Homeowners Insurance in Mt. Lebanon, PA

More than 33,000 people live in the township of Mt. Lebanon, PA. Residents of this vibrant Pittsburgh suburb enjoy exceptional schools, a low crime rate, and an easy commute into the city. If you own a house in Mt. Lebanon, you can benefit from the protections of a good homeowners insurance policy.

Local independent agents don’t work for a specific insurance company. This means they are free to shop rates from many of the area’s most highly rated providers as they work to find you the best and most affordable home insurance policy. Talk to an independent insurance agent near you to learn more.

What Is Homeowners Insurance and Is It Required in Mt. Lebanon, PA?

Homeowners insurance is a policy designed to shield you from losses related to liability lawsuits and protect the investment you have made in your house and property.

Although this insurance is not required by law, your lender is likely to require you to carry it if you are still making payments on a mortgage or a home equity loan or line of credit. Once you own your house outright, homeowners insurance coverage is optional but highly recommended.

How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cost in Mt. Lebanon, PA?

Overall, home insurance rates in Pennsylvania are lower than the national average.

• National average yearly premium: $1,211
• Pennsylvania average yearly premium: $931

Of course, an average rate can only give you a vague idea of how much your policy will cost. In Mt. Lebanon, where property values are higher than throughout much of the state, you can expect the average cost of home insurance coverage to exceed the state average.

Insurance companies base premiums on several factors, including:

• The type of home you are insuring (e.g., single-family detached house, condo, townhouse, investment rental property, etc.)
• Your home’s age, rebuild value, and size in square feet
• The estimated value of your personal property
• The crime rate and weather risks in your neighborhood
• Your insurance claims history and credit score
• Whether you are bundling your coverage with another policy like car insurance or you qualify for any other home insurance discounts

Every insurance company has its own way of assessing risk and calculating costs. This means that each company you contact for a quote is likely to offer you coverage at a different price.

When you compare prices from a few competing homeowners insurance providers, you can choose the policy that offers the coverage you want at the most affordable rate. Independent insurance agents in Mt. Lebanon make comparison shopping easy.

Where Can I Find Cheap Homeowners Insurance Near Me?

Buying the cheapest policy is not necessarily the best way to save money when covering one of your most valuable assets. A cut-rate policy could even end up costing you more in the long run. That’s because the cheapest policies often have:

• Limited coverage
• High deductibles
• A complicated claims process
• Poor customer service

To ensure that you have all the coverage you need when you need it, you will need to buy a comprehensive policy from an insurance company you can trust. While this may mean taking a pass on the cheapest policy, the more moderately priced policy is likely to provide you with far more value in the long run.

Independent agents can save you time and money by helping you compare costs for suitable policies offered only by dependable insurance providers.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover in Mt. Lebanon, PA?

Homeowners insurance protects your property and finances in three ways:

• By covering damage to your house and property
• By covering against displacement
• By covering personal liability lawsuits

Each of these coverage types is explained in greater detail below.

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How Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Property in Mt. Lebanon, PA?

Your home insurance can pay to repair, rebuild, or replace your property if a covered event results in loss or damage. Some of the covered risks that are most likely to affect property owners in Mt. Lebanon include:

• Fires and explosions: Your policy can cover damage caused by flames, smoke, and firefighting efforts
• Severe weather: Your policy can cover damage caused by weather events like lightning strikes, windstorms, thunderstorms, microbursts, heavy snow, and ice accumulation.
• Falling objects: Your policy can cover damage caused by hailstones, fallen branches, uprooted trees, and other hazards.
• Water damage: Your policy can cover water damage caused by frozen pipes, faulty water heaters, and damaged roofs and windows, but it will not cover water damage caused by floods.
• Property crimes: Your policy can cover the cost of replacing stolen property and repairing damage caused by vandals.

You will want to be sure you have enough dwelling insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding a home of comparable size and value and enough contents insurance to replace all of your personal property.

That way, if a catastrophic event destroys your house, you will have the funds needed to pick up where you left off.

How Does Homeowners Insurance Cover against Displacement in Mt. Lebanon, PA?

