Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Woodpecker Damage: Does Insurance Cover It?

There are lots of things that your standard homeowner's insurance policy covers. Also known as an HO3 Special Form, the HO3, which is what most homeowners carry for their homeowner's insurance coverage, is an “open perils” policy. This means that it covers all perils except those specifically listed in the policy's exclusions section.

A typical exclusion found in most HO3 policies is for: “Birds, Vermin, Rodents, Insects,” so, if you're wondering if woodpecker damage is covered in your policy, the answer is likely, “No.”

The reason woodpecker damage, or any other bird, vermin, rodent or insect damage, isn't covered by homeowners' insurance policies is because said damage is considered by insurance companies to be preventable. Their position is that prevention is possible by observing proper maintenance procedures.


Insurance Isn't For The Birds!


Some serious damage can occur when a persistent bird like a woodpecker decides to go to work on your home. He can drill holes through your siding, your window frames or your roofing. These holes can allow water and insects entry to your home and fungus and mold won't be far behind if left untreated. In addition to surface damage, structural damage can actually occur if woodpeckers spend significant time working on support beams.

While your homeowner's insurance doesn't cover woodpecker damage, there are things you can do to fix the damage and to prevent the same thing from happening again. Getting rid of insects, which woodpeckers feast on, can be a big help. Woodpeckers, however, use the noise that their pecking makes as a way of attracting mates, so different strategies need to be undertaken to get them to leave your property and go somewhere else. One idea that's worked for some is to place imitation owls or hawks in the areas where the birds have been causing trouble.


What About an Endorsement or Rider?


In most homeowner's insurance policies, even perils that are contained in the exclusions section can be covered by adding an endorsement (or rider) to the policy or adding an additional policy. Two common examples of this are the addition of flood insurance and/or earthquake insurance to your standard coverage.

An endorsement to cover the damage created by “Birds, Vermin, Rodents, Insects,” might be possible to obtain from some insurers for a price, since coverage for just about any peril can be negotiated for the right premium increase. Ask your agent.

1 comment: