South Burlington Homeowners Insurance

(How to find a great policy for you)

Written by Rene Todd Fields
Written by Rene Todd Fields

Environmental and natural resource advocate and business owner, Rene Todd Fields, has more than 10 years of experience working within both private and public sectors and enjoys helping individuals understand their options and make solid coverage decisions.

Updated
South Burlington Vermont homeowners insurance

Becoming a homeowner can be an exciting time, but it is also a big commitment, as you face many everyday hazards such as fire or theft. That is why obtaining the right homeowners insurance policy is essential.

Whether you live in a lake house or a tiny cabin in the country, homeowners insurance is basically a deal between the homeowner and an insurance firm in which the underwriter agrees to cover financial losses relating to damage and liabilities. The only concern is that only the specific risks identified in the insurance policy will be covered.

Local independent insurance agents can assess the distinctive risks you face as a South Burlington, VT, resident. Our local agents will work hard to find you a homeowners insurance policy that meets your needs and financial plan. Use our independent agent matching system to find the best insurance plan in your area. 

Let us know what you are looking for, and our technology will suggest the best agents for your homeowners insurance needs. Any information you provide will only be sent to the agents you pick and choose. We do not sell to third parties.

What Is the Cost of Homeowners Insurance in South Burlington, VT?

Many factors affect the cost of a homeowners insurance policy. Homeowners located in areas prone to severe weather or other risks such as property crimes will be required to pay more for their insurance policies than those who live in safer areas.

Obviously, averages can only tell you so much about the prices you will be expected to pay on an annual basis for homeowners insurance. Real homeowners insurance rates can vary from one homeowner to another. This occurs because rates are determined on a case-by-case basis according to several of the following factors:  

  • The age, cost, and size of your home
  • The type of home you are insuring
  • The number of stories in your home
  • The crime rate and weather risks in your area
  • Your credit score and claims history
  • If you are bundling your coverage with another policy such as car insurance or life insurance

You need a homeowners insurance policy largely to safeguard your home and its contents. No matter how sturdy the walls and girders surrounding you are, they are still not a match against a structure fire or winter storm. An especially expensive disaster could leave a property holder without the proper coverage to go bankrupt if otherwise lacking the financial assets required to recover from the damage and/or destruction.

Since your home is more than a hodgepodge of ceilings, floors, and walls, homeowners insurance is aimed at covering all everything within your home. This includes your family, friends, personal property, and pets. While the more sophisticated your home is, the more coverage you will likely need, such as an umbrella policy or replacement cost home insurance.

Below are the four key coverage options included in a standard homeowners insurance policy:

  • Structural damage: This covers what insurance firms refer to as the “dwelling,” or the construction of the home itself. Damage to or destruction of the dwelling by covered threats falls under this group. Often, coverage extends to detached structures such as garages.
  • Personal property damage: This covers your personal belongings such as clothing, electronics, and furniture from hazards such as fire or theft. Possessions stowed within the home as well as exterior storage units are covered, although property stored off-premises may have a lower coverage limit.
  • Liability: This covers any legal fees such as attorney and court costs if you are sued for bodily injury or property damage to a third party. Payments you are required to pay if you lose a case are covered as well. This coverage extends to all family members living within the home, including pets. Many other events which occur away from the home are also covered.
  • Additional living expenses: This covers living expenses if your home becomes severely damaged or destroyed and you are forced to live somewhere else while waiting for repairs to be made. Additional living expenses cover the difference in spending to maintain your normal daily life while staying away from the home.

Does South Burlington, VT, Homeowners Insurance Cover against Catastrophic Events?

Your homeowners insurance policy is built to shield you against many of the threats you face as a homeowner in South Burlington, VT, which includes a wide selection of catastrophic events such as severe storms and wind damage.

Be sure to acquire the applicable amount of coverage to allow you to repair or rebuild your home by setting your insurance coverage requirements high enough in the event of a catastrophe.

Catastrophic events in Vermont:

  • Number of federally declared disasters in VT: 50 since 1953
  • Most common reasons for disasters in VT: Severe storms
  • Average number of tornadoes per year in VT: 1

Residents of South Burlington, VT, are at a high risk for damage caused by the following:

  • Severe storms and lightning damage
  • Floods and flood damage
  • Hurricanes and tropical storms
  • Ice storms and freezing
  • Burglary and other property crimes

Luckily, most of these hazards are covered by homeowners insurance policies. Nonetheless, it is important to know that flood damage is not covered by standard homeowners insurance. This is true even if the flood is the direct result of a covered storm.

