Homeowners Insurance in Florissant, MO
Experts break down home insurance costs, coverages, companies, and more for property owners in Florissant, Missouri.
Jeff Green has held a variety of sales and management roles at life insurance companies, Wall street firms, and distribution organizations over his 40-year career. He was previously Finra 7,24,66 registered and held life insurance licenses in multiple states. He is a graduate of Stony Brook University.
More than 50,000 people live in Florissant, Missouri. Whether you are a lifelong resident or you recently moved to this St. Louis suburb, you can protect the investment you have made in your house by purchasing a comprehensive homeowners insurance policy.
Local independent agents are free to work with some of the area’s top insurance companies as they shop around for the best and most affordable coverage for your Florissant home. Contact an independent insurance agent near you to start comparing customized homeowners insurance quotes.
What Is Homeowners Insurance, and Is It Required in Florissant, MO?
Homeowners insurance is a policy designed to protect you from financial losses related to liability lawsuits and cover loss or damage to your house and property, including things like clothing, furniture, jewelry, appliances, and electronics.
Although you are not required by law to have homeowners insurance, your lender will require you to carry it if you are still making payments on a mortgage or a home equity loan.
Homeowner insurance is optional if you own your home outright with no liens against it. Regardless of whether or not it is required, this coverage is highly recommended because it protects the investment you have made in one of your most valuable possessions.
How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cost in Florissant, MO?
Overall, homeowners insurance rates in Missouri State are a bit higher than the national average. However, in Florissant, rates tend to be lower. This is great news for area residents who are looking for an affordable policy.
- National average yearly premium: $1,211
- Missouri’s average yearly premium: $1,285
- Florissant’s average yearly premium: $980
Of course, an average rate can only give you a ballpark idea of how much a policy will cost you. Insurance companies base their premiums on factors like:
- Your home’s age, rebuild value, and size in square feet
- The estimated value of your personal property
- Your insurance claims history and credit score
- The crime rate and weather risks where your home is located
- Whether you are bundling your coverage with other policies like car insurance or motorcycle insurance
- The size of your deductible
Every insurance company has a different way of assessing risk and calculating rates. You can therefore expect to be quoted a different price for coverage by every company you contact.
Comparing customized quotes from a few competing insurance providers lets you choose the policy that provides the coverage you want at the most competitive price. Independent insurance agents in Florissant make comparison shopping easy.
Where Can I Find Cheap Homeowners Insurance Near Me?
You may believe that purchasing the cheapest homeowners insurance policy you can find is a good way to save money. However, this is not necessarily the most cost-effective way to insure one of the most expensive assets you own.
Skimping on your home insurance coverage can save you a few dollars on your monthly payments in the short run. However, if a disaster causes significant damage to your house, your cut-rate policy can end up costing you far more than you’d ever saved.
The cheapest policies typically come with very high deductibles and limited coverage. They may also be written by insurance companies that provide poor customer service and a slow and cumbersome claims process. This makes these policies have less value than their slightly more expensive counterparts.
Independent agents can help you review policies and rates from a variety of reputable insurers only. That way, you can rest assured that no matter which policy you choose, you will have the coverage you need when you need it.
What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover in Florissant, MO?
Homeowners insurance protects your personal finances and the investment you have made in your property in three ways:
- By covering your house and personal property
- By covering costs associated with displacement
- By covering against liability lawsuits
Each of these coverage types is explained in further detail below.
How Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Your House and Property in Florissant, MO?
Your home insurance policy is designed to cover the cost of repairing, rebuilding, or replacing your house and personal property if it is lost or damaged by a covered event. Some of the covered risks that may affect property owners in Florissant include:
- Property crimes: Your policy can cover loss or damage caused by crimes like burglary and vandalism.
- Fires: Your policy can cover damage caused by flames, smoke, and firefighting efforts, whether the fire was caused by an accident in your home or an external cause like a wildfire or lightning strike.
- Water damage: Your policy can cover damage caused by perils like frozen pipes, leaky roofs, and damaged windows, but it will not cover water damage caused by floods.
- Falling objects: Your policy can cover repair costs if your house or property is damaged by falling objects like hail, branches, or uprooted trees.
- Severe weather: Your policy can cover damage caused by events like lightning strikes, thunderstorms, windstorms, tornadoes, heavy snows, ice accumulation, and prolonged freezing temperatures.
You should have sufficient dwelling insurance to fully cover the cost of rebuilding your house and enough contents insurance to enable you to replace all of your personal property. Doing so ensures that you will be suitably protected if a catastrophic event like a fire or tornado destroys your home.
