How Much Coverage Do I Need on My Personal Condo HO6 Policy?

If you own a condo, your condo association has an insurance policy—but that doesn’t mean you’re fully protected. Their coverage stops where your unit begins. That’s where an HO6 policy comes in.

This type of policy covers what’s inside your unit, including your belongings, any upgrades you’ve made, and even your personal liability. But how much coverage do you actually need? That depends on your unit, your lifestyle, and what’s already covered by your condo association.

What Your Condo Association Covers—and What It Doesn’t

Before anything else, request a copy of your condo association’s master policy. It tells you what part of the unit they insure and what’s your responsibility.

• Bare Walls: Covers only the building structure and shared spaces. You’re responsible for everything inside your unit—including walls, flooring, cabinets, and fixtures.
• Single Entity: Covers the original structure and fixtures. You’ll need to insure anything you’ve upgraded or added.
• All-In: Covers built-in items inside your unit, but not your personal property or liability.

If your association has a bare walls or single entity policy, you’ll likely need more HO6 coverage to protect your space properly.

It’s also wise to review your condo association's master policy against your HO6 policy every year. This ensures no changes in the master policy expose gaps in your coverage.

Coverage A: Insuring the Inside of Your Condo

This section of your HO6 policy covers things like drywall, flooring, cabinetry, and built-in features. It’s called dwelling or building property coverage.

A general rule of thumb is to insure the interior of your unit at $40–$60 per square foot. So, if your condo is 1,200 square feet and you choose $50/sq. ft., your Coverage A should be around $60,000.

You may want more if you have luxury finishes, custom cabinets, or high-end flooring.

Coverage C: Protecting Your Personal Belongings

This is where your furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchen items, and everything else you own are covered. Most people underestimate the value of what they own, especially after years of collecting.

It’s smart to create a home inventory. Go room by room and take photos or videos of your belongings. This helps you calculate how much coverage you really need and makes claims easier later.

Coverage C typically ranges from $25,000 to $100,000, but your actual needs will depend on how much stuff you have—and what it would cost to replace it.

Liability and Loss of Use Coverage

• Liability coverage, which protects you if someone is injured in your condo or if you accidentally damage someone else’s property (like a neighbor’s unit from a leak). Many condo owners choose at least $300,000 in liability coverage.
• Loss of Use, which helps pay for hotel or rental expenses if your condo is uninhabitable after a covered event. This is usually calculated as a percentage of your personal property limit—often 20%.

Add-On Coverage for High-Value Items

Standard condo insurance limits the amount it pays out for valuables like jewelry, art, or collectibles. If you have anything high-end, consider adding a scheduled personal property endorsement, which gives you extra coverage and often has no deductible.

You can also add coverage for:

• Water backup (common in condo buildings)
• Earthquake or flood (not typically included in standard policies)
• Identity theft protection

Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing HO6 Coverage

• Assuming your association policy covers everything inside your condo
• Skipping Coverage A when the master policy is “bare walls”
• Choosing low personal property limits without doing a home inventory
• Forgetting to update coverage after upgrades or major purchases
• Not asking your insurance broker to explain exclusions and deductibles

Protect Your Condo the Right Way

You’ve invested time and money into your condo. Making sure your insurance policy reflects that investment is key. HO6 coverage isn’t one-size-fits-all—it depends on your unit, your association’s master policy, and your personal belongings.

Now is the time to double-check your coverage levels, look at the fine print in your condo documents, and reach out to someone who knows how to guide you through it.

Call Vargas & Vargas Insurance at 617-298-0655 and we’ll review your condo documents with you. We’ll help you understand how much protection you really need—so you’re not overpaying or left underinsured.

Want a deeper dive into what condo policies should include? Check out this guide from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Or give us a call. We speak condo—and we’re here to help.