Does homeowners insurance cover damage to my fence?

Let's look at a few different scenarios and how other structures coverage may help pay for you to repair damage to your fence.

• Your tree falls on your fence
• Your neighbor's tree falls on your fence
• A storm damages your fence

Your homeowners insurance will likely help reimburse you for fence repairs if a healthy tree falls and damages it. It would probably not only pay to repair or replace the fence but also remove the tree debris so that repairs can be made to the fence.

It doesn't matter who owns the tree, says the Insurance Information Institute: If it lands on your fence, you file the claim with your own insurance company. However, if there's evidence that the tree was weakened because your neighbor overlooked basic maintenance or ignored disease, your insurance company may try to recover its costs from your neighbor's insurance company. (This may also earn you back the deductible that was subtracted from your insurance check).

Wind-related damage to a fence or another insured structure on your property is typically covered by homeowners insurance — whether it's the result of a tornado or just a fierce storm. Once it's safe to go outside, you should take photos of your damaged fence, the III says. Photos of the damage may help a claims adjuster in the investigation process.

You may also want to consider getting an estimate for the repair and taking your deductible into account before you file a claim, so you will know the impact your deductible will have on the amount of the loss. And remember, other structures coverage comes with a limit, which is the maximum your policy will pay you after a covered loss.

Contact your insurance provider for help reviewing your coverages or with questions about your policy.