Homeowners Insurance Endorsements & Riders

Standard homeowners insurance policies offer limited coverage for a broad range of homeowners. However, you may need more coverage than a standard policy can provide if you have more to protect, such as a sump pump or high-value belongings.

That's why insurance endorsements and riders exist. Customizing your homeowners policy with endorsements and riders helps you protect yourself from losses that exceed your standard home policy's limits.

Let’s review homeowners insurance endorsements and riders and how they help cover more losses for greater peace of mind.

What is a home insurance endorsement?

A standard home insurance policy provides limited coverage for your property after a covered loss.

For example, many standard home policies help cover losses from sudden, accidental events like wildfires. However, damages from wear and tear, such as an old, leaking pipe, aren't often covered by a standard policy.

The same is true about the value of your belongings. If your standard home policy's jewelry coverage limit is $2,000, but your collection is worth more, you have gaps in your protection. That’s where insurance endorsements and riders come in.

An insurance endorsement, also known as an insurance policy rider, is additional coverage you can purchase and add to your existing homeowners policy. Endorsements help fill coverage gaps and events not included in your standard home policy. Adding them to your standard home insurance lets you customize your policy to fit your unique needs.

Types of Home Insurance Endorsements

Want to make sure you have the coverage you need and the right endorsements in place? Start by reviewing your current home insurance policy. You can do that by looking at your Declarations page, Coverage Summary Letter or scheduling a personal insurance review with your agent. Reviewing your policy will help make sure your property is covered for the right amount as well as specific types of events.

There are a variety of home insurance endorsements available. The following are some of the most common:

Scheduled personal property. Scheduled personal property (or itemized personal property) is an optional coverage you can add to your home insurance policy. It may provide more coverage for your higher-valued items and protection for more risks than already listed on your policy.

For example, if your ring goes missing, having an endorsement for your jewelry may help cover its replacement cost. A standard home insurance policy won’t cover it if it gets lost.

Home business coverage. Limited home business coverage is an optional coverage that small home-based business owners can add to an existing homeowners insurance policy. By adding this coverage, you’re extending the same liability limits and coverages of your personal home insurance to your small business.

Sewer backup and sump pump overflow. Your sump pump is designed to remove excess water that accumulates around your home’s foundation. If the system ever fails or the power goes out, water overflow may occur. And you're typically not covered for this type of damage with your standard homeowners insurance. Having water backup and sump pump overflow coverage helps give you additional protection.

Identity theft protection. Identity theft not only comes with financial loss, but you’ll probably have a lot of issues to resolve, like restoring your credit and financial reputation. Identity theft insurance offers restoration services to help make the process easier for you and your family.

How do endorsements affect home insurance premiums?

Adding an endorsement to your home insurance policy increases your monthly premium — but don’t let that deter you. The amounts vary based on your coverage needs. If you ever face the unexpected, your increased premiums may be worth the added cost compared to what you could pay for repairs and replacements.

Find the Right Coverage for Your Home Today

Learn more about all the ways your homeowners insurance provides protection. Then, contact your American Family Insurance agent to customize your coverage and fill any gaps in your standard policy. With the proper protection in place, you’ll get the peace of mind you deserve.

This information represents only a brief description of coverages, is not part of your policy, and is not a promise or guarantee of coverage. If there is any conflict between this information and your policy, the provisions of the policy will prevail. Insurance policy terms and conditions may apply. Exclusions may apply to policies, endorsements, or riders. Coverage may vary by state and may be subject to change. Some products are not available in every state. Please read your policy and contact your agent for assistance.