Are Outbuildings and Fences Protected by Home Insurance 

Home insurance is designed to cover a variety of structures, but each policy is unique. It is important to ask your insurance agent about your policy and make sure things such as outbuildings and your home’s fence are covered under home insurance. Most buildings aside from the physical home itself are covered in Other Structures coverage. 

What's Covered Under Other Structures? 

Other structures include fences, guest cottages, sheds and freestanding garages. While your home is covered under the dwelling portion of your home insurance, other structures coverage is a separate part of your policy with unique limits. It pays for damage to your fence due to a storm or vandalism. However, it won't pay for landscaping bloopers that ding or dent the fence. Limits for other structures caps off at a percentage of your total coverage — typically 10 – 20%. 

What Isn’t Covered Under Other Structures? 

Most home insurance is sold as a package of coverages. It's important to review your limits for each type of insurance since not all damage to fences and outbuildings falls under other structures. Also, you need to understand the events written into your policy — the only perils your insurer pays for. For example, if your home insurance, including the other structures section, usually doesn't cover damage due to earthquakes or floods.  

How Do I Pay for What’s Inside My Shed? 

The contents of your shed are covered under your contents coverage, which also pays for lost or damaged items in your home for insured events. How much you get back depends on how your policy is set up. For example, many policies cap the contents of your shed to 40% for actual cash value and 70% for replacement cost. 

Subrogation 

Under subrogation, your insurance company attempts to get restitution from another party. Let's say your neighbor cuts down an oak tree and it falls on your fence. Instead of waiting for the neighbor's insurance to pay for the damage, you can file a claim with your home insurance company. In turn, your insurer may sue your neighbor's insurance company to recover the funds. If they’re successful, you could get your deductible back. The insurer will recover the money they paid out. 

Connect with your insurance agent about making sure every part of your home is covered by insurance. Your home insurance needs are unique to you and your policy should be, too.