If a kitchen fire gets out of control or an uprooted tree falls on your house, the resultant property damage isn’t the only expensive outcome you need to worry about. These disasters can also cause significant damage to the structure of your home and render it unsafe for habitation.

Loss of use insurance, another standard part of every home insurance policy, can cover your extra living expenses if you need to obtain alternate accommodations because a covered event has displaced you from your home.

While your house is being brought back up to code, loss of use coverage can pay for things like:

• A hotel, temporary rental, or other reasonable accommodations
• Meals and groceries
• Moving costs and storage fees
• Laundry and dry cleaning fees
• Mileage reimbursement if you must drive further to get to work
• Boarding fees for your pets if they are not permitted in your temporary accommodations.

Your coverage can continue until your house is safe to return to or until you have built or purchased a new primary residence.

How Does Homeowners Insurance Cover against Liability Lawsuits in Mt. Lebanon, PA?

Anyone can make a mistake. Unfortunately, accidents, negligence, and errors in judgment can sometimes cause serious harm to others. This, in turn, can lead to expensive lawsuits, which is why your homeowners insurance provides you with significant personal liability coverage.

If you or someone in your household unintentionally causes someone else to experience injuries, financial losses, property damage, or other harm, your homeowners liability insurance can cover your legal defense fees, mediation costs, settlements, judgments, and other related expenses.

If you have a lot to lose and want to have even more liability protection than your homeowners insurance can provide, you can also buy umbrella insurance. This secondary insurance provides an affordable way to boost your personal liability coverage well beyond your primary policy’s limits.

What Hazards Aren't Covered by Homeowners Insurance in Mt. Lebanon, PA?

Homeowners insurance covers a lot, but your policy expressly excludes coverage for damage caused by floods and mine subsidence. You may therefore want to consider purchasing supplemental policies.

Floods

According to FEMA, as little as one inch of floodwater in your home can cause up to $25,000 in property damage, but home insurance does not cover this damage.

Nearly 1,000 properties in Mt. Lebanon have a significant risk of sustaining serious flood damage over the next 30 years. If your house is among those at risk, you may want to purchase flood insurance. A local independent agent can help you obtain an affordable flood insurance policy through the NFIP.

Mine subsidence

Much of Mt. Lebanon was built over old coal mines. If a mine collapses and the ground shifts, this can cause significant structural damage to your house. However, this damage will not be covered by your home insurance.

Fortunately, you have the option to purchase mine subsidence insurance. Local independent agents are familiar with the risks you face as a homeowner in Mt. Lebanon and can help you secure an affordable mine subsidence insurance policy.

Are There a Lot of Burglaries in Mt. Lebanon, PA?

The burglary rate in Pennsylvania is lower than the national rate, and in Mt. Lebanon, the risk is even lower. This is not to say the risk does not exist. Residents of this township report an average of 32 burglaries a year.

• Annual number of burglaries per 1,000 people in the US: 3.76
• Annual number of burglaries per 1,000 people in Pennsylvania: 2.12
• Annual number of burglaries per 1,000 people in Mt. Lebanon: 0.56

If you are the victim of a property crime, it may give you some comfort to know that your homeowners insurance can compensate you for your property losses as well as any damage the burglar may have done to your home. You will need a copy of a police report when you file your claim.

What Are the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania?

The insurance companies that stand out above the rest are the ones that have proven themselves by consistently delivering responsive customer service, reliable coverage, rapid claims processing, and competitive rates.

Independent insurance agents in Mt. Lebanon have partnerships with some of the best homeowners insurance companies in Pennsylvania. When your agent presents you with a selection of policies and quotes, you can be confident that they come from trustworthy insurers.

How Can an Independent Insurance Agent in Mt. Lebanon, PA Help Me?

Independent agents are available to help you with all of your insurance coverage needs. You can turn to one of these local agents for trustworthy advice, knowledgeable answers to your coverage-related questions, and help with finding the best and most affordable home insurance policy.

Set up an obligation-free consultation with an independent insurance agent near you to learn more. You will soon discover how easy it can be to compare customized homeowners insurance quotes from multiple providers.