Hampton Falls, NH Home Insurance

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

Home · Flood · Auto · Umbrella · New Hampshire

Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is an independent agency founded in 2005 and licensed in 10 states, based in Portsmouth. We insure homes across the Seacoast and shop each Hampton Falls home across 40+ carriers. We are the most-reviewed independent insurance agency in New Hampshire, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials across our two offices. Start with New Hampshire homeowners insurance, or read on.

Hampton Falls at a glance

The town’s Master Plan (December 2018) describes Hampton Falls as 8,231 acres, including 5,683 acres of land and 2,548 acres of water and wetlands, with a 2010 population of 2,236. It calls the land use pattern basically rural, with agriculture keeping much of the town open in large holdings, and says some farmland has been converted to single-family homes. Unlike most other coastal communities, the plan notes, Hampton Falls does not border the Atlantic directly, so it lacks the seasonal development of Hampton and Seabrook; its coastline is tidal marsh on the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary. Most homes are west of Route 1, and the vast majority are single-family. The plan also says most property owners rely on private wells.

Where you live in Hampton Falls changes the policy

• Depot Road and Brimmer Lane. The master plan says homes immediately next to the estuary on Depot Road and Brimmer Lane are in a high-risk flood area based on the Tides to Storms assessment. The plan adds that, with rising sea and groundwater levels, the septic systems and drinking water wells serving these homes, and those nearby, could be affected.
• East of Route 1. The town’s coastal vulnerability assessment says low-lying upland east of Route 1 is at risk of flooding in its 4.0-foot sea-level rise scenario, and the master plan notes pockets of development in the estuary’s interior fringe, both owner-occupied homes and seasonal rentals.
• Route 1 at Whittier Pond. The assessment says Route 1 at the Hampton border and next to Whittier Pond is vulnerable to flooding in its 6.3-foot sea-level rise scenario, and that town officials recommend raising Route 1 and installing a larger culvert.
• Farms and larger lots west of Route 1. Bigger parcels mean barns, outbuildings, long driveways and sometimes farm activity. A farmhouse with a hobby farm or farm stand may need more than a standard homeowners form, so tell us exactly how the property is used.
• The Town Common. The plan describes a Town Common District around the historic Town Common meant to uphold Hampton Falls’ historic New England architecture. Older homes need rebuild estimates based on restoration-quality work.

The master plan describes Route 1 as the only commercial area in town, with Route 88 (Exeter Road) and Route 84 (Kensington Road) running east to west. Most Hampton Falls homes sit away from that corridor on larger rural lots, so for most owners the policy decisions are rebuild cost, outbuildings, wells and liability rather than surge.

Private wells and older systems

With most homes on private wells, ask us how your policy treats a sudden well pump failure, a burst pipe, or water damage from a failed pressure tank versus wear and tear. Carriers also ask about roof age, the electrical panel, plumbing and heating.

Flood coverage in Hampton Falls

A homeowners policy will not pay for tidal flooding, a brook over its banks or surface water. Flood is its own policy. Lenders require flood insurance for federally backed mortgages in a special flood hazard area. Check your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

• NFIP through Selective. We write National Flood Insurance Program policies through Selective, a Write Your Own carrier. The NFIP covers up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents. New policies generally have a 30-day waiting period (see FloodSmart), so buy before storm season, not during it.
• Private flood. When a home costs more than the NFIP building limit to rebuild, or you want coverage the NFIP leaves out, we compare Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge. Each one decides address by address.
• Elevation certificates. If you have one, send it. If the house has been raised or has flood vents, it can make a real difference in how flood carriers rate it.

See our flood insurance overview. Water backup (sewer, drain or sump pump failure) is an add-on to homeowners; flood is separate. If your basement is finished, ask about both. See basement flooding coverage and our flood insurance overview.

Winter, trees and wind in Hampton Falls

New Hampshire winters bring ice dams, frozen pipes and heavy snow loads, and storms bring down trees and limbs. These are generally homeowners claims, subject to your deductible and policy terms. A properly sized wind and all-perils deductible, and a roof in good shape, do more for most homeowners than any single add-on. Water damage from a burst pipe is usually covered when the home is heated and occupied; long vacancies can change that, so tell us if the house will sit empty.

