Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Property Maintenance?

When discussing a property insurance policy, it is always important to outline that different policies have different terms. This is why we take our duties as a public adjuster in Broward County so seriously: we want to make sure we understand exactly what your policy covers. 

Generalities are useful for helping you understand the likelihood that your policy covers a specific form of compensation when you have a covered loss for damage to your property. In this instance, it is safe to say that property insurance policies do not cover the cost of property maintenance. 
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To explain why, we should discuss what these types of policies are designed to cover, as well as what to look for if you want home maintenance costs included. 

What Do Homeowners Insurance Policies Typically Cover? 

Most insurance policies are designed to cover unforeseen incidents also known as sudden and accidental damage. The exact nature of your policy may vary, but insurance companies often offer plans that include: 
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• Fire 
• Hurricane/Wind 

• Water Damage 
• Mold 

Therefore, it is important to understand your options carefully when purchasing an insurance policy. While it is tempting to choose the cheaper coverage available, this may not give you adequate protection for your property. I always say shop coverage not price! 

What If Your Insurance Company Believes Damage to Your Home Was Caused Due to Lack of Maintenance? 

It is important to note, that although your policy only covers damage from sudden and accidental loss, it is still important to maintain your property with the proper upkeep. This will certainly avoid any issues with your insurance company should you have to file a claim. 

For instance, if a minor leak goes undetected and continues over a period of time, this will result in more extensive damage than if it was stopped immediately. Because the damage to your property would then be long term, your insurance company may deny coverage and claim that the water damage is not the result of a sudden and accidental loss. 

This situation can get especially complicated if it is ambiguous whether the damage was caused by an unforeseen event or a lack of maintenance (e.g. Did your property experience water damage due to a hurricane or because of an unrelated leak that was not fixed? 

This is one of the reasons why it is useful to speak with a public insurance adjuster. They can review your policy and help you determine if your damage is covered in your policy and exactly what your insurance company should provide with coverage. 

It is important to have a pre-loss inspection, which allows you to document the condition of your property before you have a loss. Sometimes, insurance companies mislabel damage as either pre-existing or long term damage. With a detailed pre-loss inspection report, we document your property from the exterior to the interior so this will not happen to you.

What If You Want a Policy That Covers Maintenance?

Insurance policies are designed to help you in the event of a covered loss/damage to your property. They are not designed to maintain the property, therefore, if you are a homeowner, you may wish to purchase a home maintenance/warranty contract which usually covers maintenance of the air conditioning, appliances and plumbing.

You should always have your roof and windows checked on an annual basis to make sure there are no active leaks and the caulking around your windows and doors are sealed properly. Additionally, it is important to make sure that sprinkler heads are faced away from the building to ensure that no water seeps into the property.

It is important to make sure you understand what your warranty covers. While some companies just offer coverage to repair these items, others will cover replacement.

If you choose to go this route, it is important to determine whether the cost of the warranty is worth the repairs you think you will need.

Looking for a Public Adjuster in Broward County?

You have come to the right place. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, our goal is to help you better understand the coverage that your insurance policy provides.

Whether you want us to help you with an insurance claim, a pre-loss inspection, or you just have questions you would like to ask first, please do not hesitate to contact us today. It is our primary goal that our clients’ needs come first.