Published by RGC Insurance
The six coverages
| Coverage | What it pays for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| A — Dwelling | Rebuilding the house itself after covered damage: fire, wind, hail, burst pipes. | The limit must equal rebuild cost, not market value. Estimate it properly. |
| B — Other structures | Detached garage, pole barn, shed, dock, fence — usually 10% of A by default. | Up North translation: the pole barn often needs more than the default. |
| C — Personal property | Your stuff, everywhere in the world — typically 50–70% of A. | Special limits cap jewelry, guns, and collectibles unless scheduled. Replacement-cost contents beats actual-cash-value. |
| D — Loss of use | Hotel, rent, and extra living costs while the house is unlivable. | The quietly heroic coverage after a fire — check it isn't stingy. |
| E — Personal liability | Lawsuits for injuries or damage you cause — the dog, the trampoline, the slip on your ice. | Carry real limits; pair with an umbrella if you have assets. |
| F — Medical payments | Small no-fault-needed medical bills for guests hurt on your property. | Cheap goodwill coverage that heads off small lawsuits. |
What it doesn't cover (the surprise list)
- Flood — surface water needs its own policy. Lakefront? This conversation is mandatory.
- Sewer/drain backup — excluded until endorsed. Michigan basements make this endorsement near-essential.
- Earth movement, neglect, gradual seepage — maintenance is your job; sudden events are the policy's.
- Mold, mostly — covered when it follows a covered water loss, otherwise usually not.
- Business activity at home — the side hustle needs its own endorsement or policy.
The pattern in every disappointment we've ever seen: nobody read the policy until the claim. Fifteen minutes with an agent, before — that's the whole fix.