Quick Answer: Yes. Older Illinois homes often need extra coverage because outdated wiring, plumbing, and roofs raise risk, and rebuilding to current building codes costs more. Ordinance or law coverage and a replacement-cost policy are especially important for older homes.
Illinois has beautiful older housing stock, from Chicago bungalows to century farmhouses. They also carry insurance considerations a newer build does not. Here is what owners of older homes should know.
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Get My Home QuoteInsurers price to the cost of rebuilding, and older homes often have features (plaster, ornate trim, older materials) that are expensive to replicate. Aging electrical, plumbing, and heating systems also raise the odds of a fire or water claim, which can mean higher premiums or coverage limits.
When an older home is damaged, current building codes may require upgrades the original construction did not have. Ordinance or law coverage pays the extra cost to rebuild to code. Without it, you could be left covering code-upgrade costs out of pocket after a major loss.
Knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, galvanized or polybutylene plumbing, and a roof past its useful life can all limit your coverage options or raise your rate. Updating these systems improves safety and can lower your premium.
Make sure your policy pays replacement cost, not actual cash value, which deducts depreciation, especially on the roof. For an older home, an ACV roof settlement can leave a large gap. Review your home insurance limits with an agent.
Document updates to systems and the roof, ask about replacement cost and ordinance or law endorsements, and shop carriers that specialize in older homes. An independent agent can place coverage standard carriers may decline.
For older homes, insurers often require a four-point inspection covering the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. It tells the carrier whether these systems are near the end of their life. Passing it, or updating a flagged system, opens more coverage options and better pricing.
The roof is the single biggest underwriting concern on an older home. Many carriers will not write a roof over 20 years old, or will only settle it on actual cash value. A roof replacement is one of the most effective ways to improve insurability and lower your rate.
Even on an older home, you can earn discounts: bundling home and auto, monitored alarms, water-leak sensors, updated systems, and claims-free history. An independent agent can stack these across carriers that welcome older homes rather than penalize them.
Older Illinois homes face freeze-and-thaw plumbing stress, basement water and sewer backup, and hail on aging roofs. Adding a sewer and drain backup endorsement, keeping the roof current, and insuring rebuild to code address the exact losses these homes see most, and they help you qualify with more carriers.
Keep going with common coverage gaps to avoid and what Illinois home insurance costs.
Pro Insurance Group is an independent agency based in Elgin, Illinois, serving homeowners and families across the state and 40+ states nationwide. We compare 20+ A-rated carriers, re-shop your policy at every renewal to keep your rate competitive, and tailor coverage to your needs. No agency fees, ever.
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Often yes. Rebuilding older homes to current code is costly, and aging wiring, plumbing, and roofs raise risk. Updating systems and adding ordinance or law coverage helps.
It pays the extra cost of rebuilding to current building codes after a covered loss, which matters most for older homes that were not built to today's standards.
Yes. Knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring can limit coverage options or raise premiums. Updating to modern wiring improves safety and insurability.
Yes. Replacement cost pays to rebuild without deducting depreciation. Actual cash value, especially on an older roof, can leave a significant out-of-pocket gap.
Reviewed by Dave Rysavy, VP Personal Lines
Dave helps Illinois homeowners right-size coverage and shop A-rated carriers for the best home and auto rates.
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