To help pay for repairs to your home if it is damaged by the unexpected, you purchased homeowner insurance. Your policy covers more than just your home. Your home insurance may cover your fence in many cases.
Your homeowners insurance provider does not provide blanket coverage for fence repairs. It depends on the reason for damage to fences. You might find it helpful to review your policy details. We have compiled a list of the most important information about fence insurance.
What portion of a home-insurance policy could cover fence damage?
You can also get personal property coverage and dwelling insurance for your home. You also get Other Structures coverage. This covers things that are not attached to your home, such as sheds, detached garages, and fences.
Your home insurance policy usually covers other structures, which is typically around 10% of your total dwelling coverage. If your home is insured for $400,000, then you might have $40,000 worth of coverage that covers fence repairs. To find out how much coverage you have, review your policy.
It can be useful to look at your policy to see what covered perils are. These are the situations in which your homeowners insurance will pay for expenses. Most home insurance policies cover fire and theft, but not floods or earthquakes.
Policies generally fall into one of two categories: policies that cover named perils or those that cover open perils. Your home insurance will cover damage if you have a named perils policy. Open perils provide coverage, unless the incident is excluded.
Both cases would have a deductible applied in the event that you need it. This means that your insurance provider will deduct the amount of your chosen deductible from the payout amount.
To understand the extent of your coverage, and what it would cost you, look at your policy. We also reviewed some examples to get you started.
What type of damage to fences is covered by your home insurance?
Here’s a quick overview of some common causes of fence damage, and how you can file a claim on your home insurance.
Wear and tear
Home insurance does not cover wear and tear on your fence or other parts of your home. You are responsible for maintaining your home.
If you fail to maintain your fence, your claim may be denied. Imagine a strong wind blowing over your fence. Your home insurance company will deny coverage if it finds that your fence is already falling apart due to the fact that you didn’t keep it up.
Tree falls on the fence
You can file a claim through your home insurance. If the tree falls on the property of a neighbor and your insurance company determines that your neighbor was negligent in tree maintenance, your neighbor may be sued to pay the damages.
Insurance companies might refuse coverage if your trees are not properly maintained and a limb falls on your fence.
Storms
Many home insurance policies provide coverage for damage caused by a hailstorm or windstorm.
If you live near a coast, or if there are a lot of hurricanes in your area, you might be unable to get windstorm insurance. To determine if you need to get windstorm insurance endorsement, or a separate policy for windstorms, review your policy details.
Vandalism
Vandalism is usually covered by homeowners insurance. Your policy should cover the cost of repairs to fences that are vandalized or graffitied.
A car smashed into the fence
Your home insurance may cover repairs to fences damaged by vehicles, but you can also make use of the property damage liability coverage that is required in most states. Their car insurance liability coverage should cover the property damage to your fence that they cause.
Termites
Homeowners insurance does not cover termites or any other pests or infestations. Termites are considered home maintenance by your home insurance company. This means that you will have to pay for the removal and repair of your fence.
How can you file a claim against fence damage?
Gather evidence. Take photos of the fence before you start to make repairs or clean it up.
Next, decide if you would like to call your home insurance company. You may be asked to contact your insurance company to have a claims adjuster inspect the fence before you begin repairs.
Your deductible is the most important thing to remember. Let’s say your home insurance deductible was $500. You may be tempted to file a claim if you believe the fence will cost only a few hundred dollars to fix. Why? Why?
You can file a claim if you believe the damage will exceed your policy deductible. Your insurance company should provide you with the next steps to file a claim.
FAQ
Do I need to inform my home insurance company that I have changed my fence?
You don’t need to inform your insurance provider if you are only updating the fence cosmetically. If you are planning to replace your fence, but you fear that the cost will cause you to have inadequate coverage for other structures, it is a good idea to review your policy and talk to your agent about your new fence.
What other coverage is available for other structures?
This coverage covers structures on your property that you don’t have attached to your home, as its name implies. This could include a detached garage that is fully finished or a shed. Coverage for other structures usually extends to driveways and in-ground swimming pools.
Are there enough coverage for other structures?
For coverage of other structures, you can usually get as much as 10 percent of your dwelling policy amount. The standard coverage limit may not be sufficient if you have multiple structures or high-value ones such as in-law quarters with a bathroom and kitchen, or a long fence. If this is the case, you should contact your insurance company to increase your coverage limit for other structures.