A standard Texas homeowners policy covers a lot — but not everything. Here’s what’s typically included, what often isn’t, and the questions worth asking before you bind a policy.

The standard six

Most Texas homeowners policies are built around six core coverage types, sometimes called Coverage A through F. Knowing what each one is for helps you read your declarations page and ask better questions.

Dwelling (Coverage A) pays to repair or rebuild your home itself if it’s damaged by a covered event. The amount you carry should reflect what it would actually cost to rebuild today — not what you paid for the house, and not its current market value.

Other Structures (Coverage B) covers detached buildings on your property: garages, fences, sheds, gazebos. Usually a percentage of your dwelling limit.

Personal Property (Coverage C) covers your stuff — furniture, electronics, clothing, gear — if it’s damaged or stolen. This applies whether you’re at home or traveling.

Loss of Use (Coverage D) pays for temporary housing and additional living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss.

Personal Liability (Coverage E) protects you if a guest is injured at your home or you accidentally damage someone else’s property and you’re held responsible.

Medical Payments (Coverage F) covers minor medical expenses for guests injured on your property, regardless of who’s at fault. Lower limits than liability, no-fault.

What’s typically not covered

The big gaps homeowners often don’t realize until they file a claim:

Flood damage. Standard homeowners policies almost never cover flooding from rising water — that’s a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood carrier. In Texas, this matters most along the Gulf Coast and in flash-flood-prone Hill Country areas, but it can come up anywhere there’s heavy rainfall.

Earthquake. Rare in most of Texas and excluded by default. Earthquake coverage isn’t typically available as an add-on in Texas the way it is in higher-risk states.

Wear and tear or maintenance issues. Insurance covers sudden, accidental damage. It doesn’t cover gradual deterioration, mold from a slow leak, or a roof that wore out over time.

Some types of water damage. Sudden burst pipes, yes. Slow leaks that caused damage over months, usually no.

High-value individual items. Personal property coverage usually has sub-limits on jewelry, fine art, firearms, and collectibles. If you have significant items in those categories, ask about scheduled personal property endorsements.

Texas-specific considerations

A few things that come up regularly in Texas:

Wind and hail deductibles are often separate from your main deductible in Texas, especially in coastal and hail-prone areas. They’re typically expressed as a percentage of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat dollar amount, which means a single bad storm could mean a meaningful out-of-pocket cost.

Replacement cost vs. actual cash value matters more in markets like North Texas where rebuild costs have climbed faster than home values. Replacement-cost coverage pays what it costs to rebuild today; actual cash value depreciates for age and wear.

Foundation considerations come up especially in San Antonio and other south-central Texas markets where clay soils shift during drought. Policies vary on what they’ll cover for foundation issues.

Questions worth asking

Before you bind a policy, it’s worth asking your agent:

If you’re shopping for a Texas homeowners policy and want someone to walk through these questions with you for your specific home, give Harvey Insurance a call at (469) 513-3379. We’ve been writing across Texas for years and we’ll help you understand what you’re actually buying.