Get Your Home Insurance Quote

Your Home Insurance Guide for Southern California

Understand what's possible for you and your home here at Pinoy General Insurance Services

2000 +

30

Years of experience

Happy clients

Get Your Free Home Insurance Quote Today
📞 Call us at (562) 402 - 1737
📧 Email: info@pinoygeneralinsurance.com
📍 Visit our Cerritos office at 17304 Norwalk Blvd., Cerritos, CA 90703

Trusted by Cerritos families since 1993 | Independent agency with access to top-rated carriers

Why Cerritos Homeowners Choose Local Insurance Agents

When it comes to protecting your home, you have choices: online aggregators, 1-800 numbers, or a local independent insurance agency right here in Cerritos. Here's why working with a local agent makes all the difference:

Personalized Service You Can't Get Online
We know Cerritos. We understand the unique risks Southern California homeowners face, from earthquake concerns to wildfire smoke damage. When you call us, you speak with someone who knows your neighborhood, not a call center thousands of miles away.

Independent Agency Advantage
Unlike captive agents who work for one insurance company, we represent multiple A-rated carriers. This means we shop your coverage with several companies to find you the best combination of price and protection. You get choice without the hassle of calling multiple companies yourself.

Claims Advocacy When You Need It Most
Filing a home insurance claim can be stressful. We guide you through every step of the process, advocate on your behalf with the insurance carrier, and ensure you receive the fair settlement you deserve. You're not alone when disaster strikes.

Understanding California-Specific Risks
California homeowners face unique challenges—from earthquake risk to strict liability laws. We help you navigate these complexities and ensure you have appropriate coverage for the Golden State's specific requirements and exposures.

Comprehensive Home Insurance Solutions

We offer a full range of home insurance products to protect Cerritos residents, whether you own a single-family home, rent an apartment, own a condo, or invest in rental properties.

Homeowners Insurance

Traditional homeowners insurance (HO-3 policy) provides comprehensive protection for your house and belongings. Standard coverage includes:

Dwelling Coverage – Protects the physical structure of your home, including attached structures like garages. If fire, wind, hail, or other covered perils damage your home, dwelling coverage pays to repair or rebuild.

Personal Property Coverage – Covers your belongings—furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances, and more. Whether items are damaged at home or even stolen from your car, personal property coverage helps replace what you've lost.

Liability Protection – If someone is injured on your property or you accidentally damage someone else's property, liability coverage protects your assets and pays for legal defense if you're sued. In California's litigious environment, robust liability coverage is essential.

Additional Living Expenses (ALE) – If your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss, ALE coverage pays for hotel bills, restaurant meals, and other costs while your home is being repaired.

Medical Payments to Others – Covers medical bills if a guest is injured on your property, regardless of fault. This coverage can prevent small incidents from becoming major liability claims.

Renters Insurance

Don't assume your landlord's insurance covers your belongings—it doesn't. Renters insurance protects Cerritos tenants with:

• Personal property coverage for your furniture, electronics, and clothing

• Liability protection if someone is injured in your rental unit

• Additional living expenses if you must temporarily relocate

• Coverage that follows you—even protecting items stolen from your car or storage unit

Renters insurance is remarkably affordable, often costing less than a dollar per day, and provides crucial protection for your financial security.

Condo Insurance (HO-6)

Condo owners in Cerritos, Artesia, and throughout Orange County need specialized HO-6 coverage that works alongside your HOA's master policy. Condo insurance covers:

• Interior improvements and upgrades you've made to your unit

• Personal belongings inside your condo

• Liability protection for incidents inside your unit

• Loss assessment coverage for your share of common area damage

• Additional living expenses if your unit becomes uninhabitable

Understanding what your HOA policy covers versus what you need to insure yourself can be confusing. We review your HOA's master policy and ensure you have no gaps in coverage.

Landlord Insurance

Rental property owners need more than standard homeowners insurance. Landlord insurance (DP-3 policy) provides:

• Dwelling coverage for the rental property structure

• Loss of rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable

• Liability protection for tenant and visitor injuries

• Protection against tenant-caused damage

• Optional coverage for equipment and appliances you provide

Whether you rent out a single property or own multiple units in Cerritos and surrounding areas, we'll structure appropriate coverage to protect your investment income.

Understanding Your Home Insurance Coverage

What's Typically Covered

A standard homeowners insurance policy covers your home and belongings against these common perils:

• Fire and smoke damage

• Windstorm and hail damage

• Lightning strikes

• Theft and vandalism

• Damage from vehicles or aircraft

• Explosions

• Falling objects

• Weight of ice, snow, or sleet

• Water damage from burst pipes or appliance leaks

• Volcanic eruption

Your policy also includes liability coverage and medical payments to others, protecting you if someone is injured on your property or you accidentally cause property damage or injury to others.

