The rates you pay for your standard homeowners' insurance policy includes the following essential types of coverage. These are:1. Coverage for the structure of your home.2. Coverage for other structures.3. Coverage for your personal belongings.1. The Structure of Your HouseCoveragefor the structure of your house is the part of your policy thatincludes repairs or rebuilding if your home (dwelling) was damaged byfire, hurricane, hail, lightning or other disasters listed in yourpolicy. Your "dwelling" typically includes your house, attachedstructures and fixtures in your house such as built-in appliances,plumbing, wiring, heating systems, and permanently installedair-conditioning systems. This coverage does not cover damage caused byfloods, earthquakes or routine wear and tear. When you buy yourhomeowners' insurance it is very important that you purchase enough torebuild your home.2. Coverage for Other StructuresMoststandard policies also cover detached structures such as garages,storage sheds, and fixtures attached to the land such as fences,driveways, sidewalks, and retaining walls. These kinds of structuresare usually covered for about 10% of the amount of coverage you have onyour home. If you believe you need more coverage on these structures,make sure you talk to your insurance agent. If a detached structure isused for a business purpose, it is not covered under a homeowner'sinsurance policy.3. Your Personal BelongingsItemssuch as furniture, clothing, and sports equipment are covered if theyare stolen or destroyed by insured disasters. Some policies may havelimited coverage for small boats but not motorized vehicles unless theyare unlicensed and only used at your home. Some belongings or items mayhave limited coverage. These could include artwork, firearms,electronic data and money. Usually you have 50% to 70% of the amount ofinsurance you have on the structure of your home. It is very importantto conduct a home inventory to determine if you have enough coverage toreplace these belongings.Many people learn after a storm orfire that they didn't have enough coverage to replace their belongings.After a catastrophe, would you be able to remember all the possessionsyou've accumulated over the years? Making an inventory will help youdecide on how much coverage you actually need. Start by making a listof your possessions, describe each item and note where you bought itand its make and model. Include all your sales receipts, purchasecontracts, and appraisals. For your clothing, make categories and noteitems that are especially valuable. When it comes to major appliancesand electronic equipment, record their serial numbers.If youare just setting up a household, starting your home inventory can besimple. If you have lived in your home for years, the idea of doing ahome inventory can be daunting. Start by going room to room. Noterecent purchases and do your best to remember what you can of olderitems.Your inventory can be documented by photographing eachitem or by making a video tape. Make sure to store these documents in avery safe place, not in your home. You can download free home inventorysoftware at www.knowyourstuff.com. Better yet, keep your records anddigital photos inside a free KeepandShare account. Readabout using KeepandShare for home insurance inventory.Costlyitems such as silverware, jewelry, and furs are covered but there areusually dollar limits. Your coverage even includes "accidentaldisappearance," meaning if you lose the item it is covered by yourpolicy. However, there is no deductible. To insure expensive belongingsfor their full limits you need to buy a special personal propertyendorsement.Trees, plants and shrubs are also covered under thePersonal Belongings part of your policy as long as they were damaged byinsurable perils. They are not covered if the damage occurred from windor disease. The coverage is usually 5% of the insurance on your home.Your policy also includes off-premise coverage anywhere in the world. Sometimes the limit is 10% of the amount on the policy.Your policy should include up to $500.00 of coverage for unauthorized use of your credit cards.