If your policy only covers items stolen from your home or destroyed by fire, then another strategy is to purchase a so-called floater policy for high-value items for coverage at home and away, Lynch says.
"These (floater) policies cover you for loss or mysterious disappearance 24/7, everywhere," Lynch adds.
However, forget about stashing your cash under the mattress -- home insurance will only reimburse you for small amounts of the green stuff.
"If you have thousands of dollars in cash and the house burns down, you might be able to recover $200," Charlebois says.
Control the floodgates
Unless you live in certain coastal areas, damage from wind and hail is covered by most homeowners insurance policies. However, flood damage is not. Those who live in a high-risk flood plain and have a federally backed mortgage are required to buy a separate flood insurance policy through a program run by the federal government.
However, at least 1 in 5 floods occur in an area the government hasn't designated a high-risk flood zone. If you live in such an area, Charlebois recommends you consider buying a preferred-risk policy from the federal government.
Take the bite out of coverage
Certain breeds of dogs, such as Rottweilers and pit bulls, may not be a homeowner's best friend, because they may not be insurable.
"If you fail to disclose you have one of these breeds, chances are that if your pet injures another person, and you get sued for liability, the claim could be denied," Lynch says.
Whatever your home situation is, when in doubt, consult with your home insurance company or agent.
"There's no such thing as too much communication with your agent," Lynch says.