 

• The type of home you are insuring (e.g., single-family detached, multi-family, mobile home, townhouse, investment rental property, etc.)
• Your home's rebuild value, its size in square feet, and the materials used in its construction
• The crime rate and weather risks where your house is located
• Your home's distance from the nearest fire hydrant or fire station
• Your insurance claims history and credit score
• The size of your deductible
• Whether you are bundling your coverage with another policy like car insurance or motorcycle insurance

Every insurance company has its own way of calculating rates. Reviewing customized homeowners insurance quotes from competing providers lets you choose the policy that offers the coverage you want at the most affordable price. 

Independent agents in Cape Girardeau make comparison shopping easy.

Where Can I Find Cheap Homeowners Insurance Near Me?

When it comes to homeowners insurance, the cheapest policy isn't necessarily the most cost-effective one. If you skimp on your coverage to save a few dollars a month now, you may end up spending a lot more in the long run. This is because cut-rate policies typically have:

• High deductibles: The cheapest policies often come with extremely high deductibles. Unless you have significant savings you can draw from, meeting this deductible can be financially difficult if you need to file a claim.
• Limited coverage: You can save a lot of money by purchasing a policy that offers actual cash value coverage instead of replacement cost coverage for your property. However, if a lot of your personal property is destroyed in a disaster, its depreciated value may not be sufficient to enable you to replace it.
• A difficult claims process: Often, companies that offer cut-rate policies do not invest much in their employees. This means you can be left on hold for a long time if you need to speak to a customer service representative, and claims processing can come with many hurdles and delays.

Independent agents only work with highly rated insurance companies when they are shopping around to find you the policy that offers the best value for your hard-earned money.

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What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover in Cape Girardeau, MO?

Homeowners insurance protects you from significant financial losses when disaster strikes. It does this by covering against:

• Property loss or damage
• Displacement
• Liability lawsuits

Coverage against Property Loss or Damage

Your home insurance covers you against damage caused by most of the risks you are likely to face as a homeowner in eastern Missouri.

Your policy's dwelling insurance can pay to repair damage to the structure of your home, and your contents insurance can cover the cost of replacing damaged personal property.

Covered perils that may impact property owners in Cape Girardeau include:

• Property crimes: Crimes like burglary, vandalism, and arson
• Fires: Damage caused by explosions, accidental fires, wildfires, smoke, and firefighting efforts
• Falling objects: Damage caused by hailstones, uprooted trees, fallen branches, and other hazards
• Water damage: Damage caused by leaky roofs, broken windows, frozen pipes, and other problems, but not damage caused by floods.
• Severe weather events: Damage caused by hazards like lightning strikes, thunderstorms, windstorms, derechos, tornadoes, and winter storms

You will want to be sure that your coverage limits are high enough to enable you to fully rebuild your house and replace all of your personal property if a catastrophic event like a tornado destroys your home.

Coverage against Displacement

Although a twister hasn't directly impacted this city since 1947, the Cape Girardeau area has a very high risk for tornado activity, 

Catastrophes like fires and tornadoes can do more than destroy your property. They can also render your house inhabitable until repairs are made. If this happens, the loss of use insurance included in your home insurance policy can help.

If you are forced to seek alternate accommodations due to damage caused by a covered event, loss of use insurance can cover your extra living expenses, including things like:

• A hotel, temporary rental home, or other reasonable accommodations
• A meal and grocery allowance
• Moving costs and storage fees
• Laundry and dry cleaning costs
• Mileage reimbursement if you must drive further to get to work
• Pet boarding fees, if necessary

Loss of use insurance can continue to provide coverage until your house has been repaired and is safe to move back into or until you have purchased or built a replacement home.

Coverage against Liability Lawsuits

Anybody can end up on the wrong end of a liability lawsuit. All it takes is one mistake, accident, or error in judgment if it results in someone else experiencing serious harm.

Liability lawsuits grow very expensive. That is why, in addition to covering your house and property, your home insurance policy provides you with significant personal liability protection.

Homeowners liability insurance covers expenses like court costs, legal fees, mediation costs, settlements, and judgments if you or someone in your household unintentionally cause someone else to suffer significant injuries, property damage, financial loss, or other harm.

Home insurance policies typically cap liability coverage at $250,000 or $500,000. If you want even more coverage than your policy offers, you can purchase an umbrella insurance policy. This is an affordable way to significantly boost all of your personal liability protection.

What Risks Are Not Covered by Homeowners Insurance in Cape Girardeau, MO?

Homeowners insurance covers a lot of hazards, but it does not cover damage caused by floods or earthquakes.

FEMA estimates that one inch of rainwater in your home can generate as much as $25,000 in property damage, and earthquakes can cause considerable damage to your home's foundation and structure, so some area homeowners may want to consider supplemental coverage.

Floods

Cape Girardeau has a moderate risk of flooding. More than 1,300 homes in this city have at least a 26% chance of sustaining significant flood damage over the next 30 years.

A local independent agent can help you review flood maps to determine your property's risk. Then, if needed, your agent can help you supplement your homeowners insurance with an affordable flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a program administered by FEMA.

Earthquakes

Because of its proximity to the New Madrid Seismic Zone, there is a moderate risk of earthquake activity in Cape Girardeau County.

This county has experienced five earthquakes since 1931, and the US Geological Survey (USGS) states there is a 7.94% chance of a Magnitude 5.0 quake occurring within 30 miles of this county within the next 50 years.

If you want coverage against this risk, you can supplement your homeowners insurance policy with earthquake insurance. A local independent agent can help you find a competitively priced policy.

Is There a High Risk of Burglary in Cape Girardeau, MO?

The burglary rate in Missouri is higher than the national rate, and in Cape Girardeau, the rate is even higher. Residents of this city report 250 burglaries a year.

• Number of burglaries per 1,000 residents in the US: 3.76
• Number of burglaries per 1,000 residents in Missouri: 4.45
• Number of burglaries per 1,000 residents in Cape Girardeau: 5.37

It can be very stressful to be the victim of a property crime, but you may gain some comfort in knowing that your home insurance can reimburse you for your lost property as well as any damage the burglar caused to your house.

Home security systems are particularly effective at preventing burglaries. Some insurance providers even offer significant home insurance discounts to policyholders who have burglar alarms, surveillance cameras, and other security features installed in their homes.

Unfortunately, nothing is 100% foolproof when it comes to preventing property crimes. If you discover your home has been burglarized, ensure that you and your family are safe and then call the authorities. You will need a copy of the police report when you file your claim.

What Are the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

The most highly rated insurance companies are the ones that have consistently proven themselves in terms of reliable coverage, responsive customer service, rapid claims processing, and competitive rates.

Independent agents in Cape Girardeau have teamed up with some of the best homeowners insurance companies in Missouri so they can help their clients find suitable yet affordable coverage.

How Can an Independent Insurance Agent in Cape Girardeau, MO Help?

Independent insurance agents make it easy to find the best and most affordable homeowners insurance policy. These agents can answer your insurance-related questions and save you time and money by doing the comparison-shopping legwork for you.

If you are ready to get help finding the best and most affordable homeowners insurance policy in Cape Girardeau, arrange an obligation-free consultation with an independent insurance agent near you.