Wisconsin Homeowner's Insurance
A home is a major financial commitment—and one not to be taken lightly. Protect your investment with Wisconsin home insurance.
InsureMe works with hundreds of companies statewide that can help you find the right Wisconsin homeowner's insurance policy. Contact us today for your free quotes!
The Low-Down on Wisconsin Home Insurance
Buying a home involves more than the purchase. It means budgeting for insurance premiums, utility payments, maintenance and upkeep, loan payments and property taxes. All these commitments can tear a hole in your pocket, so it's important to find the most extensive Wisconsin home insurance coverage possible at the best price.
According to the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, more than 200 Wisconsin home insurance companies sell policies within the state. Sorting through them all to find the one with exactly the coverage you need can be difficult. But it is essential in order to protect your home and its contents.
Your home is most likely the largest investment you will ever make. Read on to find out what you can do to make sure it remains safe.
The Coverage You Need
Four types of coverage are typically contained within one Wisconsin home insurance policy. These include property damage, personal liability, medical payments and additional living expenses.
Outlined here are the details of each type and what they cover:
- Property damage: helps pay for damage to your home and personal property.
- Personal liability: pays for legal fees and damages from non-auto-related accidents you or someone in your family cause.
- Medical payments: pays medical expenses for anyone outside your own family accidentally injured in your home.
- Additional living expenses: covers expenses you incur when your home is damaged and must be repaired, and you must move into a motel or apartment temporarily.
Before you purchase your Wisconsin homeowner's insurance, MAKE SURE you have sufficient coverage of each type. This will help you avert financial disaster before it occurs.
Your Policy Options
Most Wisconsin homeowner's insurance companies offer the following types of policies:
- Broad Form (HO-2)—offers you coverage against specifically listed perils.
- Special Form (HO-3)—offers property and liability coverage for your home and other structures on your property. Protects against all risks specifically listed (e.g., fire, windstorm, hail, lightening and falling objects). Covers more risks than an HO-2 policy.
- Tenants Form (HO-4)—provides coverage for a renter's personal property and liability against the property of others…also pays for additional living expenses.
- Comprehensive Form (HO-5)—covers your home and your personal property for everything not specifically excluded. Provides the broadest coverage, but is more expensive and not often offered.
- Condominium Form (HO-6)—covers a condominium owner's personal property, personal liability, and any items not insured by the association's policy.
- Modified Coverage Form (HO-8)—provides coverage for older homes whose replacement cost far exceeds market value.
State insurers also offer Wisconsin home insurance to those living in mobile homes or on farms or ranches. A knowledgeable Wisconsin home insurance provider can answer your questions about any of these policies, and help you determine what type of coverage you need in your particular situation.
Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value
Before you make your final decision on which type of Wisconsin home insurance policy to buy, it is essential to understand the difference between "replacement cost" and "actual cash value."
Replacement cost is the amount of money it would take to rebuild your home or repair any damages with materials of a similar kind. However, it does not figure depreciation into the equation when accounting for total cost. In order to qualify for full replacement cost coverage, your home must usually be insured at 80 to 90 percent of its replacement cost.
Actual cash value (ACV) is the value of your home and property when damaged or destroyed. ACV takes the replacement cost and deducts from it your home's depreciation. The final sum is considered the ACV.
Most Wisconsin homeowner's insurance policies contain replacement cost coverage on the home and ACV on personal property. However, if you wish to change these standards on your own Wisconsin home insurance, a licensed state home insurer can help you do so.
Reducing the Cost of Your Home Insurance
Several discounts are available to help you keep your Wisconsin home insurance premiums within financial reach. Ask your insurer about the following money-saving discount options:
Multiple-policy
If you purchase your home insurance from the same insurer you buy your car or health insurance from, you are likely to be eligible for a discount. Many Wisconsin home insurance companies offer this incentive in order to sell you multiple policies.
Protection devices
Many insurers offer discounts of two to five percent for homes containing smoke detectors, burglar alarms and/or sprinkler systems. However, these systems can be expensive! Before installing them in your home, find out what they cost installed vs. the premium amount you will save.
Non-smoker
Some Wisconsin home insurance companies will reduce your premiums if you don't smoke. However, if any other family member living with you smokes, you will not qualify for this discount.
Fire-resistant building materials
Homes made of fire-resistant materials are less likely to become damaged in the event of a disaster. Therefore, a few Wisconsin home insurance companies give discounts for this type of construction.
Long-term policy holders
If you maintain coverage in good standing with some Wisconsin homeowner's insurance providers, you may qualify for special consideration and an additional discount. In fact, long-term policyholders may actually receive a five to 10 percent discount, depending on the length of time they remain with the company.
Get the Protection You Need
Now that you have the information you need to make an informed decision on your Wisconsin homeowner's insurance, why not put your home investment in the capable hands of InsureMe? We'll get you up to five quotes from insurers in your area willing to compete for your business.
Protect your home and further your investment today! We'll be waiting to hear from you.
