Hero CTAs: Get a Homeowners Quote · Bundle with Auto

Independent homeowners insurance for Tempe, AZ — pre-1960 historic stock through ASU-adjacent rentals through new master-planned subdivisions. From our Tempe office.

Tempe homeowners coverage isn’t one product — it’s a different policy depending on whether you own a 1928 Maple-Ash bungalow, a 1980s Warner Ranch family home, a 2010s Marina Heights condo, or an investment property near ASU. Hicks Insurance Group is independent, so we shop the right carrier for the right Tempe profile.

This page goes coverage-by-coverage through what an HO-3 / HO-5 policy actually does, with Tempe-specific dollar amounts and risk angles. For the parent overview of all Tempe insurance services, see Tempe Insurance.

Coverage A — Dwelling

The structure of your home itself. Replacement cost (rebuild from scratch at today’s prices, no depreciation) vs actual cash value (depreciated):

• Replacement cost is correct for almost every Tempe homeowner. Post-2020 lumber and labor inflation means dwelling limits set in 2018–2020 may be 25–40% under current rebuild cost. Re-quote your dwelling limit annually.
• Guaranteed replacement cost (no cap) is HNW-tier; available from Chubb, AIG Private Client, Cincinnati. Most Tempe homes don’t need it, but Maple-Ash and Mill Avenue District historic stock often does — period materials are expensive.
• Extended replacement cost (125–150% of stated limit) is the practical middle ground.

Tempe-specific: pre-1960 Maple-Ash + Mill Avenue District + parts of Tempe South have authentic period-materials needs (clay tile roofs, plaster walls, hand-craftsmanship details). Standard carriers underestimate by 20–30%; specialty carriers price accurately.

Coverage B — Other Structures

Detached structures: garages, sheds, pool houses, fences, casitas (common in older Tempe lots).

• Default limit is typically 10% of Coverage A (e.g., $40K on a $400K dwelling).
• Increase if you have a pool — pool decking, pump houses, and pool fencing all count under Coverage B.
• Casita / guest-house structures common in Tempe South need attention; sometimes they need their own dwelling endorsement if rented.

Coverage C — Personal Property

Furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing, etc. — everything inside the home that isn’t part of the structure.

• Default limit is typically 50% of Coverage A.
• HO-5 vs HO-3: HO-5 (more expensive premium, broader coverage) covers personal property on an open-perils basis (any cause not specifically excluded); HO-3 covers personal property on a named-perils basis (only listed causes). For Tempe households with significant personal-property values, HO-5 is worth the upgrade.
• Sub-limits matter: jewelry, watches, fine art, firearms, silverware, business property — all have low default sub-limits ($1,000–$2,500 typically) that are wildly inadequate for collectors. Schedule per-item with appraisal-driven valuations if you have collections.

Coverage D — Loss of Use (Additional Living Expense)

If your home is uninhabitable after a covered loss, this pays for hotels, restaurants, and temporary rentals while it’s repaired.

• Default limit is typically 20–30% of Coverage A.
• Tempe summer reality: a roof loss in July with HVAC failure can render a home uninhabitable for weeks. Loss-of-use claims are real here.

Coverage E — Personal Liability

Pays third-party bodily injury and property damage claims arising from your home or daily activities.

• Default $100K is too low for Tempe. Standard recommended floor: $300K–$500K, then layer an umbrella policy on top.
• Coverage E is what responds to dog-bite claims, slip-and-fall claims at your home, and certain non-auto-related personal liability.

Coverage F — Medical Payments to Others

No-fault medical-bill coverage for guests injured at your home (regardless of liability). Default $1K–$5K is fine.

Tempe-specific endorsements that often matter

Pool liability + attractive nuisance. A meaningful share of Tempe households have pools. Standard HO-3 covers pools but per-incident sub-limits matter — push to $300K+ specific endorsement if available. Pool-fence compliance with AZ statutory requirements affects coverage.

Solar panel endorsement. Arizona has the highest solar-panel penetration in the U.S. by capita; many Tempe homes have roof-mount solar. Standard HO-3 covers some scenarios but not all hail/wind damage to roof-mounted panels — verify your endorsement.

Wind/hail rider deductible. Push for flat-dollar deductibles ($2,500–$5,000) rather than the 2%-of-dwelling default. On a $500K dwelling, that’s a $5K deductible vs $10K — same-storm difference is real.

Salt River / Tempe Town Lake flood proximity. Mapped flood-zone properties need separate flood insurance (NFIP or private). Standard homeowners excludes flood. Verify your zone before assuming.

Service-line coverage. Underground utility lines from street to house (water, sewer, electric) are typically owner’s responsibility once on your property; service-line endorsement covers replacement.

What we shop for Tempe homeowners

We compare:

• Top-tier standard carriers (Travelers, Liberty Mutual, Safeco)
• HNW carriers for Maple-Ash / Mill Avenue District / North Tempe higher-value pockets (Chubb, AIG PC, PURE, Cincinnati)
• AZ-specialty carriers with monsoon / haboob / extreme-heat underwriting fluency

You get one quote sheet, not three carrier pitches.

Get a Tempe Homeowners Quote

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