Home Insurance In South Carolina

Homeowners insurance in South Carolina is an essential part of owning a home. It protects you and your family from financial loss if an accident or natural disaster damages your home or personal property. In addition, it will provide financial protection for you and your family if someone is injured on your property.

The average cost of homeowners insurance in South Carolina is $1,270 annually, or about $106 a month.

Location plays a significant role in the cost of homeowners insurance, and the higher-cost cities tend to be located along the coast. For example, Pickens homeowners pay an average of $1,022 a year, while Briarcliffe Acres homeowners pay an average of $3,163.

North Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, and Columbia homeowners pay $1,759, $1,727. $1,658 and $1,227 per year respectively.

The insurance provider you choose will also affect the cost of coverage. For example, Chubb, Allstate, UPC and Progressive offer a dwelling coverage of up to $300,000 at $1,207, $1,419, $1,444, and $1,531 in yearly premiums respectively.

USAA, State Farm and Nationwide Insurance offer the same coverage for $1,583, $1,736, and $ 1,977 per year respectively.

The age of your home, security features, and maintenance habits will also affect the cost of insurance. Additionally, discounts may apply if you have made certain upgrades to protect your home and family, such as installing smoke detectors or a fire alarm system. Similarly, adding extra coverage, such as flood insurance will raise your premiums.

Above are just ballpark estimates of the costs of South Carolina home insurance. Your home is unique, and so are your coverage needs. To get an accurate quote and the best deal for your South Carolina home insurance, the best thing to do is compare quotes from multiple insurance providers.

At Southern Insurance Group, we make it easy to compare home insurance rates and coverage options in South Carolina. We partner with some of the most trusted insurance companies in the Palmetto State and our team is dedicated to finding you the best coverage for your home and family. Since we are not tied to a single South Carolina home insurance company, we are able to offer you the most competitive rates.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can save you money on your South Carolina home or condo insurance.

We look forward to helping you protect your South Carolina home and family!

South Carolina homeowners’ insurance offers several types of coverage designed to protect your home and personal property. These levels of coverage include dwelling coverage, personal property coverage, liability protection, additional living expenses, and medical payments coverage.

Dwelling Coverage 

Dwelling coverage is the most basic form of homeowners insurance. It covers the physical structure of your home, including attached structures such as garages, decks, and patios. It also covers other property on your premises such as fences and sheds. The following items are typically covered under dwelling coverage:

• Roofs, walls, and floors.
• Electrical wiring and plumbing systems.
• Built-in appliances such as ovens and dishwashers.
• Permanently installed fixtures such as cabinets, countertops, and flooring.
• Gutters, downspouts, and other exterior features.
• Furnaces and air conditioning systems.
• Windows, doors, and other openings to the home’s interior.
• Fences around your property line.
• Paved driveways and walkways.
• Detached garages and workshops.
• Exterior lighting fixtures.
• Trees, shrubs, and other landscaping features.
• Decks and patios attached to the home’s foundation.
• Retaining walls holding back soil around your property line.
• Swimming pools located on the premises of your home.

Another important aspect of dwelling coverage is that it typically includes reimbursement for repairs or replacement of damaged items due to certain disasters, such as fire, lightning, and windstorms. Some policies may also include coverage for theft, vandalism, and water damage. This is especially important since South Carolina has a history of costly natural disasters.

Personal Property Coverage 

Personal property coverage protects your belongings that are stored in or around your home, such as furniture, clothing, appliances and electronics. The following items are typically covered under personal property coverage:

• Clothing, bedding and linens.
• Appliances including refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers.
• Kitchenware including pots and pans.
• Electronics such as TVs, computers and gaming systems.
• Furniture such as couches, chairs and tables.
• Carpets, rugs and curtains.
• Outdoor furniture including lawn chairs and grills.
• Personal collections such as books, artwork and jewelry.
• Musical instruments like guitars or pianos.
• Exercise equipment like treadmills and ellipticals.
• Tools used for hobbies such as woodworking or gardening.
• Sports and camping equipment such as bikes and tents.
• Bicycles, scooters, skis and other recreational vehicles.
• Campers and boats that are stored on your premises.
• Valuables including silverware, antiques and collectibles.

