Our real estate agents at Josey Young & Brady Realty field all kinds of questions from new homeowners and those still exploring Atlanta homes for sale. One subject that comes up with increasing frequency has to do with insurance.

With all the confusion around other kinds of insurance products, like health insurance and car insurance, it's no surprise people wonder about homeowners insurance. Is it all it's cracked up to be? Or will they find themselves denied coverage when they need it most?

This is particularly important as more homes face intense weather.

Most lenders will not finance a home unless standard homeowners insurance is maintained. In theory, it helps you repair or replace your home and some of the things within it if a disaster strikes. That said, there are two caveats you need to know.

Depending on the details of your coverage:

• Repair or replacement may not be covered for all the items in your home

• Repair or replacement may not be covered for certain kinds of events

All these details are in your policy documents, which can be challenging to make sense of.

Let's delve deeper and see the most common categories of coverage:

• Dwelling Coverage
  Dwelling coverage is the biggest piece of your homeowners insurance policy. It can cover up to 100% of the cost of mitigating covered events. It commonly covers damage caused by fire and smoke, wind, lightning strikes, and hail. Other supplemental coverage may also be available.
  
  
• Other Structures Coverage
  Freestanding structures on your property that are not part of your house are typically included within your insurance coverage. These include things like a toolshed or a detached garage. Covered objects do not need to be "buildings" per se. Fences are often protected by this form of coverage.
  
  
• Personal Property Coverage
  If a covered event results in the loss of personal items such as electronics, clothing, or jewelry, costs may be reimbursed up to a predefined limit. You may also choose to purchase additional insurance to protect the full value of expensive items, which will need to be documented in detail.
  
  
• Liability Coverage
  Liability insurance covers unexpected harmful events that may befall other people in or around your home, such as invited guests. Coverage may include a guest's medical bills resulting from an accident in your home, an injured party's lost wages, and your legal expenses if you are sued.

Are You Protected Against Intense Weather?

Most homeowners insurance policies provide some protection against extreme weather.

However, don't assume you have all the protection you need.

For instance, your policy might protect you in the event of high winds but fail to provide coverage for floods resulting from sustained torrential rains. A policy you started even as recently as five years ago might not have been designed with today's extraordinary weather events in mind.

Many homeowners are now checking their policies for:

• Hurricane Deductibles
  Policies offering "all-risk" coverage may cover physical damage to the home caused by windstorms, even if hurricanes are not mentioned by name. A more expensive deductible may apply. If storm coverage is not explicitly mentioned, ask your insurer for information.
  
  
• Flood Policy
  Outside of coastal states, relatively few homeowners policies cover flooding directly. If you're concerned about floods, you can get more information from the National Flood Insurance Program. Just one inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damage, FEMA has said!

Homeowners are now more likely than ever to consider severe weather events and the overall climate situation as they choose where to live. Contact us to discuss your options in today's real estate market.