Table of Contents
- Are windows covered under a standard New Jersey homeowners insurance policy?
- When does New Jersey homeowners insurance cover windows?
- What will it cost me if New Jersey homeowners insurance doesn’t fully cover my windows?
Are windows covered under a standard New Jersey homeowners insurance policy?
I just bought my first home in New Jersey, and I’m curious about what all is covered under my insurance. There are so many disasters that could badly damage or destroy my windows, and I know they’re pretty expensive to repair or replace out of pocket. I could also be forced to live elsewhere while awaiting repairs on my windows should something happen. Are windows covered under New Jersey homeowners insurance?
The answer is yes, in many cases. As long as the cause of the damage or destruction of the windows is considered a covered peril by your homeowners policy, you’ll have coverage. The thing is, while many disasters that could cause window damage are covered under most standard policies, there are certain things insurance companies just won’t cover. We’ll explore exactly what standard New Jersey homeowners policies cover in the next section.
When and how does New Jersey homeowners insurance cover windows?
The cause of the damage to your windows will determine whether or not your insurance covers them. For example, a couple of natural disasters are excluded under homeowners insurance, while many others are typically covered. Let’s take a closer look at the most common covered scenarios pertaining to windows for a better understanding.
Standard New Jersey homeowners policies provide coverage for windows in the following scenarios:
- Falling objects: In the event a stray object falls and strikes your windows, you’re likely to be covered. This includes trees from your yard or even from your neighbors’ yards.
- Aircraft damage: Though (hopefully) unlikely, if an airplane falls out of the sky or crashes into your house and shatters your windows, you’re likely to be covered.
- Vandalism: If someone damages your windows with graffiti or smashes them during a Halloween toilet-papering prank gone wrong, you’re likely to be covered.
- Water damage: If you suffer water damage, as long as it’s due to a covered peril (e.g., a leak that occurs due to a buildup of snow or ice that doesn’t melt quickly enough), you’re likely to be covered.
- Fire and smoke: In the event of a fire, your windows are covered not only against damage caused by the heat and flames, but also by the smoke. Additionally, any water damage accumulated while attempting to extinguish the fire is also covered.
- Explosion: In another (hopefully) rare scenario, the event of an explosion within or around your home that damages/destroys your windows will likely be covered.
- Covered natural disasters: In the event one of several commonly covered natural disasters (i.e., windstorms, hail, lightning, fire, and blizzards) damages/destroys your windows, you’re likely to be covered.
Take note that homeowners insurance does not protect against damage from floods or earthquakes. Special, separate, insurance policies are required to protect windows from those disasters.
In the event you’re temporarily displaced from your home while awaiting repairs on your windows, your standard New Jersey homeowners policy will provide coverage for additional living expenses. Additional living expenses covered include things like hotel room fees, costs for eating out and laundry services, extra gas mileage, and more.
What will it cost me if New Jersey homeowners insurance doesn’t fully cover my windows?
After paying your deductible, you’ll be responsible for paying any amount exceeding your New Jersey homeowners policy’s limit for the dwelling category of coverage. This limit will be determined by your specific policy, but it’s often 10% of your home’s total value. So, if you’ve got a $300,000 home, coverage for your windows may be limited to $30,000. However, you can purchase additional coverage to increase this limit.
Standard New Jersey homeowners policies come with a deductible that’s typically 1% of the home’s value — so if your home is worth $300,000, you’d likely need to surpass $3,000 in combined damages to your windows and other areas of the home’s structure before your insurance will start reimbursing you. However, an experienced New Jersey independent insurance agent can set you up with a policy that has a lower deductible.
Article Reviewed by | Paul Martin
www.iii.org
© 2024, Consumer Agent Portal, LLC. All rights reserved.