With over 25 years of experience serving families across Will County and the greater Chicago area, our independent agency works for you, not the insurance companies. Whether you own a single-family home, townhouse, or high-value property, we’ll compare policies from multiple carriers to ensure you get comprehensive protection tailored to your needs.
Illinois homeowners face unique risks, from tornadoes and hail storms to basement flooding and winter freeze damage. Our local expertise means we understand these challenges and know exactly what coverage you need to protect your home and family.
What Does Homeowners Insurance Typically Cover?
A comprehensive homeowners insurance policy provides multiple layers of protection for your property, belongings, and financial well-being. Understanding these coverage types helps you make informed decisions about your insurance needs.
Dwelling Coverage
Dwelling coverage protects the physical structure of your home, including walls, roof, floors, and built-in appliances. If your home is damaged by fire, wind, hail, or lightning, this coverage pays to repair or rebuild up to your policy limits. For Illinois homeowners, ensure coverage reflects current replacement costs, not just market value. According to the Insurance Information Institute, proper coverage should account for local building costs and square footage.
Personal Property Coverage
Personal property coverage protects your belongings inside your home, including furniture, clothing, electronics, and appliances. Standard policies typically cover personal property up to 50-70% of your dwelling coverage. High-value items like jewelry, artwork, and collectibles may have coverage limits, so consider adding scheduled personal property endorsements for full protection.
Liability Protection
Liability coverage is one of the most important components of your homeowners policy. It protects you financially if someone is injured on your property or if you accidentally damage someone else’s property. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, liability claims can be devastating without proper coverage.
Standard homeowners policies typically include $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage, but many experts recommend at least $500,000, especially for homeowners with significant assets. Liability protection covers legal defense costs, medical expenses for injured visitors, and damages awarded in lawsuits up to your policy limits.
Common liability scenarios include a guest slipping on your icy sidewalk, your dog biting a neighbor, or your tree falling and damaging someone’s property.
Additional Living Expenses Coverage
If your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss, Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage pays for temporary housing, meals, and other extra costs while your home is being repaired or rebuilt. ALE typically covers hotel bills, restaurant meals, and storage costs. The coverage period usually lasts until your home is repaired or until you reach your policy’s coverage limit, which is often 20-30% of your dwelling coverage amount.
Other Structures Coverage
Other structures coverage protects buildings on your property that are not attached to your main home, such as detached garages, storage sheds, fences, and swimming pools. This coverage is typically 10% of your dwelling coverage amount but can be increased if needed.
Water Backup Coverage – Critical for Illinois Basements
Water backup coverage protects your home from water damage caused by sewer or drain backups, sump pump failures, and water that backs up through drains. Will County and surrounding areas are particularly susceptible to basement flooding due to heavy rainfall and aging sewer systems. This coverage is typically available as an endorsement for $10,000 to $25,000, and the cost is minimal compared to the protection it provides.
Flood Insurance – Separate Policy Required
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. You’ll need a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private carrier. According to FEMA, more than 20% of claims come from properties outside high-risk flood zones. Our agents can help you determine if flood insurance is necessary and connect you with affordable options.
Valuable Items and High-Value Home Coverage
If you own valuable jewelry, fine art, antiques, or collectibles, standard policies may not provide adequate coverage. Scheduled Personal Property endorsements allow you to list high-value items for full coverage. Homeowners with luxury homes valued over $500,000 should consider specialized high-value policies offering guaranteed replacement cost and premium services.
Who Needs Homeowners Insurance in Illinois?
Every Illinois homeowner benefits from proper insurance coverage. Mortgage lenders require coverage to protect their investment, but even if you own your home outright, insurance safeguards you from devastating financial loss due to fire, severe weather, or liability claims. Specialized coverage is available for condo owners through HO-6 policies, landlords through Landlord Insurance, and luxury homeowners with properties valued over $500,000 who need guaranteed replacement cost coverage.
How Much Homeowners Insurance Do You Need?
