What You Need to Know About Mobile Homes and Home Insurance

If you have or are looking at mobile homes, your homeowners insurance needs will be different than that of other types of homes. Each type of policy works similarly, but you need to have the right insurance for your type of home. Mobile homes are of course much different from stationary homes, after all.

What Does Home Insurance Mean?

Even though it has the word home in it, home insurance doesn’t necessarily cover every type of home. Most policies that call themselves home insurance cover permanent homes built where they stand. Therefore, these policies don’t apply to specific types of dwellings like apartment, condos and mobile homes. These properties need their own policies to apply to the specific risks present.

Why Do Mobile Homes Need Separate Insurance?

The construction and placement of mobile homes mean their insurance risk is very different from those of a permanent home. Their lightweight construction and sometimes above-ground placement means they’re much more vulnerable to wind damage. They also can’t hold up to other disasters, like falling trees, as well. Finally, you may need coverage for while you’re transporting it, since these homes are often easily transportable.

What Does a Mobile Home Insurance Policy Include?

A mobile home policy can include all the traditional coverages available in a home insurance policy. The only difference is that the policy wording and pricing is slightly different.

• Liability coverage protects you if someone gets hurt on your property. It might also pay if you damage someone else’s property, or if you cause certain injuries while you’re away from home.
• Property damage coverage protects your mobile home itself.
• Personal property coverage protects your clothing, furniture, appliances, and other belongings from theft and disaster damage.

What Happens if I Buy the Wrong Coverage?

The good news is that most of the time, insurance companies know what type of home you have from public records and won’t let you buy the wrong coverage. Yet, there may be situations where a mistake can happen. If you have the wrong type of policy, you might not actually have any coverage. Be sure to read your paperwork carefully when you sign up for the policy. Ask your insurance agent if you have any questions.