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Home > Learn Center >

Parts of a House: Get To Know Every Part of Your
Home

PARTS OF A HOUSE: GET TO

KNOW EVERY PART OF YOUR
HOME

There’s a lot that goes into making your house a

comfortable living space. Every room, floor and
each nook and cranny have their own unique
purpose. Getting to know each part of your
house can help you most effectively utilize your
space. That way you can ensure that your home
can take care of all of your specific needs, as well
as what type of smart home trends could work for
each room. According to a report by the
Insurance Information Institute, 49% of
homeowners have documented losing their
possessions. 

It should come as no surprise that not knowing

where things are located around the house, like
the fusebox or water shut-off valve makes it
easy for you to lose sight of the risk of damaging
your belongings in the case of an accident. For
example, did you know that recovering lost items
costs Americans $2.7 billion each year?
Familiarize yourself with your home from the
inside, out so that you don’t have to end up
dipping into your coverage to replace any lost or
impaired items. 

For example, it’s not uncommon for homeowners

to sometimes experience difficulty locating the
main water shut-off valve or fusebox. To put this
into perspective, the 
Environmental Protection Agency reported that
households in the United States can face up to
one trillion gallons’ worth of leaks per year. 

Not to worry: Taking the time to familiarize

yourself and your household with these features
of your home can help prevent damage from
occurring in the first place. That’s why we
created this guide to help you get to know all the
different parts of your home.

What are the different parts

of a house?
The main parts of a house can be categorized as
the frame, the exterior, the interior and the
division of rooms. While no two houses are
completely the same, the basic structure of a
house is more or less uniform. See below for the
breakdown of all the spaces you need to know
about.

Frame
The frame is one of the first parts of the house
that is built in the construction process. Think of
it as your home’s skeleton, giving you an idea of
what the shape of the house is going to look like. 

Understanding the condition and age of your

house’s frame and locating load-bearing beams
are key for homeowners to know because
depending on the materials used and when it
was built, you could be at risk of it collapsing
during a major weather catastrophe.

Exterior
The exterior of a house refers to all the aspects
that are outside and exposed to nature. Some
examples include the siding, your roof and even
windows and doors. All of these elements help
keep the house insulated from extreme weather
conditions, and when well-kept, can even work in
your favor to boost curb appeal.

If you are unsure about where all of these

exterior elements are situated throughout your
home, it’s a good idea to take inventory of their
location, what materials they are made of and the
state that they are in. This could help you keep
your home safe and even lower your home
insurance in the future, especially if you decide
to revamp something to a newer, sturdier
version. 

Some of the exterior features include:

The front, back and side doors: located along

the house 
Garage doors: typically in the front or around
the side of the house facing the main street
Windows: built into the walls 
Porch: can be found along the front, back,
and sides of the house surrounding the
exterior walls
Balcony: usually an extension of one of the
rooms in the upper levels of the house
Backyard patio: often serves as a sort of deck
extending the living area from inside to out
Chimney: typically originates from the
fireplace into the ceiling and out through the
roof
Roofing material (tile, ceramic,
etc.): incorporates everything used for the
exterior portion of the house ceiling
Gutter: horizontal metal pipes used along the
edges of the roof to gather rainwater coming
from the roof and into the downspouts
Driveway: the path that leads from the street
and onto the property 
Drainpipe: normally located close to the home
accompanying the main sewer line in a series
of clusters  
Alarm system: mounted along one of the
walls on the inside or outside of the house  
HVAC system: can be found inside or outside
the house, oftentimes split halfway down the
middle and inserted in both the inside and
out 
Fusebox: most commonly located on the
outside of the house along one of the side
walls 
Water shut-off valve: found anywhere from 3d
5 feet away from where the water enters the
home 
Service lines: a group of wires located around
the exterior of the home (mostly found
underground) that supply electricity, water,
and sewage services, while connecting the
property to the city’s main supplies

Interior
The interior is everything within the home’s
structure, such as the walls, flooring, outlets and
everything in between. It’s important for
homeowners to know every part of their home’s
interior because keeping each feature in tip-top
shape can help you avoid costly issues in the
future. 

Examples of what you might find in the house

interior:

Walls: used to separate rooms and assist with

supporting the frame 
Lighting: used to illuminate the space and
typically found on the ceiling of each room or
hallway
Light switches: used to turn lights on/off and
found along at least one wall per room at eye
level or below
Doors: used at the entrance/exit to each
room 
Outlets: used to plug in electronic devices
and inserted into the walls at ground level 
Plants: used for decorative and therapeutic
purposes and found anywhere throughout
the house
Furniture: used anywhere in the home space
to provide comfort, functionality and appeal
to the home and 
Personal belongings: any items or
possessions that belong to the inhabitants of
the house

What is the basic structure of

a house?
The basic structure of many modern houses
includes a foundation, frame, roof, door, chimney,
windows, garage, yard, driveway and mailbox.
Knowing the different types of elements that you
may come across for a roof or foundation can
help you further down the line when dealing with
anything from maintenance to repairs and
renovations. See below for a description of each
part, along with basic things to look out for.

Foundation
The foundation of the house is one of the first
pieces that is laid out during its construction.
The thicker and higher quality the foundation a
house has, the longer it will last before
encountering any problems. 

If you recently moved into your home or are

unsure of the condition of the foundation, have a
professional come in for an inspection. Many new
homeowners often conduct inspections of their
home before moving in. Foundation problems can
be costly, complicated and time-consuming. 

Make sure you know what kind of foundation

your home has and the condition it’s in, this will
help you know how to keep it in good condition. 

Types of foundation:

Concrete slab foundations 

Basement foundation (full vs. daylight)
Crawl space foundation
Pier foundation
Wood foundation
Poured concrete foundation
Precast concrete panel foundation
Concrete masonry units 
Stone foundation
Footing and stem wall foundation
Pier and beam foundation
Some common foundation issues include:

Cracks and other types of fractures on the

wall/floor
Foundation upheaval 
Foundation settling or sinking 
Doors that stick open or do not close
properly 
Gaps around the exterior doors and window
frames
Uneven or unstable floors 
Cabinets and counters separating from the
walls
Damp crawl spaces 
 
Taking care of your foundation now can help
avoid running into problems in the future.

Roof
The roof is the top covering of the house’s
physical structure and includes all the materials
necessary to keep the house protected and
unharmed from outside weather conditions.
There are several types of roofs to choose from
depending on the style of the home and 
the local climate. Some homes have slanted tile
roofing to keep snow from piling up, while others
have metal roofs to assist with temperature
control (very helpful in desert climates).

If you’ve ever experienced a leaky roof, you know

just how inconvenient it can be, especially in the
case of major weather occurrences. Over time,
leaks can cause severe or even permanent
damage to your roof or property. So when in
doubt, check that roof out. 

Types of roofs:

Gable roof 
Hip roof 
Dutch roof
Mansard roof 
Flat roof
Shed roof 
Butterfly roof
Gambrel roof 
Dormer roof 
M-shaped roof
Common roof problems:

Roof leaks
Damaged flashing
Broken or missing shingles
Granules clogging downspouts
Stagnant or pooling water
Tree damage
Damaged roofing materials

Chimney
Chimneys were traditionally built as air vents to
let out smoke from a home’s fireplace or coal-
burning stove. They typically start as an opening
coming from inside the house that leads up and
out of the roof. Most modern homes 
do not possess chimneys, so this is likely not
something most people need to be concerned
about. 

If your home does possess a chimney, be sure

you become familiar with how to maintain it.

Types of chimneys:

Masonry chimneys 
Metal chimneys
Factory-built/prefabricated chimneys
Fireplace-insert chimneys
Freestanding stove chimneys
Wood burning stove chimneys
Common issues with chimneys:

Creosote buildup 
Cracked or spalling bricks
Damaged mortar 
Missing chimney caps or chase covers
Cracks in the chimney flue
Chimney obstructions
Rotting wood

Window
If you’ve ever written “lots of natural light” on a
house-hunting checklist, you know how
important windows are. Windows, meant to invite
natural light and fresh air into the space, can also
help insulate heat in a home during cold weather.
But, unfortunately, the opposite can occur if the
window is old or not working properly.

