Home & Renters Insurance in California

No. The landlord's policy covers the building. Your belongings and your liability need a renters policy of your own.

Rebuild cost. Market value includes the land, which doesn't burn down — insuring to market value can leave you over- or under-insured.

Not by a standard policy. Earthquake cover is bought separately — ask us about adding it to your home or renters policy.

A homeowners policy typically covers damage to your home and other structures, your personal belongings, liability if someone is injured on your property, and additional living expenses if you need to stay elsewhere while your home is repaired after a covered loss. Exact coverage and limits vary by carrier, so your Barua agent can walk you through the specifics for your property.

Renters insurance isn't required by California law, but many landlords require it as a lease condition. It covers your personal belongings against theft, fire, and other covered losses, provides liability coverage if someone is injured in your rental, and can help pay for a temporary place to stay if your unit becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss.

Yes. A condo association's master policy typically covers the building's shared structure, but a condo owner still needs an HO-6 policy for their unit's interior, personal belongings, and liability, since the association's coverage usually stops at the walls.

No. Flood damage is excluded from a standard homeowners policy and requires a separate flood insurance policy. Ask your agent whether your property's location makes flood coverage worth considering.

Actual cash value pays what your damaged belongings were worth factoring in depreciation, while replacement cost pays what it would cost to buy new, equivalent items today. Replacement cost coverage generally costs more but leaves less of a gap after a loss.

Standard homeowners and renters policies usually cap coverage for categories like jewelry, art, and collectibles well below their actual worth. If you own valuable items, ask your agent about scheduling them individually so they're covered closer to their real value.

A standard homeowners policy offers very limited coverage for business equipment and typically excludes business liability. If you run a business from home, tell your agent so we can look at an endorsement or a separate business policy suited to what you do.

Usually not fully. Standard homeowners and renters policies are written for owner-occupied use and often exclude or limit coverage once you're renting space for pay. Tell your agent if you host short-term guests so we can look at an appropriate endorsement or policy.

In most cases, yes, you can be held liable, and the liability portion of a homeowners or renters policy often covers dog-bite claims. Some carriers exclude certain breeds or require additional underwriting, so tell your agent about your dog so we can confirm your coverage.

Standard homeowners policies generally do cover fire damage, including wildfire, as a named peril. Availability and pricing can depend heavily on your property's specific wildfire risk, so ask your agent about your area's situation when shopping for coverage.

It depends on the cause. Mold resulting from a sudden, covered event like a burst pipe is often covered, while mold from ongoing neglect or long-term moisture usually isn't. Ask your agent about your specific policy's mold provisions.

Stop the source of water if it's safe to do so, document the damage with photos, and contact your insurance carrier to start a claim as soon as possible. Your Barua agent can help you understand your coverage and next steps, even though claims themselves are handled by the carrier.

Generally no — a renters policy covers the named policyholder's own belongings and liability, not a roommate's property, unless that roommate is also named on the policy. Each roommate typically needs their own renters policy.

Yes, many landlords require renters insurance as a condition of the lease. Your policy's declarations page or a certificate of insurance from your carrier is typically what you'd provide to your landlord as proof.

Loss of use coverage, sometimes called additional living expenses, helps pay for a temporary place to stay and related extra costs if a covered loss makes your home temporarily uninhabitable.

Often, yes — homeowners and renters policies typically extend personal property coverage to belongings stolen from your vehicle, not just your home, subject to your policy's limits and deductible. Confirm the specifics with your agent.

A home inventory is a list, often with photos or video, of your belongings and their approximate value. Having one ready makes filing a claim after theft, fire, or other loss much easier, since you can show the carrier exactly what was lost.

Yes, some of our carriers offer policies specifically designed for mobile and manufactured homes, which are underwritten differently than a standard site-built house. Tell your agent about your home and we'll look for a fitting carrier.

A standard homeowners policy may limit or exclude certain coverage once a home has been vacant beyond a set period, since an empty home carries different risks. Tell your agent if your home will be unoccupied for a while so we can look at a vacant-home endorsement or policy.

An umbrella policy adds extra liability coverage above the limits on your home and auto policies, which can matter if a serious accident or lawsuit exceeds your underlying limits. It's worth discussing with your agent if you have significant assets to protect.

A named-peril policy only covers losses from causes specifically listed in the policy, while an open-peril policy covers any cause of loss except those specifically excluded, generally offering broader protection. Ask your agent which approach your policy uses.

Your deductible is the amount you're responsible for before your insurance pays the rest of a covered claim. A higher deductible typically means a lower premium, but more out-of-pocket cost if you need to file a claim. Ask your agent about choosing a deductible that fits your situation.

Many of our carriers let you hold home or renters and auto policies together, which can simplify renewals and billing. Ask your agent whether bundling fits your situation.

For a home quote, we typically need the property address, some basic details about the home such as its age and square footage, and a photo ID. For renters, usually just the rental address and a photo ID. Your agent will let you know if anything else applies to your situation.

Yes. Bring your current declarations page and we can review your existing coverage, compare options across our carriers, and help you switch at a time that avoids paying for two overlapping policies.

Renting out part of your home can change how your property is classified for insurance purposes, and a standard owner-occupied policy may not fully cover tenant-caused damage or landlord liability. Tell your agent if you have a tenant so we can review whether your coverage needs adjusting.

A homeowners policy is written for a home you live in, while a landlord or dwelling fire policy is written for a property you own but rent out to others, typically with different coverage for liability and loss of rental income rather than your own belongings. Tell your agent which situation applies to your property.