Determining the right amount of homeowners insurance requires careful consideration of several factors:
Your dwelling coverage should equal the cost to completely rebuild your home at current construction costs, not just market value. Consider square footage, construction materials, architectural features, and local labor costs. Many insurers offer extended replacement cost coverage to ensure you can rebuild to current standards.
Create a home inventory to determine personal property coverage needs. Most experts recommend $300,000 to $500,000 in liability coverage, or consider adding Umbrella Insurance for higher protection. Common deductibles range from $500 to $2,500—choosing a higher deductible lowers your premium. Illinois wind and hail deductibles may be separate and calculated as a percentage of your dwelling coverage.
Illinois-Specific Homeowners Insurance Considerations
Severe Weather Coverage
Illinois experiences varied weather, and your homeowners insurance must account for these risks. Illinois ranks among the top 10 states for tornado activity—ensure your policy includes wind and hail coverage. Will County experiences frequent hailstorms that damage roofs and siding. Frozen pipe damage is common in Illinois winters, and summer lightning strikes can damage electrical systems.
Basement and Foundation Protection
Most Illinois homes have basements, which creates additional insurance considerations. Standard policies cover sudden water damage from burst pipes but exclude groundwater seepage, sewer backups, and sump pump failures unless you add water backup coverage—one of the most cost-effective endorsements you can purchase. Construction costs in the Chicago metro area are among the highest in the Midwest, so account for local labor costs and material expenses when determining dwelling coverage.
Ways to Save on Homeowners Insurance
At Hicks Insurance Group, we help you find every discount available. Bundling your Auto Insurance and homeowners insurance typically saves 15-25%. Home security features like monitored alarms, fire systems, and smart locks can reduce premiums by up to 20%. Other common discounts include claims-free (5-15%), new home, loyalty, senior citizen, and paperless billing discounts. Our independent agents compare discounts across multiple carriers to ensure you receive the best possible rate.
Why Choose Hicks Insurance Group for Your Homeowners Insurance?
Since 1998, Hicks Insurance Group has been protecting Illinois homeowners with expert insurance solutions. Our deep roots in Will County mean we understand unique local risks like basement flooding and severe weather. As an independent agency partnering with over 14 top-rated carriers, we shop the market for you, providing unbiased recommendations, competitive quotes, and expert claims assistance.
Our commitment to exceptional service has earned us a perfect 5-star rating from over 1,414 satisfied customers. We offer specialized coverage for high-value homes, vacation properties, rental properties, condominiums, and more. We also provide complementary products including Umbrella Insurance and Flood Insurance to create a complete protection plan.
Common Homeowners Insurance Questions
Our team answers hundreds of homeowners insurance questions every month. Here are some of the most common inquiries we receive:
What does Homeowners Insurance typically cover?
Standard homeowners insurance covers your dwelling, personal property, liability, and additional living expenses. Covered perils typically include fire, lightning, wind, hail, theft, vandalism, and certain types of water damage. Optional endorsements extend coverage for water backup, earthquakes, and high-value items. Learn more about coverage types.
Can I bundle my Home and Auto Insurance for savings?
Yes! Bundling home and auto insurance typically saves 15-25% on both policies. Bundling also simplifies your insurance management with one agent, one renewal date, and coordinated coverage. Contact us for a free bundling quote at (708) 532-7474.
What if my home is damaged by a flood?
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. You need a separate Flood Insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier. Even if you’re not in a high-risk flood zone, flood insurance may be a smart investment. We can help you evaluate your flood risk and find affordable coverage.
Have more questions? Call us at (708) 532-7474 to speak with a licensed insurance professional.
Get Your Free Homeowners Insurance Quote Today
Protecting your home starts with finding the right insurance coverage at the right price. At Hicks Insurance Group, we shop multiple carriers to find you the best policy for your needs and budget.
Get started with a free quote: Call (708) 532-7474 or visit us at 19144 88th Avenue, Mokena, IL 60448. Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Our experienced agents will review your home, discuss your coverage needs, and provide personalized recommendations from our network of over 14 top-rated carriers. Most quotes are completed in 15-30 minutes.
