Insurance to Protect Your Home

Home is where the heart is, and that is worth protecting. Whether you are renting an apartment or paying off your new home, we have coverage options to properly insure your living space and belongings. Life is unpredictable, but this doesn't mean you can't be prepared for potential losses with your home. By working with our licensed insurance agents, you can accurately and completely determine the cost to rebuild your home and replace the items inside. From storms and wildfires to theft, we have coverage options to cover potential risks facing every homeowner and tenant alike so you never have to worry about losing your livelihood.

Homeowner's Insurance

Owning a home is a huge milestone for many people. It is the cultivation of years of hard work and dedication, and is something to be truly proud of. This accomplishment should never be at risk due to unforeseen circumstances and your investment should always be protected. Homeowners insurance is a comprehensive policy that covers a range of potential risks that could threaten the safety, security, and livability of your home.

Originally called fire insurance, the purpose of Homeowners Insurance is to protect against natural risks such as wildfires or storms. In the event of a loss, Homeowners insurance covers the cost to rebuild and replace tangible things, including your personal property, separate structures, and the dwelling itself. An important distinction to make with any home insurance policy is prolonged losses versus sudden losses. Insurance is intended for sudden, unforeseen, and accidental occurrences, and does not cover things that happen over time. It may feel like insurance should cover mold growth, pest infestations, or rotting wood, but these things are simply part of the normal wear and tear of a home that can be reduced and resolved with proper care and maintenance. Understanding this difference can really help homeowners better prepare for potential risks, covered and not covered.

It is impossible to truly prepare financially for an unexpected loss on your own. What would you do if your house burned down tomorrow? Are you confident you have the right coverage to rebuild from the ground up? This can be a very scary situation for people that are underinsured, and our personal insurance team is here to help make sure your home is properly protected. Our licensed insurance agents work collaboratively with each homeowner to make sure that every nook and cranny is accounted for so you can feel confident that even in the worst-case situation, you can take care of your family and rebuild the home you love.

Your home is where you build memories, start a family, and create a life for yourself and those you love. We are here to help protect what you have worked so hard to build. Contact us today to speak with a licensed personal lines agent and see if your current Home Insurance is checking off all the boxes.

Manufactured Home Insurance

For some aspiring homeowners, a manufactured home is an affordable and flexible option that provides the freedom to set down roots anywhere. Manufactured homes offer simplicity in modern living that allows individuals to seamlessly achieve their dream of homeownership. At Nicholson & Associates, we understand the risks present for manufactured homes and have special policies designed to protect your new forever home.

When it comes to covering your manufactured home, there is little difference in the actual coverage on the insurance policy compared to a homeowners insurance policy. Manufactured Home Insurance comes with the same essential coverage options, including the dwelling, separate structures, personal property, and liability. Despite the similarities, a manufactured home cannot be covered with a standard Home Insurance policy. This is because the potential risks are greater for manufactured homes, and therefore come with their own set of parameters and costs to properly cover the structure. On average, manufactured homes are more susceptible to natural disasters because of the way they are constructed, which may mean greater losses in the end. This doesn't mean your insurance costs are guaranteed to be through the roof. With our licensed agents and numerous insurance carriers, we can find the right policy for you at a price that works for you.

If you're in the market for a manufactured home, we are here to help provide you with the insight and knowledge you need to make the best decision for you and your family. Contact us today to work with one of our licensed personal lines agents and see how Manufactured Home Insurance can easily fit into your budget.

Condo Insurance

As a condo owner, you have made your home in a community that suits your unique needs. Your condo insurance policy should be tailored to do the same. Our licensed personal lines agents understand the nuances of Condo Insurance and are well-versed in common requirements of the Condo Association. By working with a Nicholson agent, you can make sure you are meeting the community's expectations while simultaneously protecting your investment and property.

