About Home Coverage
Your Home Is Your Largest Asset — Protect It Right
A homeowner policy is not a commodity. Two policies with identical premiums can have dramatically different coverage — different deductibles for wind and hail, different replacement cost provisions, and different sub-limits for personal property. Hutchison Insurance Group reviews the details so you don't have to discover the gaps at claim time.
We place coverage for primary residences, secondary homes, vacation properties, and investment rental properties across Missouri and beyond.
Common Homeowner Policy Forms
HO-1
Basic Form
Named perils only. Very limited coverage. Rarely used today.
HO-2
Broad Form
Named perils for dwelling and personal property. More coverage than HO-1.
HO-3
Special Form
Open perils on dwelling, named perils on contents. The most common policy form.
HO-5
Comprehensive
Open perils on both dwelling and contents. Broadest standard coverage available.
Coverage Explained
Home Coverage Types — In Plain English
From the structure of your home to your personal belongings and liability — here's what each coverage does.
Dwelling Coverage (Coverage A)
Pays to repair or rebuild the physical structure of your home — walls, roof, floors, built-in appliances, and attached structures — after a covered loss such as fire, wind, hail, or lightning. Coverage should reflect the full replacement cost to rebuild, not market value.
Replacement cost and market value are different. Insure to rebuild, not to sell.
Other Structures (Coverage B)
Covers detached structures on your property including garages, fences, sheds, and outbuildings. Typically set at 10% of your dwelling limit by default, but can be increased — especially important on rural or acreage properties.
A detached garage or large workshop may need separate scheduling.
Personal Property (Coverage C)
Covers your belongings — furniture, clothing, electronics, appliances — against covered perils. Available on an Actual Cash Value (ACV) or Replacement Cost Value (RCV) basis. RCV pays what it costs to buy new; ACV deducts depreciation.
Always choose Replacement Cost Value for personal property when possible.
Loss of Use / Additional Living Expenses (Coverage D)
Pays for temporary housing, meals, and increased living costs while your home is being repaired after a covered loss. Typically 20–30% of your dwelling limit. Covers hotel stays, apartment rentals, and restaurant meals above your normal expenses.
Average home repair after a major loss takes 6–12 months.
Personal Liability (Coverage E)
Protects you if someone is injured on your property or you accidentally damage someone else's property. Covers legal defense costs and judgments. Standard limits are $100,000–$300,000. Consider an Umbrella policy for additional protection.
Dog bites account for over 1/3 of all homeowner liability claims.
Medical Payments to Others (Coverage F)
Pays medical expenses for guests injured on your property, regardless of fault. Limits typically range from $1,000 to $5,000. Helps avoid small claims from escalating into lawsuits.
This coverage applies even if you are not legally liable for the injury.
Water Backup & Sump Overflow
Standard homeowner policies exclude water backup from sewers and drains. This endorsement covers damage from backed-up drains, sump pump failures, and sewer line overflows — one of the most common and costly home claims.
Water damage is the #2 most common home insurance claim in Missouri.
Scheduled Personal Property
Provides broader coverage for high-value items like jewelry, firearms, fine art, collectibles, and musical instruments that exceed standard policy sub-limits. Items are individually listed and insured for their appraised value.
Standard policies often limit jewelry coverage to $1,500–$2,500.
Inflation Guard / Extended Replacement Cost
Automatically increases your dwelling coverage limit each year to keep pace with construction cost inflation. Extended Replacement Cost provides an additional 20–50% above your policy limit if rebuild costs exceed your coverage amount.
Construction costs have risen significantly — inflation protection is essential.
Personal Umbrella Policy
A separate policy that provides an additional $1M–$5M+ of liability coverage above your auto and home policy limits. Protects against catastrophic lawsuits, serious accidents, and large judgments that exceed underlying policy limits.
Umbrella policies typically cost $150–$300/year for $1M in additional coverage.
Equipment Breakdown
Covers the sudden and accidental mechanical or electrical breakdown of home systems and appliances — including HVAC systems, water heaters, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and electrical panels. Standard homeowner policies cover damage from external perils like fire or storm, but do not cover internal mechanical failure.
HVAC replacement alone can cost $5,000–$15,000 — equipment breakdown coverage is an affordable way to protect against that exposure.
Buried Utility Line Coverage
Covers the cost to repair or replace underground utility lines on your property — including water service lines, sewer lines, electrical lines, and gas lines — when they fail due to wear, corrosion, or accidental damage. Homeowners are responsible for underground lines from the street to their home, and standard policies do not cover them.
Utility line repairs can easily run $3,000–$10,000+ depending on depth and length of the line.
Sewer & Drain Backup
Covers water damage caused by the backup or overflow of sewers, drains, and sump pumps into your home. This is one of the most common and costly home insurance claims and is specifically excluded from standard homeowner policies. Available as an endorsement with limits typically ranging from $5,000 to $25,000.
Water backup claims are among the most frequent home insurance losses — this endorsement is strongly recommended for most homeowners.
Common Homeowner Policy Exclusions
Standard homeowner policies do not cover everything. These common exclusions catch many homeowners off guard at claim time:
Policy Terms
Home Insurance Glossary
Understanding your policy starts with understanding the language.
Also Under Personal Lines
Renters Insurance
You don't own the building — but you own everything inside it. Renters insurance protects your belongings and your liability at a price most people are surprised by.
Personal Property
Covers your furniture, clothing, electronics, and other belongings against fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils — whether the loss happens at home or away.
Personal Liability
If someone is injured in your apartment or you accidentally damage someone else's property, renters liability coverage pays for legal defense and judgments up to your policy limit.
Loss of Use
If your rental becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss, this coverage pays for temporary housing and additional living expenses while repairs are made.
Renters Insurance Is More Affordable Than You Think
Most renters policies cost less per month than a streaming subscription. Your landlord's insurance covers the building — not your belongings or your liability. A renters policy fills that gap.