should cover tornado-related wind and flood damages in addition to normally covered perils. The best way to get good deals on home insurance is to compare quotes from multiple providers.

Home insurance protects you, your family and friends, your personal belongings, and your home. Why not protect the place that offers you shelter, peace, and so much joy?

Insurance is inundated with legal jargon and confusing terms, so before you decide on a policy, you should read through this comprehensive explanation of what

home insurance

is, what it covers, and how to get it, created by

car insurance

super app,

Jerry

What is homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance is a type of coverage that offers you financial and legal protection in the case of natural disasters and other unexpected events. It typically provides financial protection against property damage, personal liability, and the loss of your home.

Homeowners in the US, on average, pay about $1,387 per year for home insurance, which is only $115 a month.

Basic components of homeowners insurance

While each homeowners policy is customized to the location and needs of the homeowner, most policies cover the following:

Coverage A (Structure): Covers repairs or replaces the house itself.

Coverage B (Additional structures): Covers repairs or replaces other structures on the property, like fences, pools, or sheds.

Coverage C (Personal property): Provides financial protection against the loss or destruction of certain items of personal property (like furniture, electronics, jewelry, and more).

Coverage D (Additional expenses): Also called loss of use. Pays for temporary living expenses (e.g. a hotel, rent, etc.) incurred as a result of losing the use of all or part of your home.

Coverage E (Personal liability): Covers the cost of litigation if someone is injured on your property (or by your pet or family member).

Policies give you two options: actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost. ACV is the value of your property at the time of loss. Replacement cost, on the other hand, is the amount it would cost to replace the property, regardless of actual value (discounting depreciation). It’s common for companies to require homeowners to have at least 80% of the replacement cost.

MORE: Home insurance terms you need to know

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

Named perils

Because home insurance is not one-size-fits-all, there is no standard comprehensive coverage. Home insurance policies will only cover the named perils in your policy. Commonly covered perils include:

Fire

Lightning

Wind

Hail

Hurricanes

Damage caused by vehicles

Theft

Vandalism

Riots

Falling objects

Explosions

Read your policy carefully to make sure that you understand what’s covered and what isn’t.

Is homeowners insurance required in Missouri?

While Missouri does not require homeowners insurance, many lenders do. If you need a mortgage in order to buy a home, then you will likely need a home insurance policy, too.

How to get homeowners insurance in Missouri

The best way to find the right homeowners insurance in Missouri for you is to shop around with multiple companies. You can compare quotes with multiple companies all in one place by using the

Jerry

app.

Jerry will even help you shop for

home and auto

bundles that can save you more money. It’s a good idea to get quotes from your car insurance company, too, so they can offer discounts for bundling with them. Bundling discounts typically range from 5% to 15% or higher, so it’s worth checking to see what your options are.

Recommended home coverages in Missouri

Homeowners in Missouri are especially prone to tornadoes, severe storms, flooding, and crime, so try to find policies that offer coverage for these common threats. It’s common for standard home insurance policies to offer coverages for everything listed above except flooding, so you may need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy.

Here are three strategies that can help you protect your home against possible flood damage:

Water backup coverage can pay for water removal and repairs following a burst or backed-up pipe.

Flood insurance protects your home from flooding from a source outside of your home. You can get it through FEMA’s

National Flood Insurance Program (FLIP)

or a referral.

An HO-5 or open perils policy covers any peril unless it’s specifically listed as an exclusion in your policy.

MORE: How to choose the right kind of home insurance for you

Why is homeowners insurance so expensive in Missouri?

Missouri homeowners often pay about 30% more for homeowners insurance than the national average. Insurance providers use several factors to determine premiums, including credit score, marital status, and location that vary from customer to customer. That said, the majority of homeowners in Missouri will share some common risks that increase home insurance premiums.

Tornadoes

Missouri is in tornado-alley, which means it’s prone to high wind and falling object claims. This increase in claims for two common risks translates to higher premiums so that insurance companies can afford to pay out on any damages caused by tornadoes.

Flooding

Tornadoes can also bring in a massive amount of rain, causing flash flooding. The earth can be slow to soak up the water in this Midwestern state, causing water damage to homes. While flood insurance is a separate policy, it does increase the cost of home insurance overall.

Home insurance discounts in Missouri

Even though Missouri has insurance premiums higher than the national average, you can find ways to save. Most insurance companies offer common discounts, such as:

Discount	How to get it
Bundling	Bundling home and auto insurance could earn you a steep discount on both policies.
First-time homeowner	Most companies will offer you a discounted policy if it’s your first time purchasing a home.
Claims-free	If you maintain a certain period (typically a few years) without any claims on your policy, you may be eligible for a discounted rate.
Storm proofing	Installing various hurricane safety measures, such as an upgraded roof or storm shutters, could earn you a discount on your homeowners policy.
Security system	If you’ve got a security system to prevent theft, your insurance company might discount your homeowners insurance rate.
Upgraded fire alarm	Set up your fire alarm to contact the fire department directly—your insurance company may give you a discount for a shorter fire response time.

How to save on home and auto insurance

The best way to save on homeowners insurance? Shop around.

Jerry

is the easiest and most effective way to find a

car insurance

and

home insurance

policy that is customized for you.

After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. They even help cancel your old policy! So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better?

“The best; period. Let me just say this: I have worked customer service, face to face and over the phone. I have a solid opinion on what good customer service is, and this man nailed it like a pro. Luke was by far the best help I’ve had over the phone in I don’t know how long. Buy that man lunch, coffee, a drink. Give him a raise." –Dominique B.

RECOMMENDED

Haven’t shopped for insurance in the last six months? There might be hundreds $$$ in savings waiting for you.

Judith switched to Progressive

Saved $725 annually

Alexander switched to Travelers

Saved $834 annually

Annie switched to Nationwide

Saved $668 annually

Is tornado insurance required in Missouri?

Tornado insurance isn’t a separate policy, which means that most damages caused by tornadoes (e.g., wind and falling objects) will be covered by your standard homeowners insurance. Even though Missouri doesn’t require home insurance, your lender may require it.

What is the average cost of homeowners insurance in Missouri?

The average cost of Missouri homeowners insurance varies based on demographics and other factors, but you can expect to pay between $1,800 and $2,700 a year.

Save an average of 18% by bundling your home and auto insurance

Bundle your home and auto insurance with Jerry and save!

Try Jerry