VA home insurance covers a home and its contents. Protection against liability for any injuries or property damage from you or any members of your family, including household pets is a standard feature or home insurance. Virginia property insurance also pays temporary living expenses while living away from home because of a natural disaster.

Home insurance in Virginia covers most types of natural disasters including fire, hurricanes, hail and lightning and other events specified by the homeowners insurance. Virginia flood coverage typically will require a separate policy.

Consider these three points when choosing Virginia property insurance:

1. The location of the property may require additional property insurance. Virginia homes in high crime areas may dictate additional protection against theft.
2. Effective loss-control measures can control the premium for home insurance. Virginia homes may need an alarm system to lower the insurance premium.
3. The replacement of detached structures is a standard provision of homeowners insurance. A Virginia policy should allow you to rebuild your house including structures like a garage, gazebo or tool shed. Detached structures are typically covered for about 10% of the value of the house.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Collect quotes for a variety of Virginia homeowner insurance plans

Obtaining multiple quotes from different sources can be an effective method of identifying the general terms of these policies and the premiums you can expect to pay.

I recommend: The search function at Respond allows you to specify a city when you search for homeowners insurance. Virginia house insurance quotes at All Options Insurance will be listed by zip code.

Find Virginia homeowners insurance brokers who represent major carriers

You may want to obtain Virginia home insurance through an agent who represents a major carrier in the state and who can make a recommendation based on the specific needs of your situation.

I recommend: State Farm sells homeowner's insurance and provides a list of agents within a specified area. Go to Allied Insurance and enter your zip code and search radius for a list of insurance agents in your area.

Get a Virginia home insurance policy from a local agent

You may wish to contact local independent Virginia home insurance providers rather than dealing with different insurers of property insurance. Virginia local agents can write a more customized plan for you.

I recommend: The Toby Leffel Insurance Agency is a full service independent agency in Virginia Beach that sells insurance only in Virginia. The Stover Insurance Agency meets the insurance needs of individuals and professionals in Northern Virginia.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Conduct a home inventory to determine the replacement cost for the contents of your home. Virginia homeowners insurance will cover the contents of your house up to a specified percentage of the value of your home. You should consider off-premises coverage if you have a substantial amount of number of belongings outside of your home quickly after a disaster.
• •  Home insurance in Virginia typically covers expensive items such as furs, jewelry and silverware up to a fixed amount. You will need a special property endorsement to replace these items if their value exceeds the amount the primary policy covers. A property endorsement covers items that are lost or stolen.