[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by jimkerr

He’s talking about the additional sinkhole coverage you can buy. For example, If a sinkhole opens up in your front yard or driveway.

That is a common myth. Sinkhole insurance does NOT cover a sinkhole in the driveway or in the yard, or to other property that does not affect the house. It only covers damage to your house. All policies in Florida cover catastrophic ground collapse damage to your house if the house is deemed uninhabitable by the county or state. If you have damage to your house, but the house is not deemed uninhabitable, then an optional sinkhole coverage may cover the damage to your house.

[jsa]

Originally Posted by ridge

Checking on home insurance with independent agent. I asked about sinkhole insurance and agent said companies are not offering it on new policies. Has anyone else be told the same?

Also how important do you think it is? Our present policy has sinkhole but deductible is high - 10% of home value.

Thanks for your response.

We are moving into our new home in early April and I have quotes from both State Farm and AAA that include sinkhole insurance.

[Chamo]

Shop around the village’s insurance is NOT a good thing. Many issues with there services.

[bowlingal]

If a sinkhole touches your house, the damage is covered under your homeowners policy. A rider for sinkhole coverage is needed if the sinkhole DOES NOT touch the house, but appears on your property

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by bowlingal

If a sinkhole touches your house, the damage is covered under your homeowners policy. A rider for sinkhole coverage is needed if the sinkhole DOES NOT touch the house, but appears on your property

Not true. The optional sinkhole insurance only covers damage to the house. I would suggest that you read the sinkhole insurance rider very carefully. I have. The only difference between the optional sinkhole coverage and the mandatory catastrophic ground collapse coverage is that the house must be deemed uninhabitable by the county or state to get coverage under the mandatory insurance. Verbal information from an insurance salesperson is often not correct.

[Mrmean58]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Do you mean it went up 100% in 2025 or that it went up 100% in 2024?

They ment since their last renewal. The year number is irrelevant.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Jack58033

I think all policies have sinkhole coverage but with one caveat the whole house has to go under. If it cracks in the foundation then it is no longer covered by the insurance companies on new policies.

All insurance policies in Florida must cover catastrophic ground collapse. If the house is deemed uninhabitable by the county or state, then your homeowner's insurance will cover the damage. This is a mandatory coverage for all Florida homeowner policies.

[ridge]

Originally Posted by Jack58033

I think all policies have sinkhole coverage but with one caveat the whole house has to go under. If it cracks in the foundation then it is no longer covered by the insurance companies on new policies.

No, all insurance doesn't have sinkhole. It's a separate rider. All policies have catrostaphic ground collapse, which is different from sinkhole.

[dougawhite]

Originally Posted by Rocksnap

Our standard policy cover FIXABLE sinkhole damage. I added total loss sinkhole coverage for $240 a year.

You've got it backwards.

[jabacon6669]

Originally Posted by ridge

Checking on home insurance with independent agent. I asked about sinkhole insurance and agent said companies are not offering it on new policies. Has anyone else be told the same?

Also how important do you think it is? Our present policy has sinkhole but deductible is high - 10% of home value.

Thanks for your response.

Everyone should understand the difference between SH (sink hole) and CLC (Catastrophic land collapse) Everyones policy has CLC. This is when the land collapses causing damage to the property or house. SH coverage has the same thing happen, and as someone mentioned it swallows your home. Not True, it also might only cause some property or home damage. SH coverage is optional. Some are saying on this blog it is no longer offered by any company any more. I don't know if that is true. Here's the difference, it's in the cause of the collapse. In both cases, the State, in this case FL sends out an inspection team, and if they determine that the cause of the land collapse is the result of a limestone formation under the earths surface then its a SH. I assume they have to do some boring, if you don't have SH coverage, you getting nothing from your insurance company, and you can't argue or negotiate, the state makes the final determination. If it's not determined to be limestone then you will get coverage under the CLC clause. About two years ago I had purchased insurance through TV insurance agency, they wrote my policy with one of the companies mentioned in this forum. It had a 10% property value deduction, which would have amount to 30,000 to 40,000k deductible. And it went up drastically the second year. Too, about $2700/ yr. I switched to State Farm they included SH, and the deducible was $1000 on all line items that had deductibles. It was about $2200/yr last year and only went up a few dollars this year. Kelly Mast is the State Farm agency on Warm Springs ave. Check it out, I'd be interested if they still offer SH coverage. Hope this helps, Regards.

[Runway48]

Originally Posted by ithos

If the inspection uses GPR(ground penetrating radar) and discovers subsurface voids then the home values of yours and your neighbors may drop substantially
Under the Florida case of Johnson v. Davis, the seller of residential real property in Florida is required to disclose any material defects in the property which are known to the seller and which are not open and obvious. However, proving such a case is difficult. You should discuss your situation with an experienced real estate lawyer in your area to determine whether your builder violated the Johnson v. Davis standard and what options are open to you.
Just a moment...

Best to shop around for an insurer who offers sinkhole loss(edit) coverage without inspection.

Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse vs Sinkhole Coverage - Explained).

Do you know if GPR is, or can be, included in a pre-purchase home inspection? Thanks

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by jabacon6669

Everyone should understand the difference between SH (sink hole) and CLC (Catastrophic land collapse) Everyones policy has CLC. This is when the land collapses causing damage to the property or house. SH coverage has the same thing happen, and as someone mentioned it swallows your home. Not True, it also might only cause some property or home damage. SH coverage is optional. Some are saying on this blog it is no longer offered by any company any more. I don't know if that is true. Here's the difference, it's in the cause of the collapse. In both cases, the State, in this case FL sends out an inspection team, and if they determine that the cause of the land collapse is the result of a limestone formation under the earths surface then its a SH. I assume they have to do some boring, if you don't have SH coverage, you getting nothing from your insurance company, and you can't argue or negotiate, the state makes the final determination. If it's not determined to be limestone then you will get coverage under the CLC clause. About two years ago I had purchased insurance through TV insurance agency, they wrote my policy with one of the companies mentioned in this forum. It had a 10% property value deduction, which would have amount to 30,000 to 40,000k deductible. And it went up drastically the second year. Too, about $2700/ yr. I switched to State Farm they included SH, and the deducible was $1000 on all line items that had deductibles. It was about $2200/yr last year and only went up a few dollars this year. Kelly Mast is the State Farm agency on Warm Springs ave. Check it out, I'd be interested if they still offer SH coverage. Hope this helps, Regards.

Your information does not seem to track with this explanation from Harry Levine Insurance. Also, both sinkhole insurance and catastrophic ground collapse insurance only cover the house, not the surrounding property:

"Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse
Catastrophic ground cover collapse coverage is included under your existing home insurance policy.
However, your claim must meet four requirements before your insurance company will reimburse you for the loss:

1. The abrupt collapse of the ground cover;
2. A depression in the ground cover clearly visible to the naked eye;
3. ,Structural damage to the insured building, including the foundation; and
4. The insured structure being condemned and ordered to be vacated by the governmental agency authorized by law to issue such an order for that structure.

Again, all four of these conditions must be met for it to be considered catastrophic ground collapse. Incidents that meet only some of these conditions would require a sinkhole insurance policy."

[retiredguy123]

A lot of people who buy insurance products rely way too much on verbal information that they receive from a "so-called" insurance agent. They are not legal agents of the company. Anything that these salespeople tell you needs to be in writing in the policy document or in the rider. Often, the information these people provide is false and/or misleading. I found this to be especially true regarding sinkhole insurance.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Your information does not seem to track with this explanation from Harry Levine Insurance. Also, both sinkhole insurance and catastrophic ground collapse insurance only cover the house, not the surrounding property:

"Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse
Catastrophic ground cover collapse coverage is included under your existing home insurance policy.
However, your claim must meet four requirements before your insurance company will reimburse you for the loss:

1. The abrupt collapse of the ground cover;
2. A depression in the ground cover clearly visible to the naked eye;
3. ,Structural damage to the insured building, including the foundation; and
4. The insured structure being condemned and ordered to be vacated by the governmental agency authorized by law to issue such an order for that structure.

Again, all four of these conditions must be met for it to be considered catastrophic ground collapse. Incidents that meet only some of these conditions would require a sinkhole insurance policy."

This is correct BUT regular sink hole insurance covers where the house is settling and is still livable. Many people believe regular sink hole insurance covers collapses in their lawn, driveway, back yard, etc,. but it does not. Regular sink hole insurance that you pay for only covers settlement under any living area.

In reality, based on recent sink holes here in The Villages where homes were affected, the homes met the conditions for catastrophic ground collapse and was covered under the main insurance. This was the case recently where a sink hole developed on Nancy Lopez golf course. The affected home had no visible evidence to the naked eye by the newspapers and neighbors but the state declared it catastrophic.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by jrref

This is correct BUT regular sink hole insurance covers where the house is settling and is still livable. Many people believe regular sink hole insurance covers collapses in their lawn, driveway, back yard, etc,. but it does not. Regular sink hole insurance that you pay for only covers settlement under any living area.

In reality, based on recent sink holes here in The Villages where homes were affected, the homes met the conditions for catastrophic ground collapse and was covered under the main insurance. This was the case recently where a sink hole developed on Nancy Lopez golf course. The affected home had no visible evidence to the naked eye by the newspapers and neighbors but the state declared it catastrophic.

Correct. I have said that on this thread. There is a myth that sinkhole insurance covers the driveway and other property. I think this myth has been propagated by misinformed insurance agents. People who buy a sinkhole rider, should print out the rider and read it for themselves. Don't believe everything the "agent" tells you. The insurance company will not stand behind anything that is not stated in the policy documents.