Florence, SC Homeowners Insurance

(Everything you need to know - and more)

Written by Meg Stefanac
Written by Meg Stefanac

Financial blogger and business owner, Meg Stefanac, has more than 15 years experience working in the financial services industry and enjoys helping individuals make solid financial decisions. Meg has extensive experience writing about insurance and finances and is a key contributor to TrustedChoice.com.

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Florence is a beautiful city located in the center of South Carolina’s historic Pee Dee region. It is currently home to more than 37,000 people. If you own a house in this city, you will want to be sure to protect your investment by purchasing a reliable and comprehensive homeowners insurance policy.

Local independent insurance agents can help you find the best and most affordable coverage for your Florence home. Contact an insurance agent near you to start comparing customized homeowners insurance quotes.

How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cost in Florence, SC?

The average cost of home insurance in this state is higher than the national average. In Florence, the average cost is slightly lower than the average for the state. Shopping around for coverage can ensure that the policy you choose is offered at a competitive rate.

  • National average yearly premium: $1,211
  • South Carolina average yearly premium: $1,269
  • Florence, SC average yearly premium: $1,245

Of course, your actual homeowners insurance quotes are likely to be different from these rates. This is because prices are calculated individually according to several different factors. These can include:

  • The age, size and value of your home
  • The number of stories in your house and whether it has a basement
  • The materials used in the construction of your house
  • Your claims history and credit score
  • The crime rate and weather risks in your ZIP code
  • Whether you are bundling your coverage with other policies like car insurance or life insurance

Every insurance company has its own way of assessing risk and computing 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 Florence make comparison shopping easy.

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What Damage Is Covered by Florence Home Insurance?

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

Catastrophic Events in South Carolina

  • Number of federally declared disasters in South Carolina: 28
  • Most common reasons for disasters in the state:  Hurricanes and Floods
  • Average number of tornadoes per year in South Carolina:  23.3
  • Average amount of property damage per year in SC:  $891.8 million
  • 1 in 15 insured homes has a claim each year.

Florence residents are most at risk for damage caused by fire, hurricanes, tropical storms, hail, gusty winds and lightning. Tornadoes also pose a small risk in the area. While a tornado in the Florence area is rare, the risk is 17% greater than the national average. Fortunately, these hazards are covered by most home insurance policies.

Homeowners insurance, however, does not cover everything. Many residents of Florence are at risk for damage caused by floods, particularly those with properties near Jeffries Creek and Middle Swamp. Of course, when hurricanes and tropical storms cause prolonged torrential downpours in the area, flash flooding can happen just about anywhere.

Unfortunately, homeowners insurance does not cover floods. In order to be fully insured, you will need to supplement your homeowners coverage with a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). A local independent agent can help you acquire appropriate coverage at a reasonable rate.

home

Save on Home Insurance

Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.

Why Is Liability Insurance Important for Florence Homeowners?

Liability lawsuits can happen to anyone, and when they do, they can be extremely expensive. Fortunately, homeowners insurance also provides you with 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 are sued for a covered event. Some examples of times your homeowners liability coverage may prove invaluable include:

  • If a guest in your home is badly injured in an accident that can be attributed to negligence of upkeep on your part.
  • If you accidentally cause serious injuries to someone while you are away from your home, such as during a friendly game of pickleball at Timrod Park.
  • If someone in your household, such as your child or your even your pet, causes injuries or property damage to someone else.
  • If you are accused of libel due to something you posted on social media.

If you want to have more liability coverage than your home insurance will provide, you can also purchase umbrella insurance. This is an affordable way to significantly boost all of your liability coverage. A local independent insurance agent can help you acquire all the liability coverage you want at a competitive price.

Does Florence Homeowners Insurance Cover against Burglaries?

The burglary rate in South Carolina is higher than the national rate, but in Florence, the rate is lower. This is not to say that there is no risk. Residents of this city report more than 350 burglaries every year.

  • Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in the US: 3.76
  • Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in South Carolina: 5.80
  • Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in Florence, SC: 3.75

While the risk of a burglary is relatively low, you may gain some peace of mind by knowing that if your house is broken into, your homeowners insurance can reimburse you for your losses as well as for any damage the burglar may have caused. If you own any particularly valuable possessions, you may need to add special endorsements or riders to 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 most precious property is properly insured.

What about Florence Residents with Second Homes and Vacation Homes?

Maybe you have a vacation home in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Or perhaps you have a second home that you rent out to students at Francis Marion University. Whatever your reasons, if you own more than one house, you will need to be sure that all of your properties are covered by appropriate homeowners insurance policies.

When you own a house that is not your primary residence, there are often additional risk factors that insurance companies will take into consideration. In some cases, you may be required to purchase specialized home insurance coverage.

  • Vacation properties that are not used for several months out of the year typically have an increased risk of property damage. Your insurer may require you to have vacant home insurance during the times your vacation house is unoccupied.
  • Second homes that are occupied by tenants have higher liability risks and a greater chance of sustaining serious property damage. These homes typically need to be covered by landlord insurance.

A local independent insurance agent can help you be certain that all of your residential properties are properly covered.

Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent in Florence, SC?

The easiest way to obtain the best and most affordable insurance for your Florence home is by working a local independent agent. These agents work for you, not for a particular insurance company, so they are able to shop around in order to find you appropriate coverage at a competitive rate.

Find an independent insurance agent with an office in or near Florence to schedule a one-on-one consultation. You will soon discover how easy it can be to compare customized homeowners insurance quotes and find the best policy.

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http://www.naic.org/prod_serv/AUT-PB-14.pdf
https://www.census.gov
http://www.city-data.com