Common Exclusions (What's Not Covered)

Understanding what's NOT covered is just as important as knowing what is covered:

Flood Damage – Standard home insurance does not cover flooding from storms, river overflow, or storm surge. You need a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood carrier.

Earthquake Damage – California homeowners need separate earthquake insurance to protect against seismic damage. Given Cerritos' location in Southern California, earthquake coverage deserves serious consideration.

Earth Movement – Landslides, mudflows, and sinkholes typically aren't covered under standard policies.

Maintenance Issues – Damage from lack of maintenance, such as a slowly leaking pipe that causes mold, won't be covered. Insurance covers sudden and accidental damage, not deterioration over time.

Intentional Damage – If you or someone in your household intentionally damages the property, it won't be covered.

Business Activities – If you run a business from your home, you likely need additional coverage for business property and liability.

Optional Coverage Enhancements

You can customize your policy with endorsements that expand protection:

• Scheduled Personal Property – Extra coverage for jewelry, art, collectibles, and other high-value items

• Water Backup Coverage – Protection if water backs up through sewers or drains

• Equipment Breakdown – Coverage for sudden mechanical or electrical failure of home systems

• Identity Theft Coverage – Assistance and expense coverage if you're a victim of identity theft

• Ordinance or Law Coverage – Pays extra costs if building codes require upgrades when rebuilding

• Increased Replacement Cost – Extended dwelling coverage if rebuilding costs exceed your limit

We'll review your specific situation and recommend endorsements that make sense for your home and lifestyle.

How Much Home Insurance Do You Need?

Determining the right amount of coverage requires balancing protection with affordability. Here's what to consider:

Replacement Cost vs. Market Value

Your home's market value and replacement cost are usually different. Market value includes the land; replacement cost is just what it would cost to rebuild your home at today's construction prices.

Always insure for replacement cost, not market value. If your home is destroyed, you can't sell the land to pay for rebuilding—you need enough insurance to reconstruct your home.

In Cerritos' competitive real estate market, your home's market value may be higher than replacement cost, or vice versa depending on construction costs. We use specialized tools to calculate accurate replacement cost estimates for your home.

Dwelling Coverage Limits

Your dwelling limit should equal the full replacement cost of your home. Consider:

• Square footage and home layout

• Quality of construction and materials

• Custom features or upgrades

• Detached structures (sheds, workshops, detached garages)

• Current construction costs in your area

Inflation Guard – Many policies include automatic annual increases to keep pace with construction cost inflation. We ensure your coverage grows appropriately over time.

Personal Property Coverage

Most policies provide personal property coverage equal to 50-70% of your dwelling limit. For many homeowners, this is adequate. However, if you have:

• Extensive furnishings and electronics

• Valuable collections (coins, wine, art)

• High-end clothing or accessories

• Expensive tools or equipment

You may want to increase personal property limits or schedule high-value items separately.

Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value – Always choose replacement cost coverage for your belongings. Actual cash value policies deduct depreciation, leaving you with far less to replace damaged items.

Liability Coverage Recommendations

Most homeowners policies include $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage. However, in California's lawsuit-friendly climate, we typically recommend at least $500,000—and often $1 million—in liability protection.

For additional protection, consider an umbrella policy that provides $1-5 million in excess liability coverage over your home and auto policies. Umbrella insurance is surprisingly affordable and provides invaluable peace of mind.

Getting the Right Deductible

Your deductible is what you pay out-of-pocket before insurance kicks in. Common deductibles range from $500 to $2,500, with higher deductibles resulting in lower premiums.

Consider:

• Your emergency fund and ability to cover the deductible if needed

• Whether you prefer lower premiums or lower out-of-pocket costs at claim time

• Some carriers offer separate, higher deductibles for wind/hail claims

Free Coverage Assessment – Not sure how much coverage you need? We'll conduct a free, no-obligation assessment of your home and recommend appropriate coverage limits based on your specific situation.

Understanding the factors that affect your premium helps you make informed decisions and identify opportunities to save.

Home Characteristics

Age and Construction – Newer homes with modern materials often cost less to insure than older homes with outdated electrical, plumbing, or roofing. However, well-maintained older homes in good condition can still qualify for competitive rates.

Square Footage and Rebuild Cost – Larger, more expensive homes cost more to insure simply because they cost more to rebuild or repair.

Roof Condition – Your roof's age and material significantly impact your premium. Many carriers offer discounts for newer roofs or impact-resistant roofing materials. Roofs older than 15-20 years may face surcharges or coverage limitations.

Home Updates – Recent updates to electrical, plumbing, heating, and cooling systems often qualify for discounts and ensure your home meets modern safety standards.

