Homeowners insurance in Hemet, CA

Older homes, manufactured homes and everything in between

Hemet has been a city since 1910, and its housing shows it. There are older stucco homes near downtown, a lot of retirement neighborhoods, newer tracts on the edges and a lot of mobile home parks. I'm Javier Calvo, I run a Farmers agency in Murrieta, and the first thing I ask a Hemet caller is simple: what kind of home is it? The answer changes which policy you need.

If you own a manufactured or mobile home

A manufactured home isn't insured on a regular homeowners form. It needs a mobile or manufactured home policy, which covers the home, your belongings and your liability in a way that fits how those homes are built. If you're in a park, you probably own the home and rent the space. That means the park's insurance protects the park, not your home or anything inside it. People are often surprised by that after a fire or a burst pipe.

What insurers ask about older Hemet houses

On a home from the 1960s or 70s, expect questions about the roof, the plumbing and the electrical panel. Some older panel brands have a bad reputation with insurers, and a roof near the end of its life can get a home declined or covered at a reduced value. I've spent more than 25 years in business and construction, so I'm comfortable talking through which updates actually matter to a carrier and which ones don't.

If you're on a fixed income, I understand the price matters. Raising the deductible, bundling with your car and asking about discounts for alarms or updated systems are the usual places to start. My homeowners insurance guide goes into what drives the rate.

Wildfire on the hills around the valley

Homes on the hillsides around the San Jacinto Valley, and near the open land toward Diamond Valley Lake, carry more fire risk than the flat neighborhoods in the middle of town. Fire is covered on a standard policy. The harder part is getting a carrier to write a home in a high-risk spot. When Farmers can't, the California FAIR Plan is the fallback, paired with a second policy for theft, liability and water damage.

The San Jacinto fault

The San Jacinto fault zone runs right along this valley, and it's one of the more active faults in Southern California. Homeowners policies don't cover earthquake damage. The California Earthquake Authority sells separate coverage, including policies for mobile homes, with deductibles from 5% to 25%. Whether it's worth it depends on your home and your savings, and I'd rather go over that with you than guess.

Jewelry, collections and other valuables

A standard policy caps theft of jewelry and watches at a low amount. If you have rings, a coin collection or anything else that would hurt to lose, we can list it on the policy for its appraised value so it's covered properly.

Most of my Hemet calls also involve a car, so ask me about home and auto together. If you're across the line in San Jacinto or out in Winchester, I write those homes too. Call (951) 383-3000 or visit 26690 Madison Ave, Ste 105, Murrieta, CA 92562. I'll go through your policy in English or Spanish.