What You Didn't Know About Detached Garages and Your Homeowner's Insurance

Today's detached garages are often beautifully, carefully crafted structures that families use for extra storage space, a home office, or even just extra room for the kids to play. With endless options including a single car garden A frame garage, 2 story single car garages, doublewide garages, and mega garages there is a perfect garage for whatever your needs. Many people meticulously plan their new garage, choosing the correct siding, selecting windows, and dreaming of intricately designed carriage style garage doors. However, there is one vital detail that is often over looked. Consumers often make the devastating mistake of assuming their new structure is automatically covered under their homeowner's insurance policy. 

Your homeowner's insurance policy will most often divide your property coverage into two categories, the dwelling and other structures. Coverage for the dwelling cover's one's home and attached structures. Generally, if a structure on the property shares a foundation with the main home, then it is covered under this portion of the policy. 

Homeowner's insurance companies define other structures as all other buildings on a property that do not share a foundation with the main home. This would include detached garages and storage sheds. The most important note to remember about this type of coverage is that standard policies generally only provide 10% of the dwelling insurance coverage. This means that if your home is insured for $150,000, then your other structures coverage could be as little at $15,000. 

When designing your ideal detached garage, it is important to discuss possible replacement costs with your builder. They are experts in the field that can help guide you in the amount of insurance that would adequately cover any possible damage and replacement of your detached garage. A thorough review with your insurance agent can help determine your coverage and assist you in adding the necessary coverage as needed. 

Contact us for assistance in selecting the perfect detached garage for your needs. Our friendly and helpful staff is proud to offer the best selection of hand-made garages by the best Amish craftsmen. They understand the importance of selecting a functional, aesthetically pleasing detached garage as well as ensuring your structure is protected for the future.