Dwelling Insurance

What Is Dwelling Insurance?

Also known as main structure coverage, dwelling coverage is the part of your home insurance that pays to repair or rebuild your home’s physical structure (think: walls, floors, roof, windows, support beams, and foundation) when a covered incident damages it.

Not All Dwelling Insurance Is Equal

If you make a claim for damage to your home itself, the type of payout you'll receive depends on whether you have actual cash value coverage or replacement cost coverage.

Actual cash value coverage is typically cheaper, but it can also leave you high and dry when you need to repair your home. That's why Kin only sells replacement cost dwelling coverage. It pays out what it costs to rebuild your home and replace its elements at the current market rate.

Here's a better look at each type of coverage.

Actual Cash Value Dwelling Coverage

This type of coverage takes depreciation into account when calculating your payout. So say a fire completely destroys your home. The adjuster decides how much the house was originally worth, and then subtracts its depreciation. The remainder is the amount of money you receive to try to rebuild your life.

You end up saving some money with this option, but the payouts may pale in comparison to what you need to actually repair your home.

Replacement Cost Dwelling Coverage

This type of coverage can cover the cost to replace or rebuild your home with materials of similar kind and quality. So if you need to make a claim, you get the payout you need to repair or rebuild your home to its former glory. This is how Kin Insurance works.

How Much Main Structure Insurance Do I Need?

The amount of dwelling coverage you need depends on the cost to rebuild your home (including labor and materials) if the house is completely destroyed by a covered event. Our application automatically calculates and recommends the replacement cost for you, though you can adjust this amount.

Just remember not to underinsure your home. Your insurance is only worthwhile if you can depend on it in times of upheaval.

To get started, give us a call at 855-717-0022, or begin your no-obligation quote here.

What Does Dwelling Insurance Cover?

Standard main structure coverage typically covers damage caused by the following perils:

Fire or smoke
Hurricane
Hail
Lightning
Explosion
Water damage caused by burst pipes or overflowed household appliances
Theft
Vandalism
Falling objects
Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
Impact by aircraft or land vehicle
Riots

Different perils may have different limits (the dollar amount of coverage available), so read your policy! If you have questions about what your dwelling coverage can and can't do, just give us a call.

What Dwelling Insurance Doesn't Cover

Dwelling insurance usually doesn't cover damaged caused by the following:

Earthquakes / earth movement
Floods
General wear and tear
Lack of regular and proper maintenance
Infestations
War and/or nuclear hazards
Intentional loss
Smog, rust, corrosion, and rot
Settling, expansion, shrinking, or bulging

Learn about Our Coverage

You shouldn't need an advanced degree to understand your insurance policy. Learn about what a Kin policy offers, with real world examples, to provide clarity and provide peace of mind.

Coverage A - Dwelling Coverage

The dwelling coverage portion of a standard homeowners insurance policy pays for repairing or rebuilding your home’s physical structure such as walls, floors, roof, windows, support beams, and foundation if your home is damaged by a covered event (fire, wind, theft, etc.).