Other structures coverage is a portion of your homeowners insurance policy. As the name suggests, it protects other structures on your property, either attached or detached.
For a greater understanding of how structures coverage works, here are the basics:
What does “other structures insurance” cover?
Structures like fences, gazebos, detached garages and in-ground pools all count as "other structures."
These structures are generally covered for the same perils as the rest of your home. These covered perils include fire, falling objects, theft or vandalism, snow and ice damage.
However, some policies include other structures coverage under an "open perils" policy. This provides coverage for any event which is not specifically excluded.
How much other structures coverage do you need?
A standard homeowners policy usually includes other structures coverage as a percentage of your main dwelling coverage. The average percentage is 10%, but you can increase your coverage if necessary.
For example, if you've added a high-value structure to your home, you might consider changing your policy to include more protection.
It's best to talk to a homeowners insurance agent for all the details about other structures coverage and the associated limits. They'll help you decide how much coverage you need to keep your assets protected.
About the Author
Carolyn Andrews
Carolyn Andrews has over 30 years licensed Brokerage experience in both California and Colorado. Born in England, Carolyn moved to California in 1980, then relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1991. Carolyn has also received recognition for Top Sales at RE/MAX Alliance Aurora in 2007-2008 and is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Chairman’s Club, as well as a recipient of the ReMax Lifetime Achievement Award. Carolyn has sold over 2000 homes personally in her career. Carolyn has been actively involved in many aspects of the Real Estate business including investment property, luxury homes, mountain resort property, skiin/ski out, REO/default management, loss mitigation, valuations, and disposition. She has been a speaker and panelist at several conferences and has been consulted on many occasions by various organizations in the REO/financial industries for her expertise and served on many boards. She has attended numerous ongoing classes to stay abreast of changes in the ever-evolving Real Estate industry. She is the prior State Director for Colorado for VAREP(Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals). She is a member of 3 boards of Realtors including Metro Denver, Colorado Springs and Summit County mountain areas. She heads up The Andrews Group and is or has been an active member of NAR, CAR,REOMAC, CIPS, CRS, AREAA, NAPW, NAHREP, and is an original member of the ELITEReal Estate network. She was ranked #1 for most homes sold in Denver 2007 by Denver Board of Realtors, #2 for 2008, and #2 for 2009, #5 in 2010 and #4 in 2011 and has been consistently in the top 10 ever since. Carolyn Andrews has been a top rated Endorsed Local Provider for the Dave Ramsey Organization and also a Top Producing agent for 2018 for the Homelight Company.
