Homeowners Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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couple on front steps happy they know answers to Homeowners Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Home insurance offers protection for you, your home and your belongings. Your homeowners policy covers costs to help repair or rebuild your home or help with the costs if someone is hurt on your property. To break it down further and answer any homeowners insurance questions you may have, The Hartford is here to help.

Ways To Save and Common Homeowners Insurance Questions

Home insurance policies offer financial protection for your home and its contents when they are damaged or destroyed, as well as liability coverage in case someone is injured on your property. Not having home insurance is a big financial risk. Plus, if you have a mortgage, your lender will likely require you to have it.
Homeowners insurance covers against things like fire, theft and vandalism. With the AARP® Homeowners Insurance Program from The Hartford1, you can select from a range of coverages to get the right protection for you.
Normal wear and tear, along with damage from earthquakes, pests (such as vermin or rodents) or flooding are not usually covered in a homeowners policy. For flood protection, you’ll want to purchase a separate flood insurance policy offered through the National Flood Insurance Program.***
Home insurance policies usually include these standard coverages:
 
  • Dwelling coverage to help protect your home and the structures directly attached to it.
  • Personal property to help protect your belongings and appliances.
  • Liability to protect you if someone is hurt on your property and you’re found legally responsible.
  • Other structures to help cover property not attached to your home, like a shed.
  • Medical payments to help cover medical costs for someone who was injured on your property, regardless of fault.2
  • Loss of use to help pay for your living expenses if you can’t live in your home due to covered property damage.
The AARP Homeowners Insurance Program from The Hartford offers many discounts to help you save.
To get a quote from the AARP Homeowners Insurance Program from The Hartford, you can go online or call 877-422-2345.
Yes, you can get a quote from the AARP Homeowners Insurance Program from The Hartford online in minutes.
As of November 2024, the average cost of home insurance in the United States is $2,304 per year.3 However, it’s important to remember that homeowners insurance rates are based on many factors and will differ person to person.
Hazard insurance is a term used by mortgage lenders, which refers to coverage for the structure of your home. This is not a standalone coverage. Typically, your home insurance policy will satisfy any requirements your lender may have.
Act of God refers to an accident or natural event caused without human intervention that could not have been prevented by reasonable foresight or care, like a fire caused by lightning. Your home insurance will cover damage from Acts of God such as hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning, but not earthquakes or flooding. 
  • A limited access home refers to a place that is:
  • Within a gated or fenced community
  • Securely locked
  • Protected 24/7 by security guards who monitor all entrances and exits or regularly patrol the premises
Yes. With the AARP Homeowners Insurance Program from The Hartford, you can receive home insurance discounts if you install qualified home security systems.
Generally, homeowners insurance isn’t required by law. But if you have a mortgage on your home, your lender usually will require you to buy a home insurance policy.
It depends. If the damage to your roof is caused by a covered loss, like the weight of snow, your home insurance policy will help cover costs. Damage caused by general wear and tear or poor maintenance is not covered.
A homeowners insurance declaration page is a short summary of your coverage, provided to you by your insurer. Also known as home dec pages, these documents are often used as proof of insurance.
Home insurance premiums are based on multiple factors, such as your claims history and the age, location and type of home you live in. 
You can lower the cost of your home insurance premium if you:
 
 
  • Maintain a good claims history
  • Take advantage of discounts
  • Bundle your home and auto insurance to save up to 12% on your auto and 20% on your home, condo or renters policy with the AARP Auto and Home Insurance Program from The Hartford**
Since a home insurance deductible is the amount you pay before your insurance kicks in, you can pick what works best for you. Deductible amounts typically range from $500 to $2,500.
A home warranty helps cover normal wear and tear of appliances and systems but is not a replacement for home insurance. Home insurance helps cover damages to your home and belongings and includes liability coverage.
Your insurer will likely notify you when your homeowners insurance is approaching it’s renewal date. You will get a renewal statement one to two months before your policy’s end date so you can review your options.
While homeowner’s insurance protects your home, it won't cover your business. If you run a business out of your home, you will need to purchase home-based business insurance.
Personal property is a type of coverage under home insurance policies that helps pay the cost to replace your personal belongings if they’re damage by a covered loss. The two basic types of personal property coverages are:
 
  • Actual cash value, which replaces your items based on what they’re worth now.
  • Replacement cost coverage, which pays to purchase a new, similar item.
Generally, the 80% rule means that you should have your replacement cost set to at least 80% of your home’s total value. Otherwise, you’re at risk of being underinsured if something happens to your home. To protect against this, The Hartford requires all homes to be insured to 100% of their rebuilding cost.

AARP Homeowners Insurance Claims

You can file a claim with The Hartford online or by calling 877-805-9918. Our claims specialists are available 24/7 to assist with filing your claim.
Recoverable depreciation is the difference between replacement cost and the actual cash value (ACV) that you can be reimbursed for. You just have to provide proof that the repair or replacement is complete or contracted.
A home inventory lists everything inside your home, from furniture and electronics to jewelry and valuables. If you ever find yourself needing to file a claim, a home inventory helps alleviate stress by detailing exactly what needs to be repaired or replaced.

