Could Your Pets Affect Your Homeowner’s Insurance?

When we think about purchasing homeowner’s insurance, we usually think about factors like the neighborhood in which we live, the kinds of weather conditions we can expect in our region, the structure and surroundings of our home and how those can play into any injuries that could occur on the property, and yes, even whether or not our lender is forcing us to purchase the homeowner’s insurance in the first place.

What we tend to forget about, or simply not know about, is our pets can play a big role in our decision to purchase homeowner’s insurance; specifically, how much homeowner’s insurance we should purchase, and whether or not we’ll actually even be able to purchase homeowner’s insurance with a particular kind of pet.

The pets most recognized for causing homeowner’s insurance rates to skyrocket, and sometimes even making it impossible for homeowners to purchase homeowner’s insurance, are dogs. Well, not just random dogs, but certain breeds of dogs.

For example, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers make it nearly, if not completely, impossible for homeowners to get homeowners insurance, much less an affordable homeowner’s insurance rate. Why? These dogs, regardless of how friendly and loyal they are to their owners, are also quite protective, and by nature, fighters. When dealing with animals, nurture doesn’t always trump nature; therefore, man’s best friend may not always be able to tell the difference between friendly visitors and dangerous intruders. What begins as a routine visit from the Avon lady could result in serious injuries, hefty hospital bills, and even a big fat lawsuit.

With that in mind, it’s no wonder why some insurance companies aren’t very relaxed when it comes to offering homeowner’s insurance to those homeowners with certain kinds of pets living in or around the home. So, if you’re a homeowner as well as a dog owner, prepare yourself for what could be a long, hard search for homeowner’s insurance.

 Elizabeth Newberry

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