Protection and Safety Features

Insurance companies reward homeowners who reduce risk:

• Security Systems – Monitored burglar alarms can reduce premiums by 5-20%

• Fire Protection – Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and monitored fire alarms earn discounts

• Fire Hydrants and Stations – Distance to the nearest fire station and fire hydrant affects rates

• Sprinkler Systems – Full fire sprinkler systems can significantly reduce premiums

• Storm Shutters – Protection against windstorm damage may qualify for discounts

Even simple safety measures like deadbolt locks and smoke detectors demonstrate you're a responsible homeowner who takes loss prevention seriously.

Claims History

Your personal claims history and the property's loss history affect your rates:

• Filing frequent small claims can increase premiums more than paying minor repairs out-of-pocket

• Your CLUE report (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) tracks your claim history for seven years

• Properties with prior losses may face higher rates or coverage restrictions

• Catastrophic losses (total fire, major storm damage) are expected to be claimed and typically don't penalize you

We help you understand when filing a claim makes sense and when paying out-of-pocket may be wiser.

Credit Score and Financial Factors

In California, insurance companies may use your credit-based insurance score to help determine premiums. Homeowners with strong credit typically receive better rates.

Other financial factors include:

• Payment method (annual, semi-annual, monthly)

• Prior insurance coverage (continuous coverage typically costs less)

• Your deductible choice (higher deductibles = lower premiums)

Bundling Discounts

One of the easiest ways to save is bundling your home and auto insurance with the same carrier. Multi-policy discounts typically save 15-25% on both policies.

As an independent agency, we can bundle your policies with the same carrier or find you the best overall price even if that means placing your home and auto with different companies. We do the math to ensure you get maximum savings.

Shopping Multiple Carriers

Perhaps the biggest factor in what you pay is which insurance company you choose. Rates for the same home can vary by hundreds—even thousands—of dollars annually between carriers.

As an independent agency, we do the shopping for you. One application, multiple quotes from A-rated carriers. You get the best combination of coverage and price without the hassle of contacting multiple companies yourself.

What Impacts Home Insurance Rates in Cerritos?

Serving Homeowners Throughout Southern California

Pinoy General Insurance Services provides home insurance solutions to drivers throughout Cerritos and surrounding communities:

• Los Angeles County - Including, but not limited to the cities of Cerritos, Norwalk, Artesia, La Mirada, Bellflower, Lakewood, Hawaiian Gardens, Long Beach, and Downey

• Orange County - Including, but not limited to the cities of Buena Park, La Palma, Fullerton, Cypress, Anaheim, Orange, Irvine, Tustin, and Mission Viejo

• Riverside County - Including, but not limited to the cities of Corona, Norco, Riverside, Jurupa Valley, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Temecula, and Lake Elsinore

• San Bernardino County - Including, but not limited to the cities of Chino Hills, Claremont, Upland, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Rialto, Redlands, San Bernardino, Colton, and Victorville

• San Diego County - Including, but not limited to the cities of Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Del Mar, Vista, Escondido, San Marcos, Poway, El Cajon, Chula Vista, Ocean Beach, and San Diego

• Ventura County - Including, but not limited to the cities of Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Ojai, Simi Valley, Santa Paula, and Port Hueneme

Local Knowledge Matters – We understand the specific risks in our area, from the proximity to airports and freeways to neighborhood crime statistics and fire protection levels. This local knowledge helps us recommend the right coverage at the right price.

How Much Home Insurance Do You Need?

Independent Agency Advantage

As an independent insurance agency, we work for you—not an insurance company. We represent multiple top-rated carriers, which means:

• More choices – Access to multiple carriers with one phone call

• Better prices – We shop your coverage to find competitive rates

• Unbiased advice – We recommend what's best for you, not what earns us the highest commission

• Flexibility – If your current carrier raises rates or changes coverage, we can move you to a better option without you having to start over with a new agent

Carrier Relationships

We work with financially strong, highly-rated insurance companies known for excellent claims service:

• A+ rated carriers with strong financial stability

• National and regional carriers serving California homeowners

• Specialty carriers for unique properties or coverage needs

• Options for every budget without sacrificing quality

Comprehensive Claims Support

Filing a home insurance claim can be overwhelming. We're with you every step:

1. Immediate Assistance – Call us first when damage occurs, even before contacting the carrier

2. Claims Guidance – We help you understand the process and what to expect

3. Documentation Help – Advice on photographing damage and documenting losses

4. Carrier Communication – We liaison with adjusters to ensure thorough evaluation

5. Settlement Advocacy – If the settlement seems inadequate, we advocate for fair treatment

6. Resolution – We follow through until your claim is resolved satisfactorily

Our job isn't finished when you buy a policy—it's ongoing as long as you're our client.

Community Connection

We're not just your insurance agent—we're your neighbors. Pinoy General Insurance Services is active in the Cerritos community, supporting local events, organizations, and causes that make our city a great place to live.