How Does Loss of Use Insurance Cover against Displacement in Florissant, MO?
There is a very high risk of tornado activity in the Florissant area. An average of three tornadoes touch down within 30 miles of this city every year. One of the most destructive to hit this city was an F4 twister that caused around $25 million in damage in 1967.
If your house is in the path of a tornado, or if another disaster like a structure fire impacts your home, the damage is likely to be bad enough to render it unsafe for occupation. In this case, you would need to find alternate housing while repairs are made. Loss of use insurance can help.
Loss of use insurance, an integral part of every home insurance policy, is designed to cover your extra living expenses if a covered event damages your house and leaves it uninhabitable. While your house is being repaired, your loss of use coverage can cover things like:
- The cost of a hotel or other reasonable accommodations
- Meals and groceries
- Moving costs
- Storage fees
- Laundry and dry cleaning costs
- Mileage reimbursement if you must drive further to get to work
- Boarding costs for your pets, if necessary
Your loss of use coverage can continue until it is safe to return to your house or until you have built or purchased a new primary residence.
Why Do Homeowners in Florissant, MO Need Personal Liability Coverage?
Anyone can make a mistake. Unfortunately, there are times when accidents, negligence, and errors in judgment can result in other people suffering serious injuries, property damage, financial losses, or other harm. If this happens, the injured party may sue.
Fortunately, your home insurance safeguards your property and assets by providing you with significant personal liability coverage.
Homeowners liability insurance is designed to cover expenses like legal defense fees, mediation costs, settlements, and judgments if you or someone in your household unintentionally cause harm to others.
If you want even more liability coverage than your home insurance can offer, you can also purchase an umbrella insurance policy. This is an affordable way to significantly boost all of your personal liability coverage.
What about Flood Damage in Florissant, MO?
As mentioned earlier, home insurance does not cover flood damage. According to FEMA, as little as one inch of rainwater in your house can cause as much as $25,000 in property damage. Lack of coverage against this risk can leave many homeowners feeling vulnerable.
More than 750 homes in Florissant have been identified as having at least a 26% chance of sustaining significant flood damage over the next 30 years. If yours is among them, you may want to think about supplementing your home coverage with flood insurance.
A local independent agent can help you assess your flood risk and, if needed, assist you with securing an affordable flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
How High Is the Risk of Burglary in Florissant, MO?
The burglary rate in Missouri is higher than the national rate, but the rate in Florissant is lower. This is not to say the risk does not exist. Residents of the city report around 175 burglaries a year.
- Number of burglaries per 1,000 people in the US: 3.76
- Number of burglaries per 1,000 people in Missouri: 4.45
- Number of burglaries per 1,000 people in Florissant: 3.16
Though it can be very stressful to be the victim of a property crime, it may give you peace of mind to know that your homeowners insurance can compensate you for stolen and damaged property. You will need a copy of a police report when you file your claim.
Burglar alarms and surveillance cameras can reduce your theft risk because they make your home less attractive to burglars. In fact, many insurance companies offer significant rate reductions to policyholders who have security systems installed in their houses.
Learn more about this and other potential home insurance discounts by talking to a local independent agent.
What Are the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies in Florissant, MO?
The home insurance companies that stand out above the rest are the ones that have consistently proven themselves by providing their policyholders responsive customer service, reliable coverage, timely claims processing, and competitive rates.
Independent insurance agents in Florissant have teamed up with some of the best homeowners insurance companies in Missouri. Therefore, when your agent presents you with a selection of policies and quotes, you can be confident that they are offered by trustworthy insurers.
How Can an Independent Agent in Florissant, MO Help Me Find Suitable Coverage?
Independent agents are ready to help you with all your insurance coverage needs. You can turn to one of these knowledgeable professionals for answers to your coverage-related questions, trustworthy advice, and help with finding the best and most affordable coverage for your Florissant home.
Arrange an obligation-free consultation with an independent insurance agent near you to learn more. You will soon discover how easy it can be to compare customized homeowners insurance quotes from multiple providers.
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/florissantcitymissouri/PST045221
https://www.homefacts.com/city/Missouri/St.-Louis-County/Florissant.html
https://riskfactor.com/city/florissant/2924778_fsid/fire
https://www.homefacts.com/city/Missouri/St.-Louis-County/Florissant.html
https://www.homefacts.com/tornadoes/Missouri/St.-Louis-County/Florissant.html
http://www.usa.com/florissant-mo-natural-disasters-extremes.htm#TornadoIndex
https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance
https://riskfactor.com/city/florissant/2924778_fsid/flood