Home insurance riders, also known as endorsements, are optional additions that expand the scope of your existing policy. They allow for more specific coverage that standard policies may not fully provide.

You might consider a rider if you own high-value items like fine art, collectibles or electronics that exceed your policy’s coverage limits. You may also want extra coverage for identity theft or water backup damage.

Riders help bridge these gaps by allowing you to extend or adjust your policy to cover what matters to you.

What Are Common Types of Home Insurance Riders?

Here are some of the most common home insurance riders and what they offer:

• Scheduled personal property riders may cover expensive items like antiques, jewelry and musical instruments that aren’t included under standard personal property limits.

• Water backup coverage may pay for repairs after damage from a backed-up drain or sump pump.

• Identity theft riders may reimburse recovery costs related to identity theft, including legal fees and lost wages.

• Home business riders may expand coverage for business equipment and liability if you run a small business from home.

• Building code upgrade riders may cover the additional cost of bringing your home up to current building codes during repairs or rebuilding.

Additionally, you can add endorsements for specific natural disasters that may not be included in your base policy. Earthquake and flood damage are often excluded from standard policies, so if you live in an area prone to these risks, you’ll need either a separate policy or an endorsement to your existing policy.

Contact BIA & Company today to explore home insurance riders. Our agents can discuss your options and help strengthen your coverage.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.