OnePoint Insurance Agency Blog

What Is Personal Property Coverage in Homeowners Insurance?

July 15, 2025•3 min read

What Is Personal Property Coverage in Homeowners Insurance?

Protect the Belongings That Make Your House a Home

If your clothes, furniture, electronics, or keepsakes were destroyed in a fire or stolen during a break-in would your insurance cover it? That’s where personal property coverage steps in.

Part of your homeowners insurance, this protection helps you replace the items inside your home after a covered loss. At OnePoint Insurance Agency, we don’t just sell policies—we help you understand what’s truly protected.

What Personal Property Insurance Covers

Also called Coverage C, personal property coverage protects the movable belongings inside your home.

Commonly Covered Items:

Clothing, shoes, and accessories
Furniture, curtains, rugs
Electronics like TVs, laptops, and phones
Non-built-in appliances (microwaves, toasters)
Jewelry and fine art (up to policy limits)
Bicycles, sports gear, tools
Items in storage or temporarily away from home

Covered Events Often Include:

Fire, smoke, or lightning
Theft or vandalism
Windstorms and hail
Water damage from burst pipes
Falling objects or accidental overflow

Most policies pay actual cash value (ACV) unless you upgrade to replacement cost coverage, which reimburses you for the cost of buying new items.

What’s Not Covered

Like all parts of your homeowners policy, Coverage C has exclusions and sub-limits:

Flood and earthquake damage (requires separate policies)
Wear and tear or mechanical breakdown
High-value items (e.g., jewelry, art, firearms) unless scheduled with endorsements
Business-use items beyond basic limits
Pets, vehicles, and aircraft

Review your policy carefully and consider adding endorsements or riders for full protection of valuable property.

Who Needs Personal Property Coverage?

In short almost everyone.

Ideal for:

Homeowners – Comes with your HO-3 or HO-5 policy
Renters – Renter’s insurance primarily protects personal belongings
Condo owners – Included in your HO-6 policy for items inside your unit
College students – May have coverage under a parent’s policy if living on campus

Whether you’re safeguarding a vintage guitar collection or your child’s gaming setup, it pays to confirm your limits and know what’s at risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this coverage protect belongings outside the home?
Yes, though with a lower limit typically 10% of your personal property coverage limit for off-premises losses.

Is there a limit on electronics or jewelry?
Yes. High-value categories often have sub-limits unless you schedule items separately.

How much personal property coverage do I need?
A good rule of thumb: 50–70% of your dwelling coverage. But the best approach is to create a home inventory to get accurate estimates.

What’s the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost?
ACV deducts depreciation. Replacement cost reimburses you for the full price of buying a new item of similar kind and quality.