American Modern can insure stand-alone, non-residential structures, such as a pole barn or boat house.

Non-residential Insurance
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Insurance for non-residential structures

Non-residential In a typical homeowners [?]
Homeowners policy
A homeowners policy is a wide-ranging package of protections that goes beyond physical damage coverage to your house.Also included are property coverage for other structures on the grounds, personal property coverage, personal liability coverage, and any endorsements.The policy will define the causes of loss, which may be named perils or a comprehensive list. This class of coverage is sometimes referred to by the abbreviation "HO-3." Note that earthquake and flood are not covered.The policy will specify any limits, exclusions and conditions. or DP-1 dwelling [?]
DP-1
DP stands for Dwelling Property, a class of coverage for housing insurance created by the Insurance Standards Organization. The number is a designation for one of several standard DP packages. DP-1 offers named peril coverage for owner, rental, seasonal, and vacant occupancy classes. policy, outbuildings are included in the policy written for the home itself. Your agent may refer to this part of the policy as Coverage B.

Most carriers will not offer you coverage for a stand-alone building, or if it located too far away from the primary residence.

American Modern insures stand-alone structures. These are non-residential structures that include a roof, but no permanent living quarters, such as a:

Pole barn
Boat house or covered boat slip
Casitas (RV awning)
Storage building
Camping structure

The minimum accepted value is $5,000. We do not require that you have a homeowners or dwelling policy with us.

The program is based on a DP-1 form (named peril protection, actual cash value settlement).

Have a question about insuring non-residential property?
Call 866-884-6167 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thefts of copper, bronze, brass or aluminum increased 81 percent between the 2006 and 2011.

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Talk to an agent

If you want a quote now, or have questions about our non-residential property program, call us at 866-884-6167.

Our hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Flexible payment options

Option 1 -- start EZPay to automate your payments

Many customers want the convenience of monthly automated bill payments. With EZPay, a withdrawal is made from a bank account you specify, or charged to your credit card. We let you pick the date of the month for the payment (1 to 28). Once EZPay begins, we will stop mailing invoices.

Option 2 -- pay after we send you a bill

You either can pay in full at the time you start or renew the policy, or in many states we offer installments on a 4-Pay schedule – a quarter up-front with an installment due every 60 days. A service fee applies to each installment. Pay by personal check, credit card, or bank account transfer.

Some states place limits on the payment plan schedules we can offer or the service fee. To confirm, check with your agent or call Customer Care at 800-543-2644.

Have a question about insuring non-residential property?
Call 866-884-6167 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A pole barn typically does not have a concrete floor.

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Payment flexibility is important

We offer many ways for you to pay your premium. Learn more >

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Online Services

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Understanding your policy

What insurance provision covers stolen installed items, like copper pipes?

Both theft and burglary endorsements cover stolen property, whether its copper piping, permanently attached items (ex. heat pump or appliances), or personal effects.

But the two types of coverage differ as to how the thief entered the house.

A theft endorsement applies whether someone enters through an unlocked garage or kicks in the side door.
A burglary endorsement – although a type of theft coverage – only applies if forced entry leaves signs of visible damage, such as a broken window. If items are stolen without signs of forced entry, a burglary claim will be accepted.

So what happens if there is a break-in but nothing is actually stolen? Vandalism coverage protects the policyholder if a would-be thief ruins the drywall or cabinets but does not manage to cut out the pipes or steal the heat pump.

When you purchase insurance coverage for your home or property – particularly for more vulnerable vacant homes – be sure to ask your agent whether the policy covers theft or burglary, or both. And ask about vandalism, too.

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Help with the to do's

Roof maintenance can prevent future damage, if done the right way

Inspect the shingles. Cracks, breaks, peeling, and loss of grains all indicated that asphalt shingles are nearing the end of their effective life. Water stains can point to a slope problem and possible decking failure. A spongy feel underfoot is a warning sign that the decking is getting wet and is failing.

Clean, but don't power wash. The pressure from a power washer can strip off the top layer of shingles, making them vulnerable to the sun's UV rays, and can loosen shingles making them less resistant to wind storms. Instead, pick up sticks and debris by hand, then gently sweep. Moss or mold growth are best treated with a spray-on cleaning solution you can buy at the hardware store.

Empty the gutters by hand. Clean out the dirt, sticks, leaves and seeds by hand first, then use the garden hose to rinse. Just using the hose risks plugging the drain pipe. Secure any loose section, and recheck for puddles in the gutter which indicate that the slope is too shallow.

Refasten loose flashing. Wind, ice and snow can cause the flashing around vent stacks, the chimney or skylights to heave. It does not take much of a gap for water to slip under the flashing and shingles, and into the decking.

Check the soffits and fascias for gaps. No one wants a family of wasps, squirrels or bats to set up housekeeping in the attic.

Stay safe. Get help with the ladder and take it slow, or just call a local roofer to spend a few hours checking for you. Roof maintenance is important, but not worth a fall.

Need to find a contractor? The National Roofing Contractors Association offers advice on picking a good roofer. Go to the site .

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Staying safe

Experts recommend a new last-resort option to survive a tornado

American Modern's home office is just a short drive from communities in Ohio and Kentucky badly damaged by 12 tornadoes. In watching the news reports, we came across two interesting safety reminders of value to your customers.

An article in USA Today details the critical importance of tie down straps for mobile homes. Although these are commonly required on new homes, older homes with straps should have them inspected, and if necessary, replaced.

In grade school we learned that if you were caught outside in a storm to get out of your car and lay in a ditch. However, in 2009 the Red Cross changed that recommendation because ditches fill up in a flash flood and also tend to trap debris. Instead, if you cannot reach a basement shelter, stay in the car, with the seat belt fastened, crouch below the windows, and cover yourself with a blanket or jacket.

Donald Locasto, MD, director of the EMS division in the University of Cincinnati Department of Emergency Medicine, explained that car construction has improved in recent years so that it is better able to withstand flying debris. He even suggests letting the car run so that the air bags have power to activate in case the car is seriously impacted.

The best place to ride out a violent storm is a basement shelter, followed by the interior of a well-built structure. But if you are suddenly forced to choose among less safe options, the experts tell us to look for the best available option. It may well be the car.

Consider linking to the Red Cross Tornado Safety Checklist from your agency website.

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