When you choose us, you're supporting a local business that reinvests in our community.

Annual Policy Reviews

Your life changes, and your insurance should keep pace:

• Home renovations or additions

• Acquiring valuable items

• Changes in replacement cost

• Better rates from new carrier relationships

• Additional discount opportunities

We proactively review your policy annually to ensure you maintain optimal coverage at the best available price. We'll reach out to you—you don't have to remember to call us.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About Home Insurance

How much does home insurance cost in Cerritos/ Southern California?

The average cost of home insurance in Cerritos typically ranges from $1,200 to $2,500 annually, though your specific rate depends on your home's characteristics, coverage limits, deductible, and the carrier you choose.

Newer homes with good protection features generally receive better rates.

The best way to know what you'll pay is to get personalized quotes—we can provide multiple options in one simple conversation.

Do I need earthquake insurance in California?

Earthquake coverage is optional in California, but worthy of serious consideration given our seismic risk.

Standard home insurance excludes earthquake damage, so you'd be responsible for all repair costs if an earthquake damages your home.

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and private carriers offer earthquake policies with various deductible options.

We can explain your earthquake insurance options and help you decide if it makes sense for your situation and budget.

What's the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?

Replacement cost coverage pays to replace or repair damaged property at today's prices without deducting for depreciation.

Actual cash value coverage deducts depreciation, paying what the damaged item was worth in its used condition.

Always choose replacement cost for both your dwelling and personal property.

While replacement cost coverage costs slightly more, it ensures you can actually afford to rebuild your home or replace your belongings after a loss.

Can I bundle home and auto insurance?

Absolutely, and we strongly recommend it.

Bundling your home and auto insurance with the same carrier typically saves 15-25% on both policies.

As an independent agency, we can bundle your policies with one carrier or place them with different companies—whichever provides the best overall value.

We'll do the math and show you the options so you can make an informed decision.

How do I file a home insurance claim?

If damage occurs, contact us immediately—even before calling the insurance carrier.

We'll guide you through the process: document the damage with photos and video, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage (save receipts), create an inventory of damaged belongings, and then we'll help you file the claim with your carrier.

We stay involved throughout the claim process, communicating with adjusters and advocating for fair settlement.

You're not alone when you need to file a claim.

What discounts are available for home insurance?

Common discounts include multi-policy bundling (home and auto), security system discounts, claims-free history, new home discounts, fire protection (monitored alarms, sprinklers), wind mitigation features, gated community residence, loyalty discounts for long-term customers, and advance payment discounts (annual vs. monthly).

Every carrier offers different discount programs.

We identify all applicable discounts and ensure you're maximizing your savings.

Do I need flood insurance in Cerritos or Southern California?

Cerritos is not typically considered high-risk for flooding, but flooding can occur anywhere—and standard home insurance doesn't cover flood damage.

If you're in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and have a mortgage, your lender will require flood insurance.

Even if not required, flood insurance can be surprisingly affordable outside high-risk zones.

We can check your property's flood zone designation and provide flood insurance quotes through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private flood carriers.

How often should I review my home insurance policy?

We recommend reviewing your policy annually, and always after major life changes: completing renovations or additions, acquiring valuable items (jewelry, art, electronics), changes in your home's market or replacement cost, refinancing your mortgage, or if you haven't reviewed your policy in over two years.

We proactively conduct annual reviews for our clients, but you're welcome to contact us anytime your situation changes.

It's always better to update your coverage before a loss occurs.

Get Your Free Home Insurance Quote Now

Compare rates from multiple top-rated carriers and start saving today.

📞 Call us today: (562) 402 - 1737
📧 Email: info@pinoygeneralinsurance.com
📍 Visit our office: 17304 Norwalk Blvd., Cerritos, CA

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.

What to Expect When You Get a Quote:

1. Friendly Conversation – We'll ask about your home, coverage needs, and any special considerations

2. Multiple Quotes – We'll shop your coverage with several A-rated carriers

3. Clear Explanations – We'll explain your options in plain English, no insurance jargon

4. Customized Recommendations – We'll recommend coverage based on your specific situation

5. No Pressure – Take your time to review options and make the decision that's right for you

Pinoy General Insurance Services is an independent auto insurance agency serving Cerritos, Norwalk, and surrounding Orange County communities. We provide personalized home, auto, and business insurance solutions with access to multiple top-rated carriers. Our commitment is simple: excellent service, comprehensive coverage, and competitive rates for every client we serve.

Ready to protect your home? Contact us today for your free, no-obligation quote.

Get Your Quote

Fast quotes from multiple carriers, simple and quick.

Get Your Quote

Fast quotes from multiple carriers, simple and quick.

Get Your Quote

Fast quotes from multiple carriers, simple and quick.