Like home insurance, Condo Insurance is designed to protect what you own and cover your liability. Unlike houses, though, the building containing the condos themselves is often owned and managed by a Condo Association. This makes your risk a little different because you are not financially responsible for rebuilding the condo if it is completely destroyed. You are, however, responsible for replacing the “walls in,” meaning any fixtures, cabinetry, countertops, and appliances. To properly cover these things, a Reconstruction Cost Estimate can be done with our licensed agents to determine how much coverage you need.

In the event of a total loss, you never want to be left with gaps in coverage. With our condo insurance policies, you can ensure that you have everything covered for yourself and your Condo Association. Contact our team to speak with a licensed personal lines agent and learn more about how Condo Insurance can protect you.

Looking to cover a Condo Association? We can help with that too!

Renters Insurance

One of the biggest perks of renting is that you are not responsible for the home itself. While owning a home is a wonderful goal, it does come with some maintenance obligations that can be quite costly. As a tenant, you never have to worry about a surprise bill for a broken water heater or having to save up to replace the roof. Although these concerns aren't present for renters, tenants still have potential risks they need to protect themselves against.

In most rental situations, you are responsible for purchasing all of your own furniture and possibly even the appliances. If the home or apartment burns down, the owner will use their insurance to rebuild the structure, but this doesn't cover any of your personal belongings. Having a renters policy allows you to protect all of your personal property so that you don't have to foot a costly and unexpected bill in the event of a loss. Additionally, you have coverage to secure another rental in the event your current home becomes unlivable after a loss, which can save a great deal of money and heartache.

Renters still face the same potential risk that every homeowner does: negligence. If an action causes damage or harm to someone else, then this could fall back on you with serious consequences. Even without owning a home, you still have assets and income to protect in the event you are deemed liable for injury or damage to others and should never risk these being liquidated in a lawsuit.

As a renter, you are living in a home that someone else owns and has a financial interest in and responsibility to protect. If you accidentally cause damage to their property, the owner will likely hold you financially responsible even if they have insurance to cover it. This can make for a costly and potentially life-changing mistake depending on the severity of the damage. By carrying liability insurance, you can protect their interest and yours simultaneously. Many landlords require a Renters Insurance policy from their tenants and may even request a minimum liability limit to safeguard their investment against accidental damages. Though it is always best to be a considerate tenant and take good care of the home, accidents happen, and when they do, you want to be properly covered.

Renting and ready to get covered right? Contact us today to speak with a personal lines insurance agent and find the right Renters policy for you.

Dwelling Fire Insurance

As a landlord, you have a vested interest in the properties you own and rent to others. Not only is the home an investment, it is a source of income for you and your family. Potential risks should never threaten your livelihood, which is where a Dwelling Fire Insurance policy can make all the difference. Whether your home is rented, unoccupied, or vacant, Nicholson & Associates has options to fit your every need and protect your property.

The primary purpose of Dwelling Fire Insurance is to cover just that: the dwelling. Since you do not live in the home yourself, you do not have a need to cover personal property or additional living expenses. The main concern is ensuring that the structures themselves are covered in the event of a loss. In the eyes of insurance carriers, the level of risk is different depending on the occupancy status. Our licensed personal lines agents fully understand the ins and outs of these differences and can help you find the best policy to cover your current situation.

Additionally, liability coverage is often included or available to add with a Dwelling Fire Insurance policy. Even though you aren't actively living on the property, there are still potential hazards and risks that could be tied to you. In the event someone is hurt on the property, you could be considered negligent and deemed responsible for covering their medical bills, even if they were never supposed to be on the property in the first place. It is important to do your best to minimize these risks as much as possible by taking precautionary measures such as adequate fencing, security cameras, and functioning locks. Unfortunately, there is a limit to what can be done to mitigate risk, which is why opting for higher liability limits on a Dwelling Fire policy is always a good idea.

For your additional properties, you want to make sure they are protected at the same caliber as your own home. Contact us today to speak with a licensed personal lines agent and learn more about how a Dwelling Fire policy can protect against unforeseen risks.

Interested in protection against natural disasters? Learn more about our Catastrophic Insurance Products to see how we can help cover your home in the event of a flood or earthquake.

Key Coverages