Does Dwelling Policy Covers Lawns, Plants, Shrubs, and Trees?
When you own a home, it's essential to make sure that you have adequate insurance coverage to protect your property against loss or damage. However, many homeowners aren't sure what their insurance policy covers, especially when it comes to their landscaping. Does your dwelling policy cover your lawns, plants, shrubs, and trees?
What is Dwelling Insurance?
Before we dive into whether or not your dwelling policy covers your landscaping, let's start by defining what dwelling insurance is. Dwelling insurance, also known as homeowners insurance, is a type of policy that covers the structure of your home and its contents against damage or loss due to covered perils such as fire, theft, and natural disasters.
What Does Dwelling Insurance Cover?
Standard dwelling insurance policies typically cover the structure of your home, including the walls, roof, foundation, and attached structures such as garages and decks. It also covers your personal belongings such as furniture, clothing, and electronics. However, when it comes to your landscaping, the coverage is a bit more limited.
Does Dwelling Insurance Cover Landscaping?
In most cases, dwelling insurance policies offer limited coverage for your landscaping, including lawns, plants, shrubs, and trees. The typical policy will cover up to a specific amount for these items, usually between $500 and $2,000.
However, this coverage is generally limited to damage caused by specific perils such as fire, theft, or vandalism. Any other damage, such as damage caused by insects or disease, is typically not covered by your dwelling policy.
How Can You Increase Your Landscaping Coverage?
If you have valuable landscaping and want to make sure it's adequately covered, you have a few options. The first is to increase the amount of coverage for your landscaping under your dwelling policy.
You can contact your insurance provider and ask to increase the limit for landscaping coverage. This will increase the amount of money you'll be compensated for if your landscaping is damaged or destroyed, but it will also increase your monthly premium.
The other option is to purchase a separate policy known as a "personal articles policy." This type of policy provides more comprehensive coverage for specific items, including landscaping. However, it's important to note that this will also increase your monthly premium.
Conclusion
In conclusion, your dwelling insurance policy does cover your landscaping, including lawns, plants, shrubs, and trees. However, the coverage is generally limited to specific perils and a specific amount of money.
If you have valuable landscaping, it's essential to make sure you have adequate coverage. You can contact your insurance provider to increase your limit for landscaping coverage or purchase a separate personal articles policy. Either way, make sure you understand your coverage so that you can rest easy knowing your home and landscaping are protected.