Your homeowners insurance does not cover many costs. Unfortunately, most homeowners don’t know what damages are covered and what damages are not covered. If you are one among them you might be in for an unpleasant surprise if something untoward happens and your property suffers damage.

Most homeowners do not understand that they are vulnerable to catastrophes. They expect their home insurance to cover all costs. Unfortunately, that is not the case. For example, damages caused by flooding and earthquakes are not covered.

Here is a list of ten expenses that your home insurance is unlikely to cover:

Flooding

Private home insurance companies rarely provide protection against flooding. If you need that protection, you will have to get insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program supported by the federal government. Many homeowners, however, mistakenly believe that their private insurance covers flood damage.

Earthquakes

Most home insurance policies do not cover damages caused by earthquakes. However, if you live in an area prone to earthquakes, you will definitely want this protection. In that case, you need to buy an extra policy for it.

Simultaneous events

Two unfortunate events can damage your property at the same time. In this case, if one of the events is not covered by the policy, the insurer may decide not to cover the other event either. ‘Anti-concurrent causation’ is the technical term used to describe this situation. So, if your property suffered flooding and wind damages, you will have to bear the complete cost of repairs because flooding is not normally covered.

Emotional support

If your home was completely devastated by floods or fires, you may need emotional support. Insurance companies don’t provide that. However, you can find support groups online.

Deductibles

Deductibles are reportedly going up.  A deductible is the amount you have to pay for expenses and repairs. Your home insurance company will only cover the remaining costs. If deductibles go up, homeowners will have to shell out more money out of their pockets.

Invite multiple bids

If your home requires repairs, the insurance company may recommend specific contractors. A better strategy is to invite competing bids from different contractors, including those who are in no way associated with the insurer.

Cost of rebuilding

Your insurance policy has caps. That means there is a limit to the amount of money the insurer will reimburse. Don’t expect the insurer to bear the total cost of rebuilding the house. They won’t. Many owners, however, mistakenly believe that the insurance company will rebuild their home for them.

Lost wages

Filing for insurance coverage after the damage can be a time-consuming process. As a result, you will probably have to take days off work and may lose your wages.

Burst pipes

Burst pipes can cause damages and these damages are usually covered. However, if the owner’s negligence caused the pipes to burst, the insurer may refuse the claim. For example, if the owner forgot to drain the pipes during the winter season, they cannot file for damages.

Required upgrades

New laws require owners to upgrade the undamaged parts of their home while repairing the damaged parts. However, your policy may not cover these extra costs. In this case, you should consider getting an additional “ordinance or law” coverage.