Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Home Damage & Repair for Disasters in Michigan?
Standard homeowners policies generally cover a wide range of potential disasters, including tornadoes, windstorms, fire, and winter storm damage caused by weight of ice and snow.
However it is important to check your own individual homeowners’ insurance policy, to understand what your coverage is. Carefully read your Insurance Policy – so you understand what it does and does not cover – before you have an emergency. Next discuss your situation with your Insurance agent. Make certain you know what your “deductibles” and your “policy limits are.”
Additionally, it is important to understand if your insurance policy offers “replacement cost” or just “market value” insurance. With replacement cost insurance, your insurance company pays the cost necessary to repair or replace your entire home. However, if you have the lesser “market value” insurance, your insurance only reimburses you up to the amount that a buyer would pay to purchase your home and its land in its current condition.
Most Insurance Policies Cover these Common Types of Damage:
- Fire Damage
- Lightning Damage
- Wind Damage
- Hail Damage
- Weight of ice, snow or sleet
- Damage caused by vehicles
- Smoke Damage
- Vandalism or malicious mischief
- Theft
- Water Damage from plumbing, heating, air conditioning, sprinkler system, or household appliance.
- Freezing of plumbing, heating, air conditioning, sprinkler system, or household appliance.
Most Insurance Policies Also Cover these Less Common Types of Damage:
- Explosion
- Volcanic eruption
- Falling object
- Riot or civil commotion
- Damage caused by aircraft
Most Insurance Policies DO NOT Cover these Types of Damage
- Flood
- Earthquake
- War
- Nuclear accident
- Landslides, mudslides, & sinkholes
- Lack of maintenance, mold, termite & pest infestation
- SEWER BACK UP
Insurance Coverage for Flood Damage to Home
While most homeowners policies DO cover “flood” / water damage from PIPES & APPLIANCES – they typically DO NOT cover damage from actual “Floods” (water coming from outside your home. However, flood coverage is available in the form of a separate policy both from the National Flood Insurance Program (888-379-9531) and from a few private insurance companies.
You should strongly consider buying flood insurance if you live in (or near) a designated flood zone – or if you think if your house could be flooded by melting snow, an overflowing creek or water running down a steep hill. There is a 30-day waiting period before federal flood coverage takes effect – so don’t wait until the evening news announces a flood warning to buy a flood insurance policy.
Insurance Coverage for Sewer Backup Damage to Home
Sewer backups – including the inability of sump pumps to handle runoff water from major downpours – are typically NOT covered under homeowners’ insurance policies. Insurance Coverage for Sewer Backup Damage to Home must be purchased either as a separate product or as an endorsement to a homeowner’s policy.
The good news is that Sewer Backup Coverage is available from most insurers for a fairly low cost—usually an additional annual premium of $40-$50.
Our Home Repair Experts Work with Your Insurance Company
Serving the Midwest and Southeast Michigan, including; Wayne, Oakland & Macomb County
When you hire Aaron’s Restoration to handle your restoration & repair needs, we bring decades of experience working with Homeowners’ Insurance Companies – to help ensure that your insurance claim is handled properly and processed as rapidly as possible. We will coordinate with your homeowners’ insurance company to make certain that all necessary information and claim documentation is submitted in a timely manner. And we will work with you to ensure that your home is restored to the way it was before your claim, 100% to your satisfaction.
If you have suffered damage to your Michigan home, call us at 888.442.2766 to discuss how we can work with your homeowners insurance company to meet your repair and restoration needs.
