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SeaBass Properties
Rebecca Bass, SeaBass PropertiesPhone: (843) 263-3772
Email: [email protected]

Understanding Homeowners Insurance & Water Damage

by Rebecca Bass 11/27/2023

Homeowner's insurance can help you recover financially from many accidents and disasters at home. While traditional homeowner's policies include coverage for personal items and your property, they don't cover everything. Certain types of damage may be excluded from coverage and require an additional policy, including many types of water damage. Here are some of the types of water damage your homeowners insurance might not cover:

Unresolved Maintenance

A key detail of homeowners insurance is, while it covers home appliances and systems, it won't cover your costs if the damage is your fault. For example, your insurance will cover the cost of replacement floors if they are damaged by water from a sudden dishwasher failure. If there were preexisting maintenance issues causing the damage, like a continually leaky faucet or pipe, the insurance isn't likely to cover the bill.

Replacements & Repairs

Homeowners insurance doesn't usually cover the cost of replacing whatever caused the water damage. For instance, in the above scenario, they might not pay to replace or repair your broken dishwasher. While many home appliances are included in homeowner policies, it's important to be completely clear about what might not be covered so you don't have any unpleasant financial surprises.

Sewer & Drain Backups

Sometimes water damage can occur because of a backed-up sewer or drain outside the home. This can be messy for your yard and your home's interior if the water manages to seep into your basement or floors. Unfortunately, most traditional homeowners insurance policies won't cover this type of water damage. The good news is that you can usually purchase additional water and sewer backup coverage to help you handle the damage from this type of situation.

Floods

Flood damage can range from annoying to completely catastrophic. While the source of the water in a flood can vary from one situation to the next, homeowners insurance policies won't cover your costs for damage to your home. Flood insurance is a common addition to homeowners policies in flood-prone areas, but you can purchase it as supplemental coverage no matter where you live.

When purchasing homeowners insurance, it's crucial to go over every detail. The more familiar you are with your policy and what it includes, the better prepared you'll be to handle water damage at home.

About the Author
Author

Rebecca Bass

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR ®)

Seller Representative Specialist (SRS ®)

Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA ®)

Rebecca W. Bass has worn every hat around the real estate closing table in the course of her career. She is an attorney, has been a mortgage banker and a real estate investor, and is the Founder and Broker-in-Charge of SeaBass Properties. She is licensed to sell real estate in South Carolina and Georgia. Rebecca had an exciting career as an international business executive for companies such as GE and Motorola. She applies her vast experience as a negotiator for the benefit of her real estate clients.

Rebecca and her husband have relocated about 15 times in the course of their marriage, so she knows very well the stress involved in finding the right home, negotiating the purchase, and accomplishing the move. They have lived in Beaufort County for over 20 years, and Rebecca is well-versed in the Lowcountry lifestyle and all it has to offer.

Rebecca has earned the impressive designations of Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR ®), Seller Representative Specialist (SRS ®) and Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA ®) from the National Association of Realtors. 

Her experience as an attorney, mortgage banker, real estate investor and broker-in-charge will ensure that your real estate purchase or listing for sale is accomplished with the utmost integrity and professionalism.