Luckily, they are made to last, so if you do end up

having to switch out your windows, it’ll easily be
one of the best long-term investments you could
make for your home. If you don’t want to replace
your windows just yet but are concerned they
aren’t working properly, try resealing their edges
with a weatherproof bonding material.

Types of windows: 

Hopper windows
Fixed/picture windows
Single-hung windows
Double-hung windows
Custom shaped windows
Bay windows
Side slider tilt windows
Awning windows
Bow windows
Single slider tilt windows
Commons problems with windows:

Difficulty to open 
Fogging windows
Drafting windows
Warping or rotting 
Broken windowpane
Water leaking through

Door
A door is a large piece of wood or some other
material that fits into the entryway of the house.
Doorways can come in various shapes and sizes.
French doors, for example, are a style that
involves two doors side by side with the
doorknobs located at the interior center of each. 

Doors are meant to keep you in and everything

else out. If you plan on leaving your home for the
holidays or an extended vacation, and want some
added protection, then you may wish to look into 
smart home devices to help monitor your home
while you’re away. 

Types of doors:

Wood doors
Steel doors
Fiberglass doors
Aluminum doors
Glass doors
Battened and ledged doors
Flush doors 
Dutch doors
French doors
Common issues with doors:

Door hinge problems

Doors that won’t stay latched
Doors that draft 
Bottom wall plates that are misaligned 
Trims that do not fit in the space provided
Warped door 

Balcony
Generally speaking, a balcony is a platform that
is enclosed by a low wall or a railing above the
ground floor of a house that overlooks the back
or front yard. Some balconies extend across an
entire floor, while others contain limited access
through only one room. Not every home has a
balcony.  

Over time, some balconies may become unstable

or in need of repair. The most common types of
balcony fixes generally require switching out the
platform or the hand rail — the metal structure
that keeps you from walking off the edge. During
the winter months, especially in areas that
experience blizzards, it’s also a smart idea to
cover your balcony to provide added protection
from the weather. 

Types of balconies:

Hung balcony
Stacked balcony
Projected or cantilever balcony
Bolt-on or self-supporting balcony
Juliet balcony 
Common problems with balconies:

Construction defects
Moisture problems
Structural deficiencies

Garage
The garage is the room in the house meant to
keep the car and other storage items safe from
weather or theft. Most garages come equipped
with automated doors and remote controls, and
some may even be detached from the house
entirely. Detached garages are often turned into
a home den or additional bedroom that can be
used for guests or tenants. 

Some people like to convert their garage into

a room they can rent as a way to generate
income. Regardless of whether you are the
landlord or the tenant, it's a good idea to
consider obtaining renter’s insurance as a way to
ensure that protection is extended to all parties
involved.  

Types of garage:

Detached garage
Attached garage
Internal garage
Portico garage
Workshop garage
Carport
Barn garage
Carriage house garage
Common issues with garages:

Garage door opener doesn’t work

Garage door doesn’t close completely
Cracks in garage flooring
Loud garage door
Garage door becomes stuck 

Driveway
The driveway is the space in between the
beginning of the property and the front door or
garage opening. It is most commonly paved by
concrete, stones or other weather-proof
materials. Driveways can come in a lot of
different styles. They can be long, wide, straight,
narrow, curved, or anything in between.

Types of driveways:

Concrete driveway
Brick driveway
Asphalt driveway
Gravel driveway
Crushed stone driveway
Paver driveway
Basalt driveway
Cobblestone driveway
Common problems with driveways:

Bulged driveway 
Cracked driveways
Sinking driveways
Crumbling driveway
Uneven driveway

Yard
The yard is the outdoor space that covers the
front, back and sides of the house. It is typically
landscaped with anything from grass and flowers
to fruit trees and potted plants. Some yards can
be lush and rich with a diverse array of plants,
while others may contain a more simple or totally
open layout. 