What Doesn’t Homeowners Insurance Cover?

While homeowners insurance offers a good deal of essential coverage options, unfortunately it cannot cover absolutely everything. It is a good idea to become acquainted with the listed non-covered risks in your policy to save yourself the trouble of filing a claim. Homeowners insurance does not cover the following hazards:

  • Specified natural disasters (i.e., floods, earthquakes, and mudslides)
  • Wear and tear damage (i.e., homeowner’s failure to maintain the home)
  • Business-related liability
  • Maintenance-related losses
  • Insect damage or infestations
  • Damage from war or nuclear fallout

You may want to genuinely think about adding a flood insurance policy to protect your home against flood or water damage, especially for those who live in areas prone to flooding. Flood insurance policies are available through the National Flood Insurance Program, which is a part of FEMA.

Talk to your independent insurance agent for assistance in confirming all your homes are properly covered.

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Why Does My Home Need Personal Liability Insurance in South Burlington, VT?

Litigations ensue all the time, which can become very expensive. For this reason, your homeowners insurance also provides you with personal liability coverage.

Homeowners insurance is designed to cover the many expenses you may accumulate if legally responsible for damage connected to a covered event. A few cases in which personal liability coverage may safeguard you include the following:

  • A moose got stuck in your child’s swing set, got its antlers stuck in the chains, and dragged it all over the yard.
  • Due to recent flooding, your river house broke away and floated to the next town over.
  • Your spouse ran over the sailboat you had stored in the garage.
  • Your kid blew up a science fair volcano in your living room.

If you wish to boost your homeowners insurance with higher liability limits than your homeowners insurance policy currently permits, your agent can also help you acquire a reasonably priced umbrella insurance policy. Umbrella insurance is an affordable way to boost all your liability coverage requirements.

An independent insurance agent in South Burlington, VT, can explain your homeowners liability coverage in better detail.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover against Burglaries in South Burlington, VT?

In the last five years, South Burlington has seen an increase in violent crime and property crime. The burglary rate in VT, and in South Burlington in particular, is much lower than the national average, which also puts you paying a lower rate of homeowners insurance.

  • Number of burglaries per 100,000 homes in the US: 376
  • Number of burglaries per 100,000 homes in VT: 234.2
  • Number of burglaries per 100,000 homes in South Burlington: 264

Being the victim of a burglary is troubling enough. If your South Burlington, VT, home is broken into, you can find some assurance in knowing your homeowners insurance can deliver recompense for your damages, as well as, for any other property damages the robbers may have done to your home.

Home protection systems are among the most useful theft deterrence gadgets around, and many insurance businesses offer deductions to consumers who have home protection systems installed in their homes. An independent insurance agent can help you to find all prospective discounts for which you may qualify.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Second Home or Vacation Home in South Burlington, VT?

Whether you own a vacation home or you have a house nearby you rent to seniors, if you're among the residents of South Burlington, VT who own more than one home, you will want to cover all your homes with an appropriate homeowners insurance policy.

If you are not living in your second home or vacation property currently, there may be added hazards that insurance companies may well take into consideration, which means that you may have to purchase specific insurance products. 

  • Second homes inhabited by renters have higher liability and property damage risks. These houses require specific coverage options offered by landlord insurance.
  • Vacation homes left vacant for long periods have an increased risk of burglaries and property damage. Vacant home insurance may be required while the house is unoccupied.

An independent insurance agent can help you out in selecting the coverage you need for all your residential properties and can help you find the most reasonably priced policies to underwrite them.

Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent in South Burlington, VT?

TrustedChoice.com independent insurance agents are not tied down to one insurance company. They can get quotes from a few insurance companies, so you have an assortment of reasonable options.

Our local agents will assess your hazards and answer your questions. With the right South Burlington homeowners insurance coverage, you can relax in knowing that you and your family are safeguarded. 

Independent insurance agents in South Burlington, VT, are eager to help. Contact an independent insurance agent near you to begin examining tailored homeowners insurance quotes.

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