Coastal Home Insurance

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insure@portsmouthatlanticins.com

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Stratford, CT

Coastal Home Insurance in New Hampshire

What is coastal home insurance?

Owning a waterfront home presents unique challenges, and one of those unique considerations is what insurance coverages to get. Coastal home insurance can help New Hampshire homeowners with waterfront property protect their home from many risks.

Coastal home insurance provides specialized coverages for waterfront residences. Policies generally also cover the common risks that all homes, regardless of location, typically face.

What property owners in New Hampshire need coastal property insurance?

Any waterfront property located in New Hampshire might be a good candidate for coastal property insurance. Homeowners on the coastline and islands should consider a policy.

Lakefront and other waterfront residences might be insured with one of these policies in certain cases. These homes and coastal/island homes often are exposed to many of the same risks.

These general guidelines broadly apply to both primary and secondary residences. Policies can insure year-round homes, summer cottages, and even lakefront ski chateaus.

Anyone who’s unsure whether this or another form of homeowners insurance (e.g. standard homeowners insurance, high-value homeowners insurance) is better for their property should consult with a specialized agent. An agent who knows waterfront properties well will be able to provide an informed recommendation about which policy to use.

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Coverages to Consider

Dwelling Coverage
Secondary Structures Coverage
Personal Property Coverage
Dock Coverage

Vacant Property Coverage
Loss of Use Coverage
Personal Liability Coverage

What protections are available through coastal property insurance?

Coastal property insurance policies can provide an array of protections. These often include the following, among other options:

Dwelling Coverage: May cover the actual house situated on a waterfront property against damage and destruction
Secondary Structures Coverage: May cover smaller structures, such as boathouses, docks, boat launches, gazebos, and other similar buildings
Personal Property Coverage: May cover personal belongings, including indoor and outdoor furniture, seasonal docks, and other possessions
Dock Coverage: May cover permanent docks if not included in other coverages
Vacant Property Coverage: May cover seasonal properties during off-season months when they are not in use
Loss of Use Coverage: May cover the cost of alternative lodging if a year-round home is damaged, making it uninhabitable
Personal Liability Coverage: May cover protection against common accidents that may occur indoors, outdoors, or on the water

Vacant property coverage might not be necessary for secondary homes, as the policyholder could theoretically live in their primary residence if something happened to their second one. Personal property coverage might also not be necessary if possessions are adequately insured through a primary residence’s homeowners insurance.

A knowledgeable insurance agent can help property owners make sure they choose the most suitable coverages for a primary or secondary home.

How do coastal home policies cover docks?

Docks can be covered in a few different ways, depending on a coastal home policy’s terms and the type of dock. The main options are:

Personal Property Coverage: Seasonal docks are often considered personal property, since they’re not permanent and year-round structures. These might be covered under a coastal home policy’s personal property coverage. In some cases, optional higher limits for personal property might be necessary to fully insure a seasonal dock.
Secondary Structures Coverage: Seasonal and permanent docks may be classified as secondary structures by some policies. In this situation, a dock might be covered under secondary structures coverage. This is often the case for docks that are part of boathouses, but could encompass other docks too.
Dock Endorsement: Some docks, particularly permanent docks, might be excluded from the standard coverages of even a coastal home policy. In these cases, a dock endorsement can usually be added on to insure a property’s dock. Adding an endorsement is typically easy, and tends to have a marginal cost.

Again, this is a matter that a knowledgeable insurance agent can sort out.

How can New Hampshire homeowners get coastal home insurance?

If you have a waterfront home in New Hampshire, contact the independent insurance agents at Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance for help procuring insurance coverages. Our agents will work closely with you to find a good coastal home insurance policy for your particular property.