Home Insurance in McHenry, IL & Northern Illinois
Your biggest investment deserves more than a checkbox policy.
Your home is where your family, your stuff, and years of equity live. As an independent agency, we compare top-rated carriers to make sure all of it is properly protected.
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Why Choose Ryan P. Conway Agency
Most homeowners haven't really looked at their policy in years.
Most homeowners haven't looked at their policy since the day they closed on the house. Coverage limits that made sense in 2015 don't match what it costs to rebuild today — and many policies have quietly dropped or capped important coverages along the way. We'll review what you have, point out the gaps, and shop multiple A-rated carriers to find a policy that fits your home as it is now, not as it was a decade ago.
Coverage Options
What a Homeowners Policy Covers
A standard homeowners policy is built from several coverage parts that work together. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what's typically included and what can be added.
Dwelling Coverage
Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home — walls, roof, foundation, built-ins — after a covered loss.
Other Structures
Covers detached garages, sheds, fences, and other structures on your property.
Personal Property
Covers your belongings — furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances — whether they're in the house or with you on a trip.
Loss of Use
Pays for hotel, food, and other living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss.
Personal Liability
Protects you if someone is injured on your property or if you accidentally damage someone else's property.
Medical Payments
Covers minor medical bills for guests injured on your property, no liability finding required.
Have questions about the right coverage? Contact Us
The Coverage That Matters Most
1 in 18
Insured homes files a claim each year — most often for wind or hail damage
~31%
Higher residential construction costs than before the pandemic
$280 / sq ft
National median cost to rebuild a home
A policy written even a few years ago may not match what rebuilding your home would actually cost today. Figures reflect data from the Insurance Information Institute, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and First Street.
Home Insurance
Are you fully covered?
Market value reflects your land, your neighborhood, and what a buyer would pay. Rebuild cost is just the bricks, lumber, labor, and permits needed to put your home back together from the ground up — and those costs have climbed sharply since 2020. A policy with a dwelling limit that fit your home a few years ago may now fall well short of what it would actually take to rebuild it.
Local Considerations
What can damage a Northern Illinois home
The risks our homes face look different than they did even a decade ago. Here are the four that drive the most claims in McHenry County and the surrounding area.
Hail & Wind
Spring and summer storms regularly produce hail and straight-line wind. Roof damage is the single most common homeowner claim in our area.
Sump Pump & Sewer Backup
Heavy rain plus older infrastructure means basement water damage is a real risk — and it's NOT covered by standard policies without an add-on.
Ice Dams & Frozen Pipes
Winter ice dams cause interior water damage and roof leaks. Frozen pipes can cause five-figure losses in hours.
Flooding
Standard homeowners policies don't cover flooding. Properties near the Fox River, Chain O' Lakes, or in low-lying areas should consider a separate flood policy.
Related Coverage
Not a single-family homeowner? We've got you too.
Renters Insurance
If you rent your home or apartment, renters insurance covers your belongings and personal liability for a fraction of what most people expect.
Condo Insurance
Covers what your condo association's master policy doesn't — your interior, your belongings, and your personal liability.
Landlord / Rental Property
If you own a property you rent to others, a dwelling fire policy (DP-3) is the right product. We write these too.
Vacant Home Insurance
Standard policies often exclude vacant homes after 30–60 days. We can place specialty coverage to keep the property protected.
Flood Insurance
Flooding is excluded from every standard homeowners policy. We can write NFIP and private flood coverage for properties near the Fox River, Chain O' Lakes, or any low-lying area.
Local Services
Providing Insurance for Homeowners Throughout Northern Illinois
Ryan P. Conway Agency is based in McHenry, Illinois, and we write insurance for homeowners throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. While we concentrate in McHenry County, Lake County, and the communities along the Wisconsin border, we also serve clients in Kane County, Boone County, DeKalb County, and beyond. The cities below are just a sample of the towns we work in — if you don't see yours listed, give us a call. Chances are we already insure a neighbor or two.
- McHenry
- Crystal Lake
- Woodstock
- Algonquin
- Lake in the Hills
- Cary
- Huntley
- Marengo
- Fox Lake
- Antioch
- Wauconda
- Grayslake
- Lindenhurst
- Lake Geneva
- Genoa City
- Twin Lakes
- Walworth
- Williams Bay
McHenry
Crystal Lake
Woodstock
Algonquin
Lake in the Hills
Cary
Huntley
Marengo
Fox Lake
Antioch
Wauconda
Grayslake
Lindenhurst
Lake Geneva
Genoa City
Twin Lakes
Walworth
Williams Bay
Common Questions
Home Insurance FAQ
How much home insurance do I need?
Your dwelling coverage should equal the cost to rebuild your home from the ground up — not your home's market value or what you paid for it. Market value includes land, location, and demand; rebuild cost is just materials and labor. We'll help you calculate an accurate replacement cost and recommend Extended Replacement Cost coverage to cushion against rising construction prices.
Does home insurance cover flooding?
No. Standard homeowners policies specifically exclude flood damage. If you live near the Fox River, the Chain O' Lakes, or in any low-lying area — even if you're not in a designated flood zone — you should consider a separate flood policy. We write both NFIP and private flood coverage.
Does home insurance cover sump pump failure or sewer backup?
Not by default. Water damage from a failed sump pump or sewer backup is excluded from standard policies unless you add Sump Pump / Sewer Backup coverage as an endorsement. Given how common basement water damage is in our area, we strongly recommend this add-on.
Will my premium go up if I file a claim?
Possibly — it depends on the type of claim, your claims history, and the carrier. Small claims (under your deductible's value, more or less) usually aren't worth filing. We'll walk you through that decision before you make a call you can't take back.
How often should I review my home insurance policy?
Once a year, at minimum — and any time you make a significant change to the property (new roof, addition, kitchen remodel, finished basement, new pool). Construction costs change, your belongings change, and your liability exposure changes. An annual review takes 15 minutes and often saves money or surfaces a gap.
Do I need separate insurance if I rent out part of my home or do Airbnb?
Maybe. Standard homeowners policies are written assuming you live in the home as a single-family residence. Renting rooms, short-term rentals, or long-term tenants can void parts of your coverage. Tell us what you're doing and we'll either endorse the policy correctly or recommend a different product.