Home Insurance in Wentzville and St. Charles County
A plain-language guide to what homeowners insurance covers, written for houses in Wentzville and the rest of St. Charles County.
Opening soon · Not yet quoting or selling insuranceA local agency, opening soon
Firstway is a new independent insurance agency opening soon in Wentzville. We aren't quoting or selling policies yet. In the meantime, this page explains how homeowners insurance works, so you know what to look for when you read your own policy.
Independent means Firstway won't be tied to one insurance company. Once we're open and appointed with carriers, we'll be able to compare options from more than one of them for the same house.
What a homeowners policy covers
Dwelling
The structure of the house and what's attached to it: roof, walls, floors, built-in cabinets and an attached garage.
Other structures
Things on the property that aren't attached to the house, such as a detached garage, shed or fence.
Personal property
Your belongings: furniture, clothing, electronics, tools and appliances that aren't built in.
Personal liability
Your legal responsibility if someone is injured on your property, or you damage someone else's property.
Medical payments to others
Smaller medical bills for a guest hurt at your home, paid without anyone having to prove fault.
Loss of use
Extra living costs, such as a rental or hotel, if a covered loss makes the house unlivable while it's repaired.
Weather and water in St. Charles County
Thunderstorms with wind and hail are a regular part of spring and summer in eastern Missouri. Most standard homeowners policies cover wind and hail damage, but the details vary. Some policies carry a separate wind and hail deductible, and some settle an older roof for less than the cost of a new one.
Flood is different. Standard homeowners policies generally don't cover flood damage. Flood insurance is bought separately, through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer. Parts of St. Charles County lie along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, so it's worth checking your address on FEMA's flood maps.
Water that backs up through a sewer or drain is usually excluded too, unless an endorsement for it has been added to the policy.
The decisions that shape a policy
- Dwelling limit. This should reflect what it would cost to rebuild the house, which is not the same as its market value or what you paid for it.
- Deductible. A higher deductible usually lowers the premium and raises what you pay yourself after a loss.
- Replacement cost or actual cash value. Replacement cost pays to repair or replace with new materials. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation, so an older roof or older belongings pay out less.
- Scheduled items. Policies cap what they pay for certain valuables, such as jewelry, firearms and collectibles. Items worth more than the cap can be listed separately.
The right choices depend on the house and the household. We'll go through them with you once Firstway is open.
Home and auto together
Many households keep their home and auto policies with the same agent, which means one person to call about both. Our home and auto bundle page explains how that works, and the auto insurance page covers Missouri's required coverage.
Towns we'll serve
Firstway is based in Wentzville and will work with homeowners across St. Charles County and nearby, including:
Home insurance questions
What does homeowners insurance usually cover in Missouri?
A standard homeowners policy usually covers the house itself, detached structures such as a shed or fence, your belongings, your liability if someone is hurt or their property is damaged, medical payments to guests, and extra living costs if a covered loss forces you out of the house. What counts as a covered loss depends on the policy form, so read the declarations page and the exclusions on your own policy.
Does a standard policy cover hail or wind damage?
Most standard homeowners policies cover wind and hail damage. Some apply a separate wind and hail deductible, and some pay less for an older roof than it costs to replace it. Your declarations page shows which applies to you.
What is the difference between dwelling and personal property coverage?
Dwelling coverage is for the structure of the house and things attached to it, such as the roof, walls and built-in cabinets. Personal property coverage is for what you would take with you if you moved: furniture, clothing, electronics and similar belongings.
Do I need separate flood insurance in St. Charles County?
Standard homeowners policies generally do not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a separate policy, available through the National Flood Insurance Program or private insurers. Parts of St. Charles County sit along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, so it is worth looking up your address on FEMA's flood maps. If your home is in a high-risk flood zone and you have a mortgage, your lender may require it.
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the part of a covered loss that you pay before the policy pays the rest. A higher deductible usually lowers the premium and raises what you pay out of pocket when you file a claim.
Can I keep home and auto with one agent?
Yes. Many households keep both policies with the same agent, and sometimes with the same insurance company. Once Firstway is open, that is something we will be able to help with. We are not quoting or selling insurance yet.
Want to know the day we open?
Firstway isn't quoting or selling insurance yet. Leave your name and we'll reach out once, when we open in Wentzville.