Homeowners insurance in Washington

What home insurance covers in Washington

Washington homeowners buy HO-3 (Homeowners 3) policies covering the dwelling, personal property, liability, and medical expenses. But Washington's earthquake and wildfire risks mean knowing what your standard policy excludes is just as important as knowing what it covers.

• Dwelling. rebuilds your house structure (wood frame, roof, built-in cabinets) after fire, theft, or wind — but not earthquake or wildfire ash damage
• Personal property. covers your contents — furniture, electronics, clothing — against the same perils as the dwelling (with specified sublimits)
• Liability. pays legal costs and damages if someone is injured on your property and you're found responsible
• Medical payments to others. covers a guest's minor injury (cutting a hand in your kitchen) without assigning fault, usually $1,000 per incident
• Earthquake. explicitly excluded from standard HO-3; available as a separate policy or endorsement, typically with a 15–25% deductible
• Wildfire and smoke. fire from a wildfire is covered, but pre-fire evacuation losses and smoke damage to contents often require separate coverage or add-ons

Washington perils and what you need

Washington sits atop the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the Seattle Fault, making earthquake one of the state's foremost risks. Wildfire smoke increasingly reaches Seattle and Puget Sound, and western Washington experiences regular windstorms. A standard policy covers fire and wind but excludes earthquake and limits wildfire-related losses.

• Earthquake: not covered by standard HO-3; Washington is earthquake country, and standalone earthquake insurance (15–25% deductible, 5–10 year payback period) is a real consideration if you own a home worth $400k or more
• Wildfire: fire damage is covered, but evacuation losses, smoke damage to contents, and business interruption are not; consider a wildfire sub-limit rider if you live in a high-risk zone (eastern WA, foothills)
• Windstorm: standard HO-3 covers wind damage; western Washington sees regular winter storms
• Flood: standard policy excludes flood (spring snowmelt, river overflow); NFIP flood insurance and private flood policies are available
• Hail and theft: both covered under standard HO-3

Washington inspections and underwriting

Most Washington carriers order a standard inspection — checking roof condition, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems. Some require roof certification if your roof is over 20 years old. Earthquake-prone properties may trigger engineering questions but do not automatically disqualify you. The WA FAIR Plan is available for hard-to-place risks.

What affects your Washington home rate

• Home value and rebuild cost (highest weight)
• Age and condition of roof (especially roof age; over 25 years raises questions)
• Construction type (wood frame is standard; concrete or steel may lower risk)
• Claim history (one small claim often has minimal impact; multiple claims raise rates significantly)
• Distance from urban interfaces and wildfire risk zones
• Location within a flood zone or wildfire-prone county

How to lower your Washington home rate

• Bundle auto, renters, umbrella, or condo with home for multi-policy discounts
• Increase your deductible from $500 to $1,000 if you can absorb a mid-size loss
• Install a monitored security system (can save 5–10%)
• Maintain roof and gutters; document upkeep
• Ask about protective device discounts (deadbolts, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors)
• Re-shop at renewal — a single carrier may raise your rate while another doesn't

Why buy Washington home insurance through Maru

Maru carries partners with Washington insurers that understand earthquake and wildfire risk and offer competitive rates despite it. We review earthquake and flood endorsements to make sure you're not exposed to catastrophic loss, and we re-shop your policy each year so you're not stuck paying a rate increase. Your dedicated local advisor is here to answer questions about Washington-specific risks — no call queues, no outsourced claims.

Frequently asked questions

Vadim — Maru Insurance
Licensed independent insurance agent · WA & FL
Written and reviewed by a licensed Maru advisor. Maru Insurance is an independent agency (WA License WAOIC #1365574, FL License #G363233) representing multiple A-rated carriers across Washington and Florida.