If you run an Etsy shop from your apartment and have $10,000 in handmade inventory, a fire destroys it. You get $2,500 max — unless you bought a home business endorsement. Laptops used for freelance work? Often capped at $1,000–2,500.

“Mysterious disappearance” means you lost an item (e.g., sunglasses fell out of your bag) but there’s no evidence of theft. Many basic policies exclude this. Without evidence of forced entry, a missing ring is not covered .

“Property Not Covered” or “Special Limits of Liability.” Action: Purchase a “home business” endorsement or separate small business policy. 6. The “Vacancy” Clause Fine print: “If you vacate the premises for more than 60 consecutive days, coverage for theft, vandalism, and water damage is suspended.”

“Ordinance or Law” exclusion. Action: Ask if your insurer offers “Ordinance or Law” coverage (usually 10–25% of dwelling coverage). For renters, this applies to your personal property modifications (e.g., illegal old window AC unit must be replaced with a code-compliant one). 5. The “Business Property” Limitation Fine print: “Coverage for business property is limited to $2,500 ($500 for off-premises).”

If a guest trips on your rug, this pays small medical bills (e.g., $800 ER visit) without a lawsuit. But it’s “secondary” — their health insurance pays first, then yours picks up deductibles/copays. The $1,000 limit is often too low.

“Vacancy” or “Unoccupancy” provision. Action: Notify your insurer if you’ll be away >30 days; buy a vacancy rider. 7. The “Deductible Double Trap” Fine print: “A separate deductible applies to each loss occurrence. For wind/hail, a percentage deductible may apply.”

“Medical Payments to Others” section. Action: Increase to $5,000 or $10,000 — costs only a few dollars a year. 10. The “Claim Reporting” Deadline Fine print: “You must notify us in writing within 90 days of the loss. Failure to do so voids coverage.”