I buying my first home in Georgia and need home insurance, what should I pay to have covered?

What do I need to ask to be covered in my home insurance plan?

Here are some things to consider and ask when comparing policies. What is the liability coverage limits? Do I need excess liability? What are the medical payment limits? Do you need more of either for your purposes (like do you entertain a lot, have hired help on your property, etc.) Does it include worker's comp (in CA it is mandatory) and it is mandated in your state? What is the coverage for out buildings (sheds), fences, yard ornamentation, etc. Are there mold and mildew restrictions? (Many insurers are excluding both after Katrina). Am I in a FEMA flood plane and do I require flood insurance? Do I need tornado insurance? Is wind damage covered? How are payments structured (i.e. do they have nuisance fees if the policy is not paid in full up front) and if so, is it recurring, a percentage or a specified amount per payment? Do I get a discount for: combining home and auto, fire and burglar alarms, being located close to a fire hydrant or fire station, fire proof construction (i.e. concrete roof shingles, metal framing), clearing a 100 foot defensible boundary, being a certain age, having no claims, having fire extinguishers in the kitchen and garage, etc. If going through a broker, ask how they are compensated, by commission you pay or commission paid by the company. If you are college educated, check with your alumni to see if they have an agreement with any certain insurer for discounts (same applies if you belong to professional membership organizations or a union). What is the personal possession coverage and do you require riders for special collections or jewelry or power tools in a workshop?

Home insurance policies are pretty standard, the only variables will be deductibles, contents, outside storage, etc. One thing to keep in mind if you live near the coast is that ins. policies do not cover water damage unless driven by wind. Therefore, if a hurricane blows your house down, you are covered (there are always exceptions), but if there is damage from storm surge or flooding, it is not covered unless you also have flood insurance.

I live in Georgia, and I think you will find coverage very reasonable as compared to some other states. I am with Allstate, and have been very pleased with their rates, plus they give you a discount if you combine your home/auto policies.

Take the highest dedubtible you can afford, because it really reduces your cost to insure.

Here's an excellent consumer advocate website to do some research:

http://clarkhoward.com/

Adam S, Home insurance covers lots of different things. I'm not sure about Georgia regulations, so I recommend you call a nearby home insurance agent. http://www.easyhomeinsuranceguide.com/Georgia-Home-Insurance.html. They will be able to assist you.