Does homeowners insurance cover renovations?
Updated 5:53 p.m. UTC Jan. 30, 2024
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Key points
- Homeowners insurance may cover renovations made before a covered loss, like a fire.
- Home insurance can help protect you financially from things like injuries and theft during a major renovation.
- Your contractor should have insurance coverage as well.
Are homeowners insurance coverage adjustments necessary?
Before a major remodeling project, you may want to consider adjusting your homeowners insurance coverage. While homeowners policies typically come with a set level of liability and personal property insurance, increasing these coverages before you renovate could be a good idea.
Whether you need to make adjustments depends on your project, but experts suggest looking closely at your coverage levels. “You certainly don’t want to be underinsured,” said Evan Walker, a personal injury and property damage attorney. “Before renovation, review your policy to ensure changes brought about by the renovation are covered. Look at both property damage and liability coverage. Both could come into play during renovations.”
Liability coverage
During construction, there are power tools, building materials and sharp objects everywhere, which means the potential for injury is real. And if you’re planning to tackle any renovations or projects yourself or with a friend’s help, make sure you have adequate liability and medical payments coverage in case someone gets injured. Contractors you hire should have their own insurance coverage if a worker gets hurt on the job or if your home is damaged as a result of their work, which we’ll discuss shortly.
Personal property coverage
While you hope it won’t happen, expensive items could accidentally be damaged during a home remodeling project. There may also be several strangers in your home at a given time, so unfortunately, there’s the potential for theft as well.
Check your coverage levels prior to your renovation project to make sure you’re protected in case the unexpected happens. Talk to your insurer about your plans and insurance needs, and supplement as needed if your current coverage levels fall short. You may also want to add a dwelling under construction endorsement if you’re putting on an addition, as this could provide coverage for the new space.
What insurance should your contractor have?
Any contractor you hire should be licensed and insured. Be sure to ask which types of insurance they have as you’re shopping around for quotes. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a professional contractor who holds both workers’ compensation coverage and commercial liability insurance.
Workers’ compensation helps cover costs if one of your contractor’s workers is hurt on the job. So if someone misuses a power tool and gets injured, for example, their medical costs and a portion of lost wages would generally be covered by worker’s compensation.
Commercial liability coverage helps protect your contractor’s business if they’re found legally liable for property damage or an injury. This type of coverage can cover expenses related to damage in your home, customer medical costs and legal costs if the contractor is sued.
Your contractor may also have builder’s risk insurance: This coverage offers protection if materials or tools are stolen or your home is vandalized during the renovation.
What types of renovations impact home insurance costs?
Different types of renovations can impact your home insurance costs in different ways. For instance, if you install a top-of-the-line home security system, your homeowners insurance premiums might decrease. Discounts may also be available for certain improvements, like installing a new roof or upgrading an old electrical system. Talk to your insurer to determine if you could save on your coverage due to your renovation.
While certain renovations might decrease the cost of your homeowners insurance coverage, others may increase the cost of your premiums. For instance, if you put a new addition on your home or upgrade your bathrooms, you might need to up your dwelling coverage level. This is because the new space won’t be covered by your old policy, or the cost to replace materials in your home will likely increase. You might end up underinsured if you rely on your old policy.
Home insurance renovation coverage FAQs
In the case of a DIY renovation that you work on with friends or family, take a good look at your homeowners insurance levels. Consider increasing your liability and medical payments coverage to offer added protection during your project.
Adding a dwelling under construction endorsement to an existing homeowners insurance policy may be a smart choice, especially if you’re adding on to your home. This coverage can help protect the new space and cover things like theft or vandalism. Talk to your insurer to help determine if this coverage is necessary for your situation.
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