North Charleston, SC Home Insurance

The City of North Charleston is home to more than 112,000 people. With its low unemployment, thriving arts and culture scene, and affordable housing, many find this city to be a great place to buy a house. If you are among the proud property owners in this vibrant community, you will want to be sure to protect your investment with a suitable homeowners insurance policy.

When you are shopping for the right insurance coverage for your North Charleston home, a local independent insurance agent can help. If you want to get answers to your insurance-related questions and easily compare customized homeowners insurance quotes, find an independent insurance agent near you to get started.

How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cost in North Charleston, SC?

Home insurance prices in the state of South Carolina are higher than the national average, but in North Charleston, rates tend to be lower. This is great news for North Charleston residents who are looking for an affordable policy. Let’s take a look at a rate comparison:

National average yearly premium: $1,211
South Carolina average yearly premium: $1,269
North Charleston, SC average yearly premium: $1,140

Your actual home insurance quotes are likely to differ from this average rate. This is because costs are calculated on a case-by-case basis and will be based on several factors such as:

The size of your home, the year it was built, and the materials used in its construction
The type of home you are insuring (e.g., single-family detached house, multi-family home, condo, mobile home, etc.)
The crime rate and weather risks in the ZIP code where your house is located
Your claims history and credit score
The amount of your deductible
Whether you are bundling your homeowners coverage with other policies like car insurance or life insurance

Comparing rates lets you choose the homeowners insurance policy that offers the best price for the coverage you need. Independent insurance agents in North Charleston make comparison easy.

What Are the Risks Faced by Homeowners in North Charleston?

Your home insurance policy is designed to cover your property against most of the damaging risks you are likely to face as a homeowner in North Charleston. This includes coverage against hazards like accidental fires, hurricanes, tropical storms, hail, and high winds.

Catastrophic Events in South Carolina

Number of federally declared disasters in South Carolina: 38
Most common reasons for disasters in the state: Hurricanes
Average number of tornadoes per year in South Carolina: 27
Average amount of property damage per year in SC: $891.8 million
1 in 15 insured homes has a claim each year.

Be aware that although it is a very real risk in North Charleston, flood damage is not covered by homeowners insurance. This is true even if the flood is the direct result of storm surges and heavy rains caused by a covered hurricane. Residents with homes near the Cooper River and the Ashley River are most at risk, but flash flooding can happen anywhere. In fact, according to FEMA, more than 20% of all flood claims filed are for properties that are not located in designated flood zones. Fortunately, you have the option to supplement your home coverage with a separate flood insurance policy.

Talk to your local insurance agent for help determining how much property insurance is appropriate and for help securing an affordable flood insurance policy.

Why Is Liability Insurance Important for North Charleston Homeowners?

In addition to covering your home and property, homeowners insurance also provides you with personal liability protection. This liability insurance is designed to cover expenses such as court costs, legal fees, and financial damages if you are sued for any of a number of common covered events. Examples of times your homeowners liability insurance can cover you include:

If a visitor to your home is severely injured in an accident on your property
If your child or pet causes significant injuries or property damage to someone outside your household
If your lawnmower kicks up a rock and it damages your neighbor’s picture window
If you are accused of libel or slander
If an errant golf ball causes injuries or damage to another while you are hitting the links at the Wrenwoods Golf Course

If you want more liability coverage than your home insurance can provide, you can supplement your homeowners insurance with an affordable umbrella insurance policy. Talk to your insurance agent to learn more about what homeowners liability insurance can do for you.

Does North Charleston Homeowners Insurance Cover against Burglaries?

The burglary rate in South Carolina is higher than the national rate, and in North Charleston, the risk is even higher. Residents of this city report about 900 burglaries every year.

Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in the US: 3.76
Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in South Carolina: 5.80
Number of burglaries per 1,000 homes in North Charleston: 7.55

You can take preventive measures to lower your risk of being targeted by burglars, such as by keeping doorways unobstructed and well-lit by putting lights on timers while you are away. Burglar alarms are among the most effective theft deterrents. In fact, many insurance companies offer policy discounts to homeowners who have installed home security systems.

Of course, nothing is foolproof. If you are the victim of a burglary, you may take comfort in knowing that your homeowners insurance can reimburse you for your losses as well as for any resultant damages to your home.

Be sure to keep a copy of the police report, because you will need it when you file a claim. Your local independent insurance agent can offer guidance and support throughout the claims process if you need assistance.

What about Insurance for Second Homes and Vacation Homes?

Some residents of North Charleston own more than one house. They may be vacation houses far from North Charleston, or they could be rental properties nearby that are used on a temporary basis by tourists or as homes for local families. Either way, these houses will have additional risk factors that insurance providers will consider while calculating rates.

Frequently, these extra properties will need to be covered by different kinds of insurance policies.

Vacation homes that are left unoccupied and unmaintained for long stretches of time have an increased risk of sustaining significant property damage due to severe weather events, animal activity, and property crimes. These houses will typically need to be covered by vacant home insurance during the times that they are not in use.
Second homes that serve as rental properties have higher liability and property damage risks, but these properties also require less in the way of contents coverage. Landlord insurance provides the right balance of coverage for rental homes and is usually required by your insurance provider if your property is occupied by tenants.

Talk to an independent insurance agent for help finding the best and most affordable policies to appropriately cover all of your residential properties.

Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent in North Charleston, SC?

Independent insurance agents make it easy to find the best homeowners policy to cover your North Charleston home. Unlike captive agents, independent agents are free to work with several different insurance companies so they can do the comparison shopping for you. That way, you can be certain that you are getting the coverage you need at a competitive price.

Contact an independent insurance agent in or near North Charleston to learn more. You can soon be comparing customized home insurance quotes from an assortment of highly-rated insurance providers.

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