Outdoor Living Space & Your New Bedford Home Insurance Policy
One of the most popular home improvements of 2020 was to add outdoor living space. Backyard pools, dining areas, living rooms, kitchens, and other home entertainment areas are a great way to expand the amount of useable space without having to put on a whole addition. Depending on the contractor you hire, this type of work might be known as hardscaping or non-organic landscaping. Whatever you call it, homeowners in Massachusetts have embraced this type of home remodeling project to create a unique space of their own. Specialty features like built-in barbecues, fire pits, audio and video equipment, and comfortable spa-like furnishings, can make it the space where everyone wants to be, when the weather cooperates.
Many of these projects can increase the value of your home, making it easier to sell or fetch a better price in the future. However, the first thing you should do is contact your insurance agency in New Bedford to discuss any changes that should be made to your MA home insurance policy. You’ll want to make sure that your current New Bedford home insurance policy adequately covers the new work that you have done in case of a covered claim. Your friendly and knowledgeable agent at Borden Insurance can answer any questions that you might have about home insurance in Massachusetts. We can help you choose the policy and level of coverage that suits your needs, providing protection for the things you value most.
Insurance Terms: Other Structures
Some policies might use the term “other structures” when defining what is covered in your New Bedford home insurance package. This typically refers to other structures that are located on the property, whether they are attached to your home like a garage or detached like a backyard shed. Some examples of outdoor living space projects that fall into this category include gazebos, pergolas, screened-in patios, three-season patios, and other covered areas. Outdoor spaces that are not covered by a structure in some way may also be included, such as pools, spas, fire pits and built-in seating areas, brick pizza ovens, and outdoor fireplaces. However, in Southeastern Massachusetts, year-round use will all but require some type of protective roof or structure for many of these projects.
The term “other structures” usually means that in addition to your home, these other structures and outdoor features will be covered by your current MA home insurance policy. Your best bet is to read over the fine print to make sure that it will provide protection for a specific type of outdoor living space, such as a pool or a spa, and to find out if any additional security or work needs to be done by you for it to qualify. In some areas, a specific type of locking mechanism for a safety gate around a pool or backyard that contains a pool may be needed. The same could hold true for an outdoor fireplace, fire pit, built-in grill, pizza oven, and other cooking elements. Borden Insurance Agency in New Bedford can help you work through all the details and provide advice for homeowners in Massachusetts to ensure that you get the best possible coverage for your entire home and surrounding property.
Typical Outdoor Features
Some of the outdoor living space and storage features that we see most in New Bedford home insurance policies include in-ground swimming pools, gazebos, fencing, detached garages, sheds, and pergolas. The rule of thumb usually surrounds more of whether the item is a permanent structure or something that is not permanent. Examples of structures that are not permanent include above-ground spas and swimming pools. Freestanding items may be insured separately and added onto your MA home insurance policy or covered by the manufacturer like an appliance or electronic item. The guidelines surrounding coverage for non-permanent items can vary widely between states and regions, so your best bet is to contact your trusted, local insurance agency in New Bedford and speak with an agent about your specific policy and needs.
Whenever you add a new feature, whether it is an outdoor living space project or an updated kitchen, make sure to contact your local insurance agent. You will want to add the new items to your policy or at least find out if they can be added. Most premiums for New Bedford home insurance are based on the value of the property that is covered in the policy, so if you upgrade from a basic linoleum floor in the kitchen to travertine tile, switch out your French tile countertops and install granite, you will want this noted in your policy. If you do not update your policy and then experience damage from a storm or a fire, your insurance for homeowners in Massachusetts may not pay out your full claim. You might only be compensated for the value of the old flooring and old tile that the provider knows about from your policy instead of the new materials that were recently installed.
Contact Borden Insurance
To learn more about coverage for New Bedford home insurance or to receive a FREE quote on a new MA home insurance policy, contact our team at Borden Insurance Agency. Our team of highly trained and experienced agents can get the best coverage for homeowners in Massachusetts. Call today at 508-999-3636 to work with an agent to develop a protection plan designed to suit your needs and budget at Borden Insurance Agency in New Bedford.