3119 Spring Glen Road Suite 119 Jacksonville, Florida 32207
Call (904) 322-8723
Homeowners Insurance
Dwelling Property Insurance
Dwelling Property Insurance
Homeowners insurance is a package policy designed to protect against economic loss to residences and household personal property as well as legal liabilities for injuries and damage arising from personal activities. This type of policy will provide you with coverage for your dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, personal liability, medical payments to others, and more via endorsements.
Dwelling Property Insurance
Dwelling Property Insurance
Dwelling Property Insurance
A dwelling policy is a policy that provides coverage for the dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, liability for businesses and individuals against fire and additional perils. This type of policy is for dwellings rented to others, dwellings owned by business entities, and dwellings with values lower than company minimums required for homeowners insurance.
Condo Insurance
Condo Insurance
Condo Insurance
Condo insurance covers the interior structure, personal property, loss of use, liability to others, and property for which you are responsible for under an association agreement.
Flood Insurance
Condo Insurance
Condo Insurance
A flood insurance policy provides essential protection against losses caused by rising waters, storm surge, and flooding, events that are not covered under a standard homeowners policy.
Home Insurance Coverage in Jacksonville, FL Explained
Choosing the right Jacksonville, FL home insurance policy is essential for protecting your most significant investment against the specific risks of Northeast Florida, including severe weather like hurricanes and windstorms. Our goal is to provide quality home insurance in Jacksonville, FL, with clear coverage, so you know exactly what to expect.
Here is a guide to key terminology, common exclusions, and explanations to help you understand your policy and make an informed decision.
Key Home Insurance Definitions
Understanding these core terms is the first step to securing the best home insurance rates in Jacksonville, Florida:
Coverage (Coverage A): Protection for the physical structure of your house and anything permanently attached. This coverage should be sufficient to rebuild or repair your home at current construction rates.
Other Structures Coverage (Coverage B): Coverage for structures on your property not attached to your main dwelling, such as detached garages, fences, sheds, and pool houses.
Personal Property Coverage (Coverage C): Coverage for the contents of your home, including furniture, clothing, electronics, and other personal belongings. This is typically a percentage of your Dwelling Coverage.
Loss of Use Coverage/Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage (Coverage D): If a covered peril makes your home uninhabitable, this pays for the necessary increase in living expenses, like hotel bills and restaurant meals, while your home is being repaired.
Personal Liability Coverage: Protects you financially if you or a family member are found legally responsible for bodily injury or property damage to others (e.g., a guest slips and falls on your property due to negligence).
Peril: A specific event or cause of loss that can damage your property, such as fire, theft, or a windstorm. Named Perils policies only cover what is listed; Open Perils (or All-Risk) policies cover everything except what is specifically excluded.
Deductible: The out-of-pocket amount you must pay toward a covered loss before your insurance company begins to pay. In Florida, you will often have separate, higher deductibles for hurricane damage and wind/hail.
Endorsement (or Rider): An add-on to your standard policy that either provides additional coverage for a risk that is normally excluded (like water backup) or increases the limit for specific personal property (like jewelry).
Common Home Insurance Exclusions in Florida
It is crucial for Jacksonville homeowners to know what standard policies do not cover, as you may need to purchase separate policies or endorsements for these risks.
- Flood Damage: Standard homeowners insurance never covers damage from flooding, which is a major concern in coastal areas like Jacksonville. You must purchase a separate Florida flood insurance policy, often through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer.
- Earth Movement/Sinkholes: Standard policies exclude damage caused by earthquakes or earth movement, including sinkholes. While less common in Jacksonville than other parts of Florida, you may need a specific sinkhole coverage endorsement.
- Neglect and Maintenance Issues: Damage resulting from a lack of proper maintenance, wear and tear, or general aging (e.g., a roof that leaks due to age) is not covered. Insurance covers sudden and accidental events, not gradual deterioration.
- Mold/Fungus: While mold resulting from a covered peril (like a sudden pipe burst) may have limited coverage, damage from long-term moisture, condensation, or mold/mildew from neglect is typically excluded.
- Sewer and Drain Backup: Damage from water that backs up through sewers or drains is often excluded. A separate water backup endorsement is highly recommended.
- Governmental Action, War, and Nuclear Hazard: These catastrophic, non-accidental events are universally excluded from standard coverage.
Essential Coverage Explanations for Jacksonville, Florida
Given the unique risks in our area, these coverage points deserve special attention for any Jacksonville homeowners insurance quote:
Hurricane and Windstorm Deductibles: In Florida, your policy will likely have a separate hurricane deductible (often 2% of your Dwelling Coverage) that applies specifically to damage caused by a storm officially named or declared a hurricane. Damage from non-hurricane wind and hail may also have a separate, higher deductible.
Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value (ACV):
Replacement Cost Value (RCV): Pays the cost to replace or repair the damaged item or structure with a new one of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation. This is the superior form of coverage for your dwelling and is highly recommended for personal property.
Actual Cash Value (ACV): Pays the replacement cost minus depreciation (wear and tear). You will receive less money, and this can be a common source of claim disputes, particularly with older items or roofs.
Need a home insurance quote for Jacksonville FL homeowners insurance? Call us at (904) 322-8723
DISCLAIMER: This article contains general insurance information. Please refer to your policy language for exact coverage details or contact one of our team members for more information.