Homeowners Insurance
Your house, your things, and your liability, in one policy. We estimate what it would really cost to rebuild, compare carriers that still write in your area, and give you straight answers on wildfire.
California license #6020106
Menlo Insurance Services is the filed name of Opero Labs Inc., licensed by the California Department of Insurance.
Licensed in four states today
California, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York. Applications in Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan are with those states now. We do not quote a state before its license is issued.
Independent brokerage
We hold appointments with multiple carriers, so the quote is shopped rather than served from one shelf.
What this policy covers
Your house
Rebuilding or repairing the structure after a covered loss like fire or wind.
Your belongings
Furniture, clothes, and electronics, at home or with you when you travel.
Personal liability
If a guest is hurt on your property or you accidentally damage someone else's.
Somewhere to stay
Additional living expenses if a covered loss makes the house unlivable while it is repaired.
Why does the rebuild figure matter more than what I paid?
Because a policy pays to rebuild, not to re-buy. What a house sells for includes the land, the street and a market. What it costs to put back after a fire is labour, materials and code compliance on the day of the loss, and in California the second number has been moving faster than the first.
Built for California homeowners
- First-time buyers closing on a loan
- Families upgrading coverage after a remodel
- Owners in wildfire-affected areas weighing options
- Anyone whose renewal jumped without explanation
What changes your premium
There is no flat rate for this coverage. These are the inputs a carrier prices against, and they are the same things the quote form asks you for.
- The cost to rebuild the house today, which is not its market price
- Age, construction, roof age and any recent updates
- Wildfire, flood and quake exposure at the address
- Distance to a fire station and to a hydrant
- The deductible you pick, including any percentage deductible
- Claim history at the property and on your own record
Frequently asked questions
How much dwelling coverage do I need?
Enough to rebuild the house at today's construction costs, which is not the same as its market price or your loan balance. We estimate rebuild cost from the home's size, age, and features, and we review it at renewal because construction costs move.
Is wildfire covered in California?
Fire, including wildfire, is a core covered peril on standard homeowners policies. The real issue in California is availability: in higher risk areas some carriers decline to write, and the FAIR Plan plus a wrap policy can be the fallback. We walk you through the realistic options for your address.
What is the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?
Replacement cost pays to repair or replace with new materials of similar kind and quality. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation, so older items and roofs pay out less. Where the choice exists, we quote both so you can see the tradeoff.
Will filing a claim raise my rate?
It can, and claim history follows you between carriers through shared databases. For borderline losses close to your deductible it is often worth talking it through before filing. We help clients think that through honestly.
Does my policy cover my home office?
A desk and a laptop are usually fine. Regular client visits, inventory, or business equipment beyond policy limits generally are not, and may need an endorsement or a small business policy. Tell us how you work and we will match the coverage to it.
Does this policy cover flood?
Flood damage needs a separate flood policy. Standard homeowners policies exclude it.
Does this policy cover earthquake?
In California this is a separate policy or endorsement, commonly through the CEA.
Does this policy cover wear and maintenance?
A roof at the end of its life or a slow leak you knew about is upkeep, not a covered loss.
Does this policy cover business activity at home?
Regular business use of the home usually needs its own coverage.
Can you write this where I live?
We are licensed in California, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York, and applications in Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan are with those states now. We do not quote a state before its license is issued. Start a quote and we will tell you where you stand before you spend time on it.
What actually happens after I start a quote?
You answer a short set of questions, and a licensed broker at Menlo reads them, maps your operation to a class, and shops it with the carriers we are appointed with. There is no instant bind and no black box. You talk to a person before anything is quoted.
Coverages that pair with this
Auto Insurance
Liability, damage to the car, and the other driver who turns out to have no insurance at all.
Umbrella Insurance
Extra liability limit sitting above the home and auto policies you already carry, for a fraction of what raising each one costs.
Life Insurance
What the household lives on if your income stops.
Get a homeowners quote built around your house
Tell us about the home and how you live in it. We compare carriers and walk you through the tradeoffs in plain English.