Homeowners insurance provides financial protection against casualty losses, unplanned disasters or damage to the home or personal property and from liability damages to other people or property. Homeowners insurance is a package policy. This means that it covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or members of your family cause to other people. This includes damage caused by household pets. Damage caused by most disasters is covered but there are exceptions. The most significant are damage caused by floods, earthquakes and poor maintenance. You must buy two separate policies for flood and earthquake coverage. Maintenance-related problems are the homeowners' responsibility. Homeowners insurance is required by the lender and may be included in the monthly mortgage payment.

Homeowner’s policies are designed to provide financial protection in the event of damage to your home, such as fire or water damage. Your policy will also protect your personal property, such as furniture that is damaged as a result of a fire, or the theft of electronic equipment. In addition you will be protected from liability as a result of homeownership, such as a visitor who slips on your icy steps and breaks an arm.

What Is Covered by a Typical Scottsdale Home Insurance Policy?

Your Scottsdale homeowners insurance policy will offer coverage for different potential events associated with your home. The policy will include coverage for

• Liability protection
  
  
• Coverage for your personal belongings
  
  
• Coverage for the structure of your home
  
  
• Additional living expenses in the event you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of a fire or other insured disaster.

What Are the Different Types of Scottsdale, Arizona Home Insurance Policies?

In Arizona and many other states they have 6 basic types of homeowners insurance policies. Each one covers something different and it is best to go through and determine which home insurance policy is best for your.
 
HO-1. Basic homeowners
This Scottsdale homeowners insurance will cover your personal property and house against 11 predetermined perils. These perils are Fire or Lightning, Smoke, Windstorm or Hail, Theft,  Vandalism or Malicious mischief, Riot or Civil Commotion, Explosion, Airplane Crash, Damage from Vehicles, Damage by Glass from a Building, Volcanic eruption. This type of coverage is no longer available in most States.

HO-2. Basic homeowners plus
This Scottsdale Homeowners policy covers your home and property against the 11 previously mentioned perils plus 6 more. The new 6 are falling objects, The weight of ice, snow or sleet, water or steam discharge from plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or automatic fire-protective sprinkler system, or from a household appliance.

HO-3. Extended or special homeowners
Is the most popular Scottsdale homeowners insurance. The policy covers the 17 perils mentioned above plus any other peril not specified in your policy. There are some exceptions and those perils specifically excluded. These excluded perils can be war, flood and earthquake and nuclear accident.

HO-4. Renters coverage
This policy is specifically for those people in Scottsdale, AZ who rent. This policy covers the renter’s personal property and possessions from the 17 listed perils. It also covers any section of the apartment that the renter owns. This could be new doors installed, or any new fixtures installed by the renter in the apartment.
 
HO-5. All risk coverage for building and personal property
This policy form isn't sold much these days.

HO-6. Condominium coverage
This Scottsdale home insurance policy is specifically for people who own a Condo or a Co-Op. this covers the policy holder from the 17 different perils as mentioned above. Also covered are personal property, possessions and the structural sections of the Condominium.

HO-8. Basic older home
This type of the home insurance policy is specifically designed for older homes. It covers the home owner’s house and personal property from the 11 perils mentioned above. In the event of some damage should occur, the policy covers the property for damage on an actual cash value basis. This means how much it would cost to replace the damaged item, less the depreciation as adjusted to the old home.

What Does Scottsdale Homeowners Insurance Cover?

To know what is covered by your Scottsdale home insurance policy, it is always good to read and understand the policy to know exactly what category of coverage you have purchase, or which is afforded to you. Everyone’s insurance policy is different but aside from your home being protected from the perils mentioned above, your home is subject to coverage of the contents located inside.

It is always good to have your contents of your house catalogued or have some type of proof to show the insurance company in the event something should happen to your home.  Taking pictures, videotaping or keeping a list of your items on a computer are just a few of the ways home owners can ensure their property is recorded. The recorded information should be stored and kept safe in the event of a disaster'

What Scottsdale Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover?

There are some perils that will not be covered by your Scottsdale home insurance policy. These perils are often times geologically based and the home owner will have no coverage in the event that one of these perils should occur. The home owner has to purchase separate insurance to be covered for these perils. The perils not covered are:

• Flood
  
  
• Earthquake
  

• Landslide

• Subsidence

• Maintenance Damage

Flood

Scottsdale home insurance does not cover damage to your home and property due to flooding.  If you live in a flood prone area or you feel that your home could be susceptible to water damage from flooding, then the home owner should purchase the according insurance that can cover their home for this type of damage.

Earthquake

Earthquake damage to your belongings or property is not covered under your Scottsdale homeowners insurance coverage. If your home owner’s policy does not provide this Earthquake coverage can be purchased as a separate policy.  It is not mandatory for your mortgage and if you live in a region with very few or no earthquakes, then often times you do not need it.

Landslide

Scottsdale homeowners insurance does not cover your home against landslide damage. Anybody who intends to buy or build their home on sloping land should be cautious and be prepared in the event of a potential landslide. To be protected against this type of peril, it is best to purchase a home that is located in an area that is not landslide prone.

Subsidence

Subsidence is not covered by your Scottsdale home insurance. Subsidence usually occurs in areas where there has been extensive mining. This means your house could be prone to slow or sudden collapse of the land below the structure.  It is best to avoid areas that have been mined, if that is not the case. There is a separate insurance available to insure your home against subsidence.

Maintenance Damage

Your homeowners policy will not cover the house in the event of lack of maintenance. If the owner does not provide the natural maintenance of the house then the insurance will not cover aspects of this. If your home is infested with termites, that is up to the responsibility of homeowner