Welcome to the William A. Smith & Son, Inc. Insurance Answer Hub.

A standard home insurance policy covers your home’s structure, personal belongings, personal liability, and additional living expenses if a covered loss displaces you. The specific risks covered depend on your policy type and the coverages you select. Many Insurance Companies offer endorsements to the Homeowners insurance policy which can broaden the available coverage. Call us to find out more.

Home insurance is not required by law, but most mortgage lenders require you to carry a policy as a condition of your loan to protect their financial interest in the property. Homeowners who own their property outright are not legally obligated to carry coverage, though it is strongly recommended. Remember that homeowners policies include coverage for your personal liability, not just the replacement of the house and contents.

Your coverage amount is based on the estimated replacement cost of your home, what it would cost to rebuild it from the ground up at current labor and material prices, not its market value or purchase price, nor the land value. Our team uses tools to help you calculate the right coverage amount based on your home’s size, construction type, and features, or you can consult with a professional building appraiser.

A standard home insurance policy does not cover flood damage and must be purchased as a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer. If your home is in a designated flood zone, your mortgage lender may require you to carry flood insurance. Even if you are not in a designated flood zone, you should consider Flood insurance. Ask us to provide you with a quote when you work with us on your home insurance.