Will Homeowners Insurance Cover a Construction Project?
So, you want to do a renovation or some construction on your home. Well, you’re not the only one! According to various studies, home remodeling has been hotter than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, Houzz, an online home remodeling platform, reported a 58% annual increase in project leads for home professionals in June of 2020.
We don’t blame any of you homeowners for wanting to spruce things up, especially considering all the extra time many individuals and families have been spending at home the past two years.
When tackling a construction project on your property, however, it’s important to consider the bandwidth of your homeowners insurance. Is it enough? Or, should you consider investing in builders risk insurance as well?
Homeowners Insurance vs. Builders Risk Insurance
First things first, what’s the difference?
Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance is defined as “a form of property insurance that covers losses and damages to an individual’s residence, along with furnishings and other assets in the home.”
It’s important to note that every homeowners insurance policy has a liability limit. This liability limit “determines the amount of coverage the insured has should an unfortunate incident occur.”
Homeowners insurance is typically used to repair or replace your home and its contents in the event of damage.
Builders Risk Insurance
Builders risk insurance, on the other hand, is not quite the same. Builders risk insurance is also known as “course of construction insurance.”
Hence its name, this type of insurance, is a type of property insurance that protects your home, or other buildings that are under construction. This coverage is essential to protecting projects from property damage that occurs due to:
- Fire
- Lightning
- Hail
- Explosions
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Acts of God, for example, hurricanes
Builders risk insurance is a crucial part of a homeowner’s risk management strategy.
Will Homeowners Insurance Cover a Construction Project?
Is your homeowners insurance enough?
Whether you’re considering a from-the-ground-up construction project, kitchen or bathroom remodeling, or even room addition, there’s nothing more important than making sure you have the proper coverage.
Although each policy offers valuable coverage, they exist for separate types of risks. It’s important to note that while each policy will, of course, differ from carrier to carrier, homeowners should not rely on a homeowners policy alone to sustain the financial burden should a loss regarding their construction project occur.
After all, if homeowners insurance and builders risk insurance both covered the same risks, there would be no need for each to exist.
As a general rule, homeowners insurance covers damage to a property already in tact; builders risk covers damage to a property that is under construction.
Obtain the Coverage You Need
By consulting with an insurance broker prior to beginning a construction project on your home, you can learn all about gaps in homeowners insurance and where you may need additional coverage depending on your unique policy.
If you’re considering a project of your own, read on to learn more about how the California labor shortage is affecting the construction industry, and if there are qualified workers available to you at all.