Landscaping your home’s yard can be expensive

and often require a lot of maintenance. If you
happen to be looking for a more sustainable and
economically viable way to landscape your yard,
check out this guide to xeriscaping.

Types of yards/gardens:

Vegetable garden
Flower garden
Rock/stone garden
Herb garden
Indoor garden
Tropical garden
Greenhouse garden
Botanical garden
Therapeutic garden
Succulent garden
Bamboo garden
Xeriscaped garden
Vertical garden
Ornamental grass garden 
Common yard/garden problems:

Crabgrass
Dandelion
Yellow nutsedge
Compacted soil and improper aeration
Thatch and brown patches
White grubs and insects

Mailbox
The letterbox, more popularly known as a
mailbox, is the small box often located
somewhere in front of the house. While
mailboxes often look like small tins, people use
them as a way to display their personal flare. Not
every household has its own mailbox; some
homes use the Post Office or may have
community boxes opened with a card, passcode
or key. 

As a homeowner, you likely want to know when

any bills or documents come in the mail and
checking your mailbox regularly is a good way to
stay on top of this. 

Types of mailboxes:

Collection boxes
Mail slots
Apartment mailboxes
Wall-mounted mailboxes
Pedestal mounted boxes
Freestanding mailboxes
Parcel boxes
Common issues with mailboxes:

Wet or damaged mail

Missing delivery or burglary 
Stuck mail doors or hinges
What are the seven rooms in
a house?
While residential homes can have a variety of
room types, the seven most common rooms that
you’ll likely find in a house are the bathroom,
kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom,
laundry room and den or office space. While no
two houses are exactly the same, most houses
usually include their own version of these seven
rooms.

Of course, your home should be an expression of

you and your family and certain rooms have the
ability to serve more than one purpose as you
update from year to year. What is most important
is that these rooms suit your lifestyle and your
needs.

Smart home devices for

every part of your home
Once you become familiar with every part of your
home, it may be time to see what types of
upgrades make sense. Adding smart home
devices and/or appliances can only make it
better. Here at Hippo, we provide smart home kits
 that include ways to help you save up to 25% on
your annual insurance premium. 

See below for some ideas of what you can do to

upgrade any room in your house to discover new
levels of comfort, convenience and functionality.

Bathroom
Parts of a House: Get To Know Every Part of Your
Home

There’s a lot that goes into making your house a

comfortable living space. Every room, floor and
each nook and cranny have their own unique
purpose. Getting to know each part of your
house can help you most effectively utilize your
space. That way you can ensure that your home
can take care of all of your specific needs, as well
as what type of smart home trends could work for
each room. According to a report by the
Insurance Information Institute, 49% of
homeowners have documented losing their
possessions. 

It should come as no surprise that not knowing

where things are located around the house, like
the fusebox or water shut-off valve makes it
easy for you to lose sight of the risk of damaging
your belongings in the case of an accident. For
example, did you know that recovering lost items
costs Americans $2.7 billion each year?
Familiarize yourself with your home from the
inside, out so that you don’t have to end up
dipping into your coverage to replace any lost or
impaired items. 

For example, it’s not uncommon for homeowners

to sometimes experience difficulty locating the
main water shut-off valve or fusebox. To put this
into perspective, the 
Environmental Protection Agency reported that
households in the United States can face up to
one trillion gallons’ worth of leaks per year. 

Not to worry: Taking the time to familiarize

yourself and your household with these features
of your home can help prevent damage from
occurring in the first place. That’s why we
created this guide to help you get to know all the
different parts of your home.

What are the different parts

of a house? 
The main parts of a house can be categorized as
the frame, the exterior, the interior and the
division of rooms. While no two houses are
completely the same, the basic structure of a
house is more or less uniform. See below for the
breakdown of all the spaces you need to know
about.

Frame
The frame is one of the first parts of the house
that is built in the construction process. Think of
it as your home’s skeleton, giving you an idea of
what the shape of the house is going to look like. 

Understanding the condition and age of your

house’s frame and locating load-bearing beams
are key for homeowners to know because
depending on