March 30, 2023
This week, Danny Lipford chats with Michelle Tennant from Erie Insurance coverage to talk about how other folks can in finding peace of thoughts with house owners insurance coverage. (3 Echoes Content material Studio/Erie Insurance coverage)


This week, I’m speaking with Michelle Tennant, vp of Product Control within the Erie Insurance coverage Private Strains department. 

Michelle has been with Erie since 2001 and has helped to expand Erie Insurance coverage’s Auto, Umbrella, and Renters insurance coverage merchandise, in addition to its House owners insurance coverage coverages.

Erie Insurance coverage has been in industry since 1925, and for just about a century we’ve been offering house, auto, industry and existence insurance coverage. 

We’re primarily based in Erie, Penn., and we serve shoppers in about 12 states. We all know insurance coverage will also be difficult so with each and every coverage, we have now a an expert impartial agent inside your neighborhood that may information you in the course of the procedure to get the suitable protection on your existence. 


Insurance policy, seen on a desk beside a pair of reading glasses.
House owners insurance coverage supplies monetary coverage within the tournament of a crisis. (Mohamad Fazil Bin Ramli/Getty Photographs)

Why You Want House owners Insurance coverage

Each house owner has house owners insurance coverage however many don’t know why — what’s the function of house owners insurance coverage?

Michelle: House owners insurance coverage supplies monetary coverage within the tournament one thing loopy occurs, like an coincidence or weather-related tournament that damages your house.

At Erie Insurance coverage, we take into accounts this in a couple of other ways.

First is the house itself — the construction. It could quilt the outside of your house if there may be injury.

Subsequent is your own belongings. A coverage will quilt treasured pieces which might be essential to you within your house must the ones be broken or stolen.

Any other factor is legal responsibility. If you happen to have been answerable for injury to anyone else’s belongings or anyone used to be injured for your belongings or in case your puppy injures anyone.

Moreover, I’d like so as to add, one protection that Erie gives and we suggest all shoppers have is assured substitute price. If your house is destroyed, this protection will to pay to rebuild it to subject what the price. If you happen to don’t have it, chances are you’ll arise quick up on price range and face steep out-of-pocket prices. 


Homeowners insurance agent goes over policy with young couple
Some house insurance coverage insurance policies best quilt a specific amount of sq. ft, so let your agent know in the event you’re making plans to rework. (Adobe Inventory)

What to Communicate About With Your Agent

What all must you seek advice from a house insurance coverage agent?

Michelle: You’ll have an open discussion together with your agent. Be certain the entirety this is essential to you in and round your house is roofed. 

If you happen to’ve revamped your house or plan to rework, inform your agent. Do you run a industry out of your house? You should definitely point out that so your online business fabrics are lined. And, let your agent know in case your kin is rising or converting.

Those are only a few issues you wish to have to speak about together with your agent. With that knowledge, they are able to get the ball rolling and in finding the protection that’s best for you.


receipt book
When compiling a house stock, save receipts for big-ticket pieces. Authentic receipts are all the time highest, however a photocopy can paintings in some circumstances. (c-George, Getty Photographs)

Making a House Stock

How do you even get started the method of constructing a house stock?

Michelle: If a catastrophic tournament have been to occur, it may be extraordinarily overwhelming to keep in mind for reminiscence the entirety treasured in your house. 

When making a house stock, start at a small place to begin. Possibly your most precious pieces or pass from room to room.

Take movies or pictures and narrate or write down what every merchandise is so that you take into accout at some point. Categorize clothes and stay receipts. 

Apps are common and there’s an app for the entirety, even house inventories. In a while, Souvenir Database and Nest Egg are a couple of you’ll use.

You’ll be able to discover a tick list of what you want at the Nowadays’s Home-owner web page on Erie’s web page.


renter's insurance paper with pen and keys
A renter’s coverage from Erie Insurance coverage can offer protection to your assets after a lined loss. (designer491, Getty Photographs)

Renter’s Insurance coverage

Let’s no longer depart our renter pals out of the dialog. Speak about renters insurance coverage for individuals who are the tenants.

Michelle: If you happen to’re renting, you must indisputably imagine a renter’s coverage. Your landlord most certainly has a coverage to hide the construction or construction, however no longer what’s within. You’ll want some roughly protection to give protection to your own belongings. 

Erie Insurance coverage’s Protected Tenant coverage covers your own belongings or lack of use in case you want to relocate. It additionally supplies protection to give protection to your possessions in the event that they’re broken misplaced or stolen, even supposing you’re clear of house.


For rent sign in a front yard by a sidewalk
Erie Insurance coverage gives various insurance policies and endorsements to lend a hand offer protection to your home. (Joe_Potato, Getty Symbol)

Insurance coverage for Landlords

Is there a special form of coverage for a home-owner who desires to rent out their house?
Michelle: Landlord insurance coverage insurance policies are quite other. If you happen to’re a home-owner and fascinated with renting out your home, the Protected Condominium product from Erie Insurance coverage is what you want. It’s principally made for dwellings rented to others for one- or two-family houses. That gives equivalent protection to our house merchandise, and with that you simply’ll additionally get the assured substitute price.


Total Recommendation

Communicate to an area impartial insurance coverage agent to study your coverage to be sure you have the protection that’s best for you. It is going to come up with some peace of thoughts to grasp you’ve the security you want in case a crisis occurs.

Take a look at Nowadays’s Home-owner web page on Erie’s web page. It has a large number of movies and articles about your house to stay you protected and ready for the sudden. 


Additional Studying


Ask a Query! (Podcast)

Ask a query and shall we resolution it at the “Nowadays’s Home-owner Podcast!” We additionally would possibly apply it to our nationally syndicated radio broadcast or on todayshomeowner.com.