Homeowners insurance is required by your lender and crucial for protecting your investment,whether you're buying in Fort Mill, Waxhaw, or anywhere in the Charlotte metro area. But figuring out how much coverage you need can be confusing, especially in our area where we deal with everything from hail storms to occasional hurricane threats. Your dwelling coverage should be enough to rebuild your home at today's construction costs, not the purchase price. Sometimes these numbers are very different – you might buy a house inBallantyne for $500K, but it would cost $600K+ to rebuild it today with current construction costs

Your insurance agent should help you calculate this, but don't just accept the minimum they suggest. With inflation in construction costs, err on the side of more coverage. Personal property coverage typically runs 50-75% of your dwelling coverage, but take inventory of your belongings to make sure that's adequate. If you've got expensive jewelry, art, or electronics, you might need additional riders. In areas like Weddington or Indian Land where homes tend to be well-appointed, standard coverage might not be enough for all your belongings

Don't forget about liability coverage – this protects you if someone gets injured on your property. In litigious times, $300K in liability coverage isn't enough anymore. Consider $500K-1M, or lookinto an umbrella policy. Also think about additional living expenses coverage, which pays for hoteland meal costs if your home is uninhabitable due to a covered claim. Shop around with multiple insurers and ask about discounts – you might save money for having security systems, being claims-free, or bundling with auto insurance

Some insurers are getting pickier about our Charlotte metro area due to weather risks, so start shopping early in your home buying process. Don't just go with the cheapest option – check the company's financial ratings and claims-paying reputation. You want them to be there when you need them after a storm hits your Marvin or Pineville home.