If you live in Minnesota, then you already know that extreme weather is bound to happen – and you had best be insured for it. Between powerful thunderstorms in spring and summer, and heavy snowfalls in winter, the Minnesota climate can be tough on the exteriors of homes in the Twin Cities and throughout the state.
The good news is that homeowners insurance policies will usually cover most types of weather damage to your house. However, this doesn’t mean that everything is covered, so certain types of storms could cause expensive damage that you have to pay out of pocket to have repaired. Continue reading to learn more about properly insuring your home in Minnesota for extreme weather.
Storm Damage Covered by Homeowners Insurance
Your first step should be to review your current homeowners insurance policy to determine exactly what types of weather events are covered. While policies may vary by provider, most homeowners insurance policies in Minnesota will cover:
- Damage from windstorms, including tornadoes
- Hail impact damage
- Damage from lightning strikes
- Roof damage caused by accumulation of heavy snow or ice
- Water damage that occurs when pipes freeze and burst
Make sure to check exclusions and limitations on these various types of weather damage. Some policies will have separate deductibles for specific types of damage, such as hail damage. It’s also wise to identify whether your deductible for extreme weather damage is a flat deductible or based on a percentage of your home’s value.
There’s one common type of damage from extreme weather that most Minnesota homeowners insurance policies don’t cover: water damage from flooding. If your home suffers water damage because of torrential rainstorms or overflowing sewers, it’s unlikely that your homeowners insurance will cover you for the cost of repairs. To ensure coverage if your home does flood, you can purchase a specialized insurance plan from the National Flood Insurance Program, as well as various private insurance companies.
Making Sure You Get the Best Insurance Coverage for Weather Damage
Taking certain measures will keep you prepared to get the best coverage from your insurance provider if damage does occur due to Minnesota’s extreme weather. Start by determining if your coverage of the home itself is sufficient to have the structure rebuilt should it suffer catastrophic storm damage. Remember that current construction costs will almost definitely be higher than whatever you paid for the home. Ask your insurance provider about extended or guaranteed replacement cost coverage; this can help you if rebuilding costs go beyond the limits of your policy because of inflation.
A good next step in this process is to verify that you have insurance coverage for your personal belongings. Next, compile a detailed inventory of all your valuable possessions. Vehicles, furniture, appliances, electronics, jewelry, and artwork are examples of things that should be included in this inventory. Take photographs and collect receipts of these items as proof of ownership. This will help you to seek reimbursement if extreme weather breaches the exterior of your home and damages all of the precious possessions you keep inside.
One more thing you should ask your insurance agent about is “loss of use” coverage. This is a part of an insurance policy which pays for your family to stay in temporary housing if your own home in Minnesota is temporarily uninhabitable due to an extreme weather event that is covered by your insurance provider. If you have loss of use coverage, make certain that the limits will cover temporary housing in your area.
A good final step would be to schedule an appointment with your insurance agent to sit down and discuss the ins and outs of your homeowners insurance policy. Find out exactly what sorts of storm damage your policy covers, and what level of coverage you can expect if storm damage restoration is required. This will help you to be fully prepared if the worst does happen to your home.
Dependable Storm Damage Restoration Company in the Twin Cities
In addition to making sure you have adequate insurance coverage, you should also find a reputable local storm damage restoration company to help you recover your property if needed. Give Arko Exteriors a call today if you’d like to learn more about our storm damage restoration services in the greater Twin Cities area!
