Homeowners Insurance

No — flood damage is excluded from standard homeowners policies and requires a separate flood insurance policy. This matters even outside official flood zones, since heavy snowmelt and spring runoff across the Flathead Valley and North Idaho can cause flood damage that a standard policy won’t touch.

Yes, wildfire damage is generally covered under standard homeowners policies as a named peril. That said, coverage availability and pricing in wildfire-prone areas of Montana and Idaho can vary significantly by carrier, which is exactly why we shop your policy across multiple insurers rather than one.

Your dwelling coverage should reflect your home’s replacement cost — what it would take to rebuild it today — not its market value or purchase price. These two numbers are often very different, especially with rising construction costs in our area, and being underinsured here is one of the most common (and costly) mistakes homeowners make.

Actual cash value pays out your damaged property’s value after depreciation, while replacement cost coverage pays what it actually costs to replace it new. Replacement cost coverage costs a bit more but avoids an unpleasant surprise at claim time — we recommend it for nearly every homeowner we work with.

Yes, personal property coverage extends to your belongings both inside your home and, in many cases, away from it. Higher-value items like jewelry, art, or firearms often exceed standard per-item limits and need scheduled property coverage added to your policy to be fully protected.

Liability coverage protects you financially if someone is injured on your property, or if you or a family member accidentally causes injury or property damage to someone else — including damage caused by pets. It also covers your legal defense costs if you’re sued. Given how quickly legal costs add up, we generally recommend limits well above the policy minimum.

In most cases, yes — this falls under your liability coverage, though some carriers exclude certain dog breeds or have specific bite-related conditions. This is a detail worth confirming directly with us, since it varies more by carrier than people expect.

Typically not beyond a very limited amount. Business equipment, inventory, and liability related to a home-based business usually need separate business insurance or an endorsement added to your homeowners policy. If you’re running any kind of business from home, it’s worth a quick review so you’re not unknowingly uncovered.

Condo insurance is built around what condo associations don’t already cover — typically your unit’s interior, personal belongings, and liability — since the association’s master policy usually covers the building’s exterior and shared spaces. Homeowners insurance instead covers the entire structure since you own it outright.

Yes — mobile and manufactured homes are insured differently than site-built homes due to differences in construction, transportability, and risk, and require a dedicated mobile home policy rather than a standard homeowners policy.

A landlord policy, not a standard homeowners or renters policy. Landlord insurance covers the structure and your liability as the property owner, while your tenant’s belongings need their own renters insurance — the two policies work together rather than one covering both.

It depends on the claim type, cause, and your specific carrier’s rules. Before filing, especially for a smaller repair, it’s worth calling us first — we can tell you how that claim is likely to affect your rate and whether it makes sense to file or pay out of pocket.

Yes, and most clients save money doing it. Bundling homeowners with auto (or business) insurance through the same carrier typically qualifies you for a multi-policy discount, and keeps your entire insurance picture with one agent instead of several companies.

A direct insurer can only offer their own coverage at their own price. As an independent agency serving Montana and Idaho since 1986, we compare your home, location, and risk profile against multiple carriers to find the one that actually fits — and we’re the ones who advocate for you if a claim gets complicated.