Sinkhole Damage – Would Your Home Policy Respond?

Sinkholes have been appearing more and more frequently in the news – but what exactly are they? Sinkholes occur when water seeps through the ground and eats away at the rock beneath it, until the surface of the ground collapses.

Limestone is a very common type of rock under a sinkhole because it is soft and easily dissolved by water. What state is so full of limestone that it was declared the “state rock” in 1979?

Tennessee.

A sinkhole is a disaster that might not readily come to mind, but is certainly one that could have grave consequences for a home owner. The majority of homeowner’s policies exclude coverage for damage caused by movement of the earth. Sinkhole coverage may sound extreme, but we aren’t just talking about a movie-worthy scene of a whole house being swallowed up. Even a slight movement in the earth can cause severe structural damage: huge cracks in the foundation of your home, craters in your driveway, cracks in the walls and ceiling, slanting floors, and flooding or leaking of water.

Sinkholes can also be human-driven. Construction, heavy traffic, and mining can all be contributors. You can’t ignore that Tennessee is growing rapidly; with these man-made factors included with the natural risk of sinkholes, it is more and more evident that sinkhole coverage could save you from a pit of disaster. .

Adding sinkhole coverage, especially when you live in an area susceptible to them, is an excellent safeguard against losing your home, valuables, time, and resources. We see our customers’ sinkhole claims run as high as $20,000, so make sure you add this valuable coverage to your home policy!