In general, your homeowners, renters or condo policy doesn’t cover earthquake damage to property and personal belongings. That means the only way to protect your home from earthquake damage is to purchase added coverage.
Those of us who have homes in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles and other Southern California cities, live in an earthquake-prone area. If you’re not sure about getting earthquake insurance, you’ll need to weigh whether the risk of losing your home and not having coverage is worth the cost of the policy itself.
If you choose to get an earthquake policy, it's important to know what coverage you get. Here’s a list of the coverage with a standard policy:
- Dwelling: Covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your house and any attached structures (like a garage or patio)
- Other structures: Covers detached buildings on your property like a guest house. Other structures also cover swimming pools, hardscape and retaining walls.
- Personal property: Covers the cost of repairing or replacing damaged belongings, including furniture, clothing, appliances, and electronics
- Additional living: If an earthquake causes extensive damage to your home, you can tap into this coverage to pay for temporary living expenses while your house is undergoing repairs. If you rent your home out to others and it’s damaged, you may also be reimbursed for lost rental income
It’s important to note that an earthquake policy does not cover disasters caused by earthquakes like floods or fires.
At Ares Insurance we work with several carriers that supply earthquake insurance. Get in touch with us today to discuss what options are best for you.