Larger homes

Under about $2 million, most of our 40+ carriers are in play. In New Hampshire, Andover generally writes up to about $1.5 million, or closer to $1 million for homes far from a hydrant or fire station. Around $2 million to $3 million, Hanover is often a fit; above $3 million, Cincinnati; and at $5 million and up, Chubb. Each carrier underwrites the specific house, so these are starting points, not promises.

See high-value home insurance in New Hampshire.

Rentals

If you rent out a house or a seasonal unit, you need a dwelling or landlord policy, and we don’t charge fees on those either.

Renters and tenants in Hampton Falls

If you rent in Hampton Falls, your landlord’s policy covers the building, not your belongings or your liability. A renters policy covers both, plus extra living costs after a covered loss. We shop renters coverage across our carriers, and Progressive Home is one of them; we use Progressive Home for renters policies only. Landlords who own two- to four-family buildings can see landlord insurance.

Auto, umbrella and the rest of the household

Most Hampton Falls households also need auto insurance, and many add a personal umbrella. We quote them with the home so the liability limits line up, and we put rentals, second homes, boats and valuables under the same review. One agent, one renewal conversation.

Common coverage gaps we see in Hampton Falls

• A dwelling limit based on the purchase price or assessed value instead of the cost to rebuild
• No water backup coverage on a house with a finished basement
• Personal property limits that have not kept up with what the household actually owns
• Liability limits on the home and auto that do not line up with an umbrella, or no umbrella at all
• No ordinance or law coverage on an older home that would need code upgrades after a loss
• No flood policy on a home on Depot Road or Brimmer Lane near the estuary
• A hobby farm or farm stand insured on a standard homeowners form

Most of these are straightforward to fix once someone reads the declarations pages side by side, and that is the first thing we do in a review.

Before storm season in Hampton Falls

• Know your hurricane or named storm deductible in dollars, not just as a percentage
• Photograph or video each room so a contents claim is easier to document
• Keep your declarations pages, flood policy and any elevation certificate somewhere you can reach from your phone
• If you are thinking about flood coverage, buy it well ahead of a storm because of the waiting period
• Know where your well pump and pressure tank are, and have the well serviced on schedule

Buying a home in Hampton Falls

Start the insurance conversation before you are under contract, not the week of closing. Send us the listing and the inspection report when you have it. The report answers most of what carriers ask: roof age, electrical panel, heating, plumbing and any water in the basement. Near the estuary, ask for any elevation certificate and the seller’s flood policy. Ask for well test results too. We line up the homeowners binder, and a flood binder if you need one, so both are ready for your lender.

How a Hampton Falls home quote works

• Tell us about the house: address, year built, square footage, roof age and updates to wiring, plumbing and heating.
• Send your current declarations page so we can compare like for like and point out limits that look short.
• We shop the carriers that fit and lay the options out side by side, with the differences in coverage, deductibles and storm terms, not just price.
• You choose, and we handle the switch, including your mortgage company and the effective date, so there is no gap.

Serving Hampton Falls from Portsmouth

Our office is at 601 Islington St, Unit 206, Portsmouth, NH 03801, and we also work by phone, email and online. Call (603) 431-4020. Nearby, see our Hampton, Exeter, Rye and Kensington pages.

Sources

• Town of Hampton Falls, Master Plan (December 2018)
• Town of Hampton Falls, Tides to Storms Vulnerability Assessment
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center
• FloodSmart, buying a flood policy

Get a quote

Tell us about the property and we will compare carriers and follow up with options. Prefer to talk? Call (603) 431-4020.

Frequently asked questions

Do you insure homes in Hampton Falls, NH?

Yes. We insure Hampton Falls homes from our Portsmouth office at 601 Islington St, and by phone, email and online. Call (603) 431-4020.

Does Hampton Falls flood?

Yes, near the estuary. The master plan says homes next to the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary on Depot Road and Brimmer Lane are in a high-risk flood area, and the town’s vulnerability assessment flags Route 1 near Whittier Pond. Check your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

Does homeowners insurance cover a flooded basement?

Not from flood. Water backup from sewers, drains or a sump pump is an add-on, and rising or surface water needs a flood policy.

Who writes your NFIP flood policies?

We write NFIP policies through Selective, and we compare private flood from Flow Flood, Neptune Flood, Beyond Floods, The Flood Insurance Agency, CatCoverage and Aon Edge.

Do you charge fees?

No. We don’t charge fees on any policy we write, including homeowners, condo, renters, landlord, dwelling and auto.