homeowners insurance

Check out our gallery to see how many of these 10 must-have documents are in your possession -- and which ones it's time for you to take action on.

Engagement rings, push gifts and more -- motherhood and jewelry do tend to go together. But this Mother's Day, consider a gift that will help her protect the beautiful baubles she already has.

Insurance companies take notice of customers who file a lot of claims. At some point, these become unprofitable customers, driving their insurers to raise their rates -- or cancel or refuse to renew their policies. With that in mind, here are five situations where it may be less costly in the long run if you simply skip filing a claim and pay for the losses yourself.

If you live on the East Coast, the earth moved under your feet Tuesday -- and in Colorado, the same thing happened Monday. With two fairly strong earthquakes hitting areas of the country where they rarely strike, you may be wondering: Am I covered? Should I be? DailyFinance answers your post-quake questions.

The recent deadly tornado in Joplin, Mo., as well as a pair of devastating twisters in Springfield, Mass., serve as reminders to homeowners and renters nationwide about the need to shore up their properties – and their finances – against natural disasters. And since hurricane season...

Ordinary insurance policies cover the basics -- but what if you want more? The industry will happily take more of your money to give you the added piece of mind that a rider can provide. The question is, when are riders worth it?

Everyone realizes that homeowners need insurance policies, but many renters overlook the fact that they need coverage too. The average tenant has a lot to lose if they fall victim to a fire, flood or other disaster, which means they have a lot to gain from buying a low-cost renters policy.

The deadly tornadoes that struck the South and Midwest in April, the devastating quake in Japan and concerns about terrorist reprisals after Osama bin Laden's death should serve as reminders to property owners: plan for the worst-case scenario.

The idea of making some extra income off your house may sound attractive to many homeowners -- until one starts considering what the costs will be in terms of lifestyle changes, loss of privacy, safety and potential financial liability. Our experts provide some sobering advice.

The market value of your home may have fallen as much as 50% over the last five years, but your homeowner's insurance bill has probably risen. Why is that and what can you do about it? Like it or not, the insurance industry is firm about the answers to these questions. They say the cost of...