How an HO-6 Policy Works With Your Master Policy
Every condo association carries a master policy on the building and common areas. Your own HO-6 policy covers what the master policy leaves to you. Where that line falls depends on your association's declaration and the type of master policy, so the first thing we ask for is your association's insurance summary or bylaws.
- Bare walls (walls-in). The master policy covers the structure but not interior finishes. Your HO-6 must cover drywall, flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures, and any upgrades.
- Single entity. The master policy covers original interior fixtures but not improvements you or prior owners added. Your HO-6 covers those upgrades.
- All-in. The master policy covers most interior elements, including some improvements. Your HO-6 still covers belongings, liability, and assessments.
What Your HO-6 Covers
- Dwelling (unit interior) for finishes and improvements the master policy does not cover.
- personal property coverage for furniture, electronics, clothing, and valuables.
- personal liability coverage if someone is hurt in your unit or you damage a neighbor's unit, such as a washing machine hose that leaks into the condo below.
- loss of use coverage for extra living costs if your unit is unlivable after a covered loss.
- Loss assessment coverage. If the association's loss exceeds its master policy limits or falls within a large master deductible, owners can be assessed for their share. Loss assessment coverage helps pay your portion. Many base policies include only a small amount, and we usually recommend raising it.
- water backup coverage. Ground-floor and garden-level units, and townhome-style condos with basements, should add this for sump pump failure and sewer backup, which are excluded otherwise.
Own a condo in St. Charles? Compare HO-6 quotes. Use our one-page quick quote form, start a full quote, or call (847) 908-5665.
St. Charles Condos and Townhomes
St. Charles condo owners live in a range of buildings: units in and around the historic downtown along Main Street (IL-64) and the Fox River, and townhome-style and garden condo communities near the Randall Road and Kirk Road corridors. Associations here range from small self-managed buildings to large professionally managed communities, and their master policies vary just as widely. Kane County hail and wind storms mean roof and siding claims can hit the whole association at once, which is exactly when a high master deductible turns into an owner assessment.
What Drives the Price of Condo Insurance Here
- The master policy type, which decides how much interior coverage you need.
- The value of your finishes and upgrades, such as kitchens, baths, and flooring.
- Your personal property limit and replacement cost settlement.
- The building: age, construction, sprinklers, and the floor your unit is on.
- Loss assessment and water backup limits you choose.
- Deductible, claims history, and credit-based insurance score where permitted.
How Quoting Works With Us
Send us your address, the association's master policy summary if you have it, and a sense of your upgrades and belongings. We set interior and loss assessment limits that match your association's documents, then quote across our panel. Bundling your condo policy with auto often earns a multi-policy discount; see our bundle page. Our office is right here in St. Charles at 300 Cardinal Dr, Suite 220, and we review every renewal and re-shop when an increase is out of line. Read more on our condo insurance page.
More in St. Charles: St. Charles insurance overview · St. Charles home insurance · St. Charles renters insurance · Renting out your condo? Landlord insurance
Nearby areas we serve: Geneva, Batavia, Wayne, South Elgin, West Dundee, and all of Kane County.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your master policy, but an HO-6 typically covers your unit's interior finishes and improvements the association does not insure, your personal belongings, your personal liability, extra living costs after a covered loss, and your share of association assessments.
A bare walls or walls-in master policy covers the structure but leaves interior finishes such as drywall, flooring, and cabinets to the owner. An all-in master policy covers most interior elements. Your association's declaration or insurance summary tells you which you have.
Loss assessment coverage helps pay your share when the association assesses owners for a loss that exceeds the master policy limits or falls within its deductible. Because a single hail or wind storm can damage an entire St. Charles complex, we usually recommend a higher limit than the base policy includes.
Not by default. Sump pump failure and sewer or drain backup are excluded unless you add water backup coverage. It is especially important for ground-floor, garden-level, and townhome-style units with basements.
Yes. Better Choice Insurance Group is headquartered at 300 Cardinal Dr, Suite 220, St. Charles, IL 60175, open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. You can also call (847) 908-5665.