Homeowners Liability Insurance - How to Get the Best Rate

Looking for homeowners liability insurance? Here's how to get the best rate.

Homeowners Insurance Coverage

Homeowners insurance provides four separate ares of coverage:

1. Structural coverage pays to repair or rebuild your home when its damaged by fire, vandalism, or acts of nature.

2. Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace your personal belongings when they're damaged or destroyed.

3. Additional living expenses coverage pays for your living expenses while your home is being repaired due to damage from fire or other insured disasters.

4. Liability insurance pays for damages to other people caused by you, your family members, or your pets.

Homeowners Liability Insurance Coverage

Liability insurance covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage when you, your family, or your pets are responsible. It pays for the other person's medical expenses, property damage expenses, and any legal fees you may incur.

You should purchase enough liability insurance to protect you assets in the event a lawsuit is filed against you. Most standard homeowners insurance policies provide $100,000 worth of liability coverage. However, due to the increasing number of personal liability lawsuits, its recommended that you purchase at least $250,000 to $500,000 worth of liability insurance coverage.

If you have property, investments, and savings that are worth more than the liability limits in your homeowners policy, you can purchase additional liability coverage in the form of an umbrella policy. This is a separate policy that pays after you use up the liability coverage in your homeowners policy. It also protects you against lawsuits not covered by your homeowners liability insurance such as libel, slander, and invasion of privacy.

Liability coverage is one of the most important types of insurance you can have. Without it, you could be sued and lose everything your own. With it, you're assets are protected. Take an inventory of all your assets and purchase enough liability to cover them.