What Insurance Should You Get To Protect Your Home From Water Damage?

By Ressie Krabacher

As a local resident and top performing REALTOR® in Chicago, Ressie Krabacher is relentlessly focused on helping her clients move forward. She serves as an advocate and advisor for buying or selling, overseeing relocation, or adding home ownership to their financial goals.

Water damage will always be a surprising—albeit all too common—issue to deal with as a homeowner. If you live in a place like Chicago, you’ve likely already seen how intense “super soaker” storms can affect your property. Your basement gets flooded, water seeps in from all sorts of places, and suddenly, you find yourself having to deal with a mess no one warned you about.

That’s why I sat down with my trusted insurance expert, Erin Millington of Millington Insurance Solutions, to explain home insurance coverage and water damage: what’s usually covered, what’s not, and how to protect your home before issues arise.

First, let’s clarify the difference between seepage and flooding. They’re two separate issues that require entirely different types of coverage, and understanding how each policy works is the first step to protecting your home from potential water damage.

Water backup coverage is an optional add-on to your homeowner’s policy. It covers water that backs up through your sewer line or sump pump, especially if your sump pump fails. It’s typically not included in your policy, so you’ll need to ask your insurance agent to endorse or add it in. Erin tells us that this does come with an additional premium, but it’s worth it when your basement stays dry during the next big storm.

Flood insurance, on the other hand, is a completely separate policy that covers any water that comes into your property from outside, like rainwater that pools and enters through a garden-level window. Even if you’re not in a designated flood zone, buying it is still advisable, and it’s usually pretty affordable if you’re in a low-risk area. Erin advises to expect higher premiums If you are in a flood zone, but know that it’s absolutely essential.

So what’s a homeowner to do? If you’re unsure whether you have the right protection—or any at all—it’s likely time to check in with your insurance agent. If you don’t have someone you trust, I highly recommend reaching out to Erin Millington. She’s incredibly knowledgeable and always goes the extra mile to make sure you’re covered where it counts.

If you have any questions about real estate, feel free to call me at 773-965-4100 or email me at ressie@kw.com. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just want to stay ahead of potential homeownership pitfalls, I’ve got your back.