5 Things Not Covered By Your Homeowners Insurance In Georgia

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As an independent insurance agency based in Canton with clients throughout the state of Georgia, the number one question we get when our homeowner clients call after they find damage to their home is: Will this be covered?

Here at the Roberts Insurance Group, we use very comprehensive homeowners policies and coverage forms to help protect our clients' homes as much as possible. Even then, there will be some things that just simply aren't covered by any homeowners policy in the marketplace. Any time there is damage to your home that isn't covered, it is because it is explicitly excluded in your policy. 

Today, we're going over 5 common issues homeowners run into that aren't covered by homeowners insurance in Georgia. Note that, in some instances, these issues or causes of loss CAN be covered with a different (extra) type of policy or a special endorsement.

Flood

Here in Georgia, there is not a homeowners policy that will cover flood damage. You must buy a Flood Insurance Policy in order for that to be covered. Just because you don't live next to a lake, river, or ocean, doesn't mean your home isn't at risk of flood damage. What do I mean by that? For insurance purposes, water damage is considered flood damage if your home is damaged by water that comes from the ground. Here are a couple of examples:

• Obvious flood claim: Water from a nearby water source (lake, pond, river, stream, ocean) rises after heavy storms and causes water to enter your home. This is what most people think of when they think about flood damage.
• Not-so-obvious flood claim: After years of heavy rain and slight erosion, rainwater starts to get redirected to your home's foundation. Over time, water begins to seep through. After a week of heavy rain, you notice water damage in your basement as the result of water seeping through your foundation. 
  • This claim WOULD NOT be covered by homeowners insurance. You MUST buy a flood insurance policy to have coverage for something like this. 
• Clearly not a flood claim: There is a leak in your roof. After a heavy rain, the inside of your home was water damage. This IS covered by homeowners insurance as long as you haven't neglected to maintain your roof. 

Earthquake

Here in Georgia, damage from earthquakes are only covered if you have your homeowners policy endorsed with earthquake coverage. Some carriers do not even offer this endorsement but some do. Typically, you will be required to carry a pretty high deductible. Earthquakes aren't necessarily common here in Georgia but they do happen, so this may be something to consider discussing with your independent insurance agent. 

Construction Defects

This is something that is not covered by any homeowners policy in Georgia. In fact, there is absolutely no way to have this covered by endorsement or a separate policy. Construction defects can be described as faulty craftsmanship by a contractor or home builder that causes damage to your home. If a contractor uses faulty materials when building or fixing your home, this would fall into the construction defect category as well.

Example: you get a new roof for your home but the roofing contractor does not install your new roof properly, which leads to water leaks and interior damage in your home. Your insurance company MAY cover the damage to the interior and try to subrogate against the roofing contractor's General Liability policy. But the cost of getting your roof repaired and properly installed would fall on the homeowner. Of course, you could sue the contractor for the faulty work but it is not likely to get you the funds needed to get a new roof in a timely manner. 

Appliances (HVAC, Water Heater, Furnace, Refrigerators, etc.)

Appliances like those listed above are not covered by a Georgia homeowners policy if they break down or malfunction. If they were to leak and cause subsequent damage, the damage they caused can be covered but that is it. The only time these items can be covered under a Georgia homeowners policy is if they are stolen or struck by lightning. 

Even though they are not covered by Georgia homeowners policies, they can be covered with a special endorsement or by a home warranty. If you would like coverage for these things, we recommend you discuss your options with your independent insurance agent. 

Trees Falling On Your Property

This can be somewhat misleading to Georgia homeowners. On the majority of Georgia home insurance policies, there is coverage for tree removal. However, this coverage only applies if something else is damaged such as your home, other structures, or personal property. If you have trees fall on your property and nothing is damaged but it ends up costing $3,000 to have them removed, there's really nothing you can do expect do it yourself or pay someone to do it. However, if trees fall on your property and damage your home, other structures, or personal property, your homeowners policy will pay up to the sub-limit listed in your policy to have the trees removed. 

So How Can You Make Sure You Are Protected?

The best way to make sure you're protected is to discuss any concerns you have with your independent insurance agent. Here at the Roberts Insurance Group, we work with homeowners throughout Georgia to help them design a coverage plan that works best for them and their family to make sure they have as much protected as possible. 

If you have questions about your coverage or policy, we would love to help! We're located in Canton, GA and have clients throughout the state. Give us a call at 678-250-8133 or click below!

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