Personal property coverage typically reimburses you for the cost of replacing lost or damaged items due to certain disasters, such as fire, lightning and windstorms. Some policies may also include coverage for theft, vandalism and water damage. Sometimes personal property coverage includes reimbursement for items that have been stored away from your premises, such as in a storage unit or at another residence.

Liability Protection

Liability protection is an important part of homeowners insurance. It covers legal expenses and damages if someone is injured or their property is damaged while on your premises. The following are typically covered under liability protection:

• Costs related to medical expenses and legal fees incurred if someone is injured while on your property.
• Damage to another person’s property caused by you or your family members.
• Loss of income for someone who is unable to work because of an injury sustained on your premises.
• Accidental damage caused by pets or other animals owned by you.
• Legal expenses and damages resulting from libel, slander, or copyright infringement.
• Injury or death to a guest in your home due to negligence.
• Injuries sustained while playing recreational activities such as swimming pools, trampolines and treehouses.
• Accidents that occur in common areas like hallways, stairways and elevators in multi-unit buildings.
• Dog bites occurring on your premises regardless of breed or size.
• Injury resulting from the use of a motor vehicle owned by you.
• Injuries sustained due to falls and slips on your property.
• Damage caused by faulty electrical wiring, plumbing or other household appliances.
• Environmental damage such as that caused by lead paint, asbestos or underground tanks.

Depending on the policy, liability protection may also cover losses due to cyber-attacks and online activities. It is important to ensure your homeowner's policy provides the coverage you need in order to protect yourself from potential claims and lawsuits. 

Additional Living Expenses 

South Carolina Homeowners insurance policies typically include additional living expense coverage, which helps cover costs associated with temporary relocation if your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered disaster such as a fire or flooding. This type of coverage can help pay for things like meals and lodging while your home is being repaired or rebuilt. It can also help cover costs related to storage fees for furniture and other items that must be removed from the premises during repairs. Additional living expenses are limited in both cost and duration, so it is important to carefully review the limits of your policy.

In some cases, an insurance provider may offer additional coverage for extended living expenses if your home is not able to be repaired within a certain time frame. This type of coverage can help pay for costs associated with moving and settling in at a new residence while repairs are being made on your current one. These types of expenses are typically limited, so it is important to know exactly what is included in your particular policy.

Unless clearly specified, many homeowners insurance policies in South Carolina do not cover damage caused by floods, earthquakes, or windstorms. If you live in an area that is prone to any of these risks, it is important to purchase additional coverage for these events. For floods, separate flood insurance may be purchased from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Earthquake and windstorm coverage is available in South Carolina but can be expensive. It is important to compare costs and coverage limits before purchasing a policy. You should also consider raising the deductible on your homeowner's policy if you have earthquake or windstorm protection, as this can help reduce the cost of premiums while still providing adequate coverage.

Insurance companies in South Carolina are eager to offer homeowners discounts on their policies. Common discounts include:

• Multi-policy discounts for those who also carry auto or life insurance with the same provider.
• Senior citizen discounts.
• Discounts to homeowners who purchase alarm systems or other safety measures like smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
• New home discounts for those purchasing their first policy.
• Loyalty discounts for customers who have been with the same provider for a number of years.

It is also important to note that some insurance companies may offer additional discounts based on your credit score, occupation, payment method, or other factors. Be sure to inquire about the various discounts available when shopping around for South Carolina homeowner's insurance policies.

By taking the time to compare quotes and coverage limits, you can ensure that you find the right policy for your needs.

At Southern Insurance Group, we understand the importance of finding the right South Carolina homeowners insurance policy to protect your home and belongings. That's why we make it easy for you to compare quotes and coverage limits from a wide range of providers.

Our experienced agents will work with you to go over your policy options and help you select the right coverage that meets your needs at an affordable rate. When it comes time to file a claim, our knowledgeable staff will be there every step of the way to ensure you get the best possible outcome.



Contact us today for more information and to find out how we can help you save on your South Carolina homeowners insurance policy.