By Alexander Standten


Deciding to remodel a home is not something that homeowners take lightly. It's usually pretty costly to do, and take a huge amount of time and effort. On the other hand, your home may be much more livable with a renovation, and the value of the home could also increase.

No matter the size of the renovation you are planning, there are many considerations involved. The budget needs to be sorted out, and you need to think about the timing of the work, and how long it will take. But before you get too far along in the process, keep in mind that your project could impact your home insurance.

Most standard homeowners policies allow for minor repairs and renovations without jeopardizing coverage but that doesn't go without possible exceptions. Prior to beginning your remodelling, take a look at your home insurance policy and speak with your insurance provider. Here are three areas that can leave you without coverage during a renovation:

If hiring contractors is part of your renovation plan, you must speak with them about insurance before they do any work on your home or your property. Liability insurance is important, so request proof that your contractor or subcontractors have this form of protection.

The main reason for this kind of insurance is to protect against liability which could cause serious damage to the home, or injuries to anyone involved. Go over the policy to ensure you know when it expires, the limits involved, and the extension of the coverage. It is something you should do, even though in the majority of states it is required by law. Accidents do happen at job sites and when they do, you'll want to make sure that the worksite and workers on it are properly insured.

Remember, insurance is an essential protection but you should be aware of potential safety risks around your property. Negligence claims can easily end up in court. Always hire safe contractors recommended by family and friends.

Before doing any work, you'll need to figure out how much the renovations will increase the value of your home. If the coverage is not increased, there will not be enough protection, and many homeowners fail to do this. Talk to your agent to make sure you're fully covered throughout and after the renovation.

During renovations, your home could actually be more vulnerable to theft or weather damages. If you're home requires extensive work, it may require you and your family live elsewhere during the renovation and if so, your standard homeowners policy may be rendered useless.

At this time it seems that many insurance companies will not provide protection for more than 30 days if the home is unoccupied for that amount of time. If this is the case in your situation, extra coverage will need to be purchased. You could be granted a vacancy permit by your insurance provider that covers wind and fire damage, as well as other stated perils. For further coverage, an insurer may offer vacancy insurance but many insurance companies are wary about insuring vacant homes due to the heightened chance of something happening. When your home is being renovated and will be empty for a time, be sure that you speak with your home insurance provider.




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