Even the most responsible and hardworking homeowners can’t keep up with all the necessary maintenance by themselves. Sometimes, professionals need to be called in. But these pros can cause destruction, not only to your property, but also to surrounding property, all on their own. So what happens if a tree cutter you hire drops a branch on your neighbor’s shed? Who’s responsible for this mess, anyway?

Fortunately a South Carolina independent insurance agent can not only answer this question for you, but also help you get set up with the right homeowners insurance. They know just which type of protection you need, and they’ll make sure you’re covered long before you ever have to file a claim. But first, here’s a closer look at how homeowners insurance would work in this scenario.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

Homeowners insurance is important for residents in South Carolina as well as across the country, because it provides several key protections. Though your policy should be reviewed with the help of your South Carolina independent insurance agent, common protections offered by homeowners insurance are:

• Liability coverage: Liability insurance protects you against claims of bodily injury or property damage filed by third parties. Legal costs, including attorney and court fees, are covered if you get sued.
• Dwelling and contents coverage: These separate sections of property insurance protect the structure of your home against various perils like fire and lightning, as well as your stuff inside the home (and in many cases, also stored elsewhere) against threats like theft.
• Additional living expenses coverage: This coverage provides reimbursement for extra costs if you need to live elsewhere after a covered disaster severely damages your home. Covered expenses include hotel stays, additional gas mileage, and more.

Your South Carolina independent insurance agent can talk to you further about the important coverages provided by homeowners insurance, and help you find the right policy.

What Doesn’t Homeowners Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

Though South Carolina homeowners insurance packs a mean punch of protection, it also comes with various exclusions, just like any other type of policy. While your policy may vary slightly, the following perils are often excluded by homeowners insurance:

It’s important to address these exclusions with your South Carolina independent insurance agent when shopping for coverage. Also, to protect your South Carolina home from flood damage, you’ll want to consider adding a separate flood insurance policy.

Most Common Threats to South Carolina Homeowners

It’s crucial to have adequate homeowners insurance coverage to prepare, not only for falling tree incidents, but  for many other common threats, as well. Check out some of the top threats to homeowners in South Carolina, to better prepare yourself.

Top 5 risks for homeowners in South Carolina

1. Hurricanes and tropical storms
2. Ice storms and freezing
3. Burglary and other property crimes
4. Wildfires and residential fires
5. Flooding and water damage

A South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you get equipped with adequate homeowners insurance to guard against these common threats and more.

Who’s Responsible for Paying If My Tree Cutter Drops a Branch on My Neighbor’s Shed?

If you hire a tree cutting service, the professional would be responsible for smashing your neighbor’s shed with your tree branch. Fortunately, legitimate tree cutting businesses and contractors are most often required to carry insurance before they’re licensed to work. However, sadly this sometimes isn’t the case. That’s why it’s crucial to check out any professionals’ credentials up front, and always ask for proof of insurance upon hiring.

Am I Responsible for Covering Any Damage Caused by the Tree Branch?

Well, if the tree cutter didn’t carry their own insurance, technically either you or your neighbor could file through your homeowners insurance. You might choose to file a claim through your own policy as a courtesy to your neighbor. Though you should only ever hire legitimate tree cutting services to work on your home, luckily your homeowners insurance would protect you if you ended up entrusting the work to someone who lacked coverage.

Will My South Carolina Homeowners Insurance Offer Full Coverage for My Neighbor’s Property?

According to insurance expert Paul Martin, there is a certain coverage called "tree damage cleanup" that’s included in standard homeowners insurance policies. Coverage provides reimbursement for repairs required after a tree falls on an insured structure, even if it belongs to your neighbor. It also covers the following:

• Debris cleanup: Tree damage cleanup not only applies just to the plant itself, but also to the debris the incident left behind, such as twigs or broken glass.
• Fallen tree/shrub removal: Tree damage cleanup does what the name implies, and covers the removal of fallen trees and shrubs, even if they land on your neighbor’s property. To be covered, though, the cause of the fall had to have been due to a peril listed on your policy. These often include hail, ice, snow, sleet, or wind, but professional tree cutting incidents are also covered.

Be sure to speak to your South Carolina independent agent about upcoming home projects such as tree cutting. They’ll ensure you have all the protection you need, just in case of disaster.

Here’s How a South Carolina Independent Insurance Agent Can Help

When it comes to protecting you when a tree cutter drops a branch on your neighbor’s shed and all other strange incidents, no one’s better equipped to help than a South Carolina independent insurance agent. Independent insurance agents search through multiple carriers to find providers who specialize in homeowners insurance, deliver quotes from a number of different sources, and help you walk through them all to find the best blend of coverage and cost.