Important Things to Know About Home Insurance

* Have you replaced your roof, updated your heating, electrical or plumbing systems recently? Give your agent a call, you might be able to save money on your home insurance.

* If you run a business out of your home and/or have business property in your home, it may not be covered under your home insurance. It can usually be covered by a simple endorsement to your policy.

* Most vehicles and recreational vehicles are not covered if they are damaged while they are stored in your outbuildings or garage. Check with your agent to be sure you have the right coverage for your items.

* Most companies have limits on the amount of coverage provided for higher valued items such as jewelry, fine arts, collectibles, guns, tools, computers, etc... You can usually add coverage for these items in the coverage amounts you need.

* Identity theft has been making the news more and more lately. Most home insurance companies offer coverage for the costs associated with recovering your identity after it has been stolen. Some companies will automatically add it to your policy, most companies give you the option to add it if it is not included in their base policy.

* Home insurance does not cover sump pump overflow or sewer back-up. You can usually add this coverage to your policy. Sewer back up and sump overflow is one of the most commonly used coverages on home insurance. From a back up caused by a sewer pipe blocked by tree roots to a heavy rain that the sump pump can't keep up with, this coverage is important to have.

* Is your roof getting older or are you planning to replace it soon? Many companies offer an Actual Cash Value (ACV) endorsement for roof coverage. This endorsement can help lower your premium. Some companies automatically switch roof coverage to ACV after they reach a certain age. ACV coverage will not provide enough coverage to replace your roof. It will only give you the depreciated value of the roof.