More and more Mequon homeowners are choosing Mark Leonard to shop and compare home insurance coverage from multiple Wisconsin insurers. Since 1963, our agency has been helping homeowners find competitive rates on Wisconsin home insurance without cutting corners or skimping on quality of coverage. With complete home insurance solutions offered at our agency, you can protect your home, as well as your income, assets, and nearly all the things you own.
Hazards and Perils
Accidents happen without warning. Many different perils threaten the structure of your home and the things inside it. Home insurance policies may cover damages caused only by specific types of events, or they may offer broader coverage for a wide range of events, excluding only those listed by name in your policy. Don’t wait until it’s too late to make sure your policy includes the coverage you need.
Some of the most common perils and hazards covered under Wisconsin home insurance policies include:
- Fires and explosions
- Smoke
- Lightning
- Hail
- Wind
- Fallen objects
- Theft
- Vandalism
- And more
Certain types of events, such as floods, are almost always excluded from homeowners insurance coverage. However, it is still possible to protect your home with a separate, stand-alone policy. Be sure to ask our team about flood insurance if you do not have it.
Understanding Your Policy
Home insurance policies may be complex, but all homeowners should know what they include. Mark Leonard and the team at our office want our customers to be educated on the details of their home insurance policies and the different types of coverage they offer.
Structural Damages Coverage
If something happens to the structure of your home, this type of coverage helps pay for repairs. It can also cover the rebuilding of your home if it is destroyed due to a covered event. Section A of a standard Wisconsin home insurance policy typically outlines coverage for damages to the primary home structure, and Section B typically expounds on coverage for other property structures, such as fences and detached garages.
Personal Belongings
Standard home insurance also includes coverage for the things you own with certain limitations. This section of your policy outlines protection for things like:
- Electronics
- Furniture
- Jewelry
- Apparel
- Décor
- Small appliances
- And more
Certain items, such as your vehicle, are not covered. Likewise, certain categories of high-value items, such as fine jewelry and firearms, may be subject to smaller coverage caps. Take inventory of your home to determine if the value of your belongings exceeds the overall coverage limit or the smaller ‘special coverage’ caps within your policy. If so, it may be time to talk to our team about increasing your coverage or scheduling additional protection for valuable items.
Liability
If you or a member of your household causes an incident that results in a third-party injury or loss, you could be held financially liable. The liability section of your home insurance can cover your legal defense bills, court costs, and any judgments against you if you are found at-fault for the loss.
Having the right liability limits is an essential part of protecting your financial future. Low-limit coverage may not be adequate to cover your financial responsibility during a lawsuit, ultimately exposing your income and assets for any damages that exceed your limits. Mark Leonard and the team at our office can help you assess your individual risk exposure and determine how much liability coverage may be right for you.
Medical Payments
Medical payments coverage does not require fault to be established to pay benefits. Instead, the insurance company automatically distributes payment for third-party medical bills up to the limits of your policy when someone is injured on your property. While this does not eliminate liability or the possibility of a lawsuit, it may be enough goodwill to prevent litigation for minor incidents.
Temporary Displacement
Displacement can be a major financial burden for a family that loses the use of their home. A typical home insurance policy pays for the additional living expenses incurred as a result of a cover loss that leaves a home uninhabitable.
Lowering Wisconsin Home Insurance Costs
You may qualify for home insurance discounts that lower the cost of your coverage. Although discounts vary from insurer to insurer, they often included rate reductions for:
- Being claims-free
- Purchasing multiple lines of coverage from the same insurer
- Installing a home security system
- Having a new home
It is also possible to reduce the cost of Wisconsin home insurance in other ways without sacrificing the quality of your home insurance coverage. To start, you can and should use an independent home insurance agent such as Mark Leonard to shop and compare rates from multiple companies. You can also consider raising your deductibles. Though you may have to pay more out-of-pocket for a claim, a higher deductible could result in greater upfront savings in the form of lower premiums.
Request Your Free Quote
If you are not using an independent insurance agent to explore your Wisconsin home insurance options, we invite you to find out how we can improve your access to coverage and maximize your savings. We can help connect you with multiple Wisconsin insurance companies ready to compete for your patronage. To request your free quote or speak with an independent agent about your home insurance coverage needs, contact our office today. We look forward to serving you soon.