More Property Insurance Options

Home dwelling insurance coverage is the part of your policy that helps cover the costs to repair or rebuild your home and your attached structures after it’s damaged by things like fire, hail, lightning or vandalism.
Most home insurance policies have limited coverage for valuable items. But valuable items blanket is an optional protection that provides extended coverage and increases your insurance limits for each of your valuable items, such as jewelry, musical instruments or silverware.
Personal property coverage is the part of your home insurance policy that covers your belongings, whether they’re inside or outside of your home. It doesn’t cover your actual home or attached structures.
Property insurance is a part of standard home insurance policies. It refers to the different types of coverages that protect your property and the contents inside of it, as well as liability coverage.
Homeowners equipment breakdown coverage is an optional coverage that offers more protection for common home appliances, furnaces and HVAC systems. While it doesn’t cover general wear and tear, it helps pay to quickly repair or replace this equipment in case of mechanical or electrical breakdown.

Additional Homeowners Coverage

Personal liability is part of your home insurance policy that protects you if:
 
 
  • Someone who doesn’t live with you is injured on your property.
  • You’re found liable for damaging someone else’s property.
  • You’re found responsible for injuring someone or damaging their property while you are away from your home.
Identity theft insurance is a coverage on your homeowners policy that helps pay for the cost to recover from fraud or identity theft.
There is no standalone policy for home renovation insurance. Instead, you’ll want to make sure your home insurance coverage is up to date after completing a big project. Otherwise, you may no longer have enough protection for your newly updated home.
Whether you use it regularly or seasonally, having second home insurance is just as important as insuring your primary home. At The Hartford, you qualify for second home insurance as long as you have your primary residence insured with us.  To learn more, call 877-422-2345 or get a  quote online.
Landlord insurance, also known as rental property insurance, is a type of home insurance that helps protect your investment in your rental property. Without landlord insurance, you may be financially responsible for repairs and legal costs if something happens at your rental unit.
A home insurance endorsement is an optional coverage that can be added to your policy. It increases protection by extending the coverage and increasing policy limits for your home.
Home insurance policies include other structures coverage to protect other buildings and objects on your property. So, if a tree falls on your shed during a storm, this coverage helps pay to repair or replace it.
Loss assessment coverage is an optional coverage that helps protect you if you live in a shared community, like a condo or homeowners association (HOA), and you’re responsible for a portion of damage or loss in a common area. 
For 40 years, The Hartford has protected AARP members and their homes from the unexpected through the AARP Homeowners Insurance Program from The Hartford. With our high ratings for customer and claims service, you can count on The Hartford to be there when you need us most. To learn more about the coverages and savings available to you, get a quote online or call The Hartford representatives at 877-422-2345.
 
 
Last Updated: November 21, 2024
 
*** This is an optional coverage and may not be available in all states.
 
2 Medical payments are calculated on the basis of usual, customary and reasonable charges.
 
3 Bankrate, “Average homeowners insurance cost in November 2024”
** Average savings amounts based on information reported by customers who switched to The Hartford from other carriers between 9/1/22 and 8/31/23. Your savings may vary. Average auto insurance savings is $577 and average home insurance savings is $236. Rate differences for AARP members and non-members vary by state and AARP membership tenure. Auto/Home discount is available only to policyholders who have both their auto and home (or condo or renters) insurance through the AARP Auto & Home Insurance program from The Hartford. The Hartford does not write new business in all areas, including the states of CA and FL.
 
§ Availability of RecoverCare benefit and benefit levels vary by state. The Hartford RecoverCare Advantage® is a registered mark of The Hartford.
 
§§ Terms and conditions apply.
 
‡ Terms and conditions apply. Accident Forgiveness and the Disappearing Deductible are not available to CA policyholders.
 
‡‡ Terms and conditions apply. Availability varies by state.
 
‡‡‡ Based on one car and driver; individual rate/premium/savings will vary based on actual coverage selections and characteristics of vehicle(s)/driver(s).
 
Additional disclosures below.
AARP® Homeowners Insurance
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Summaries of coverages and policy features are for informational purposes only. In the event of loss, the actual terms and conditions set forth in your policy will determine your coverage.
 
AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states.
 
The AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in AZ, MI and MN by Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast; in CA, by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company; in WA, by Hartford Casualty Insurance Company; in MA, by Trumbull Insurance Company; and in PA, by Nutmeg Insurance Company and Twin City Fire Insurance Company. The AARP Home Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in AZ, MI and MN by Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast; in CA by Property and Casualty Insurance Company of Hartford; in WA, by Trumbull Insurance Company; in MA, by Trumbull Insurance Company, Sentinel Insurance Company, Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest, and Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company; and in PA, by Nutmeg Insurance Company. Home product is not available in all areas, including the state of FL. Savings, benefits and coverages may vary and some applicants may not qualify. The Program is currently unavailable in Canada and U.S. Territories or possessions.
 
1 In Texas, the Auto Program is underwritten by Redpoint County Mutual Insurance Company through Hartford of the Southeast General Agency, Inc. Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates are not financially responsible for insurance products underwritten and issued by Redpoint County Mutual Insurance Company. The Home Program is underwritten by Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast.
 
* Customer reviews are collected and tabulated by The Hartford and not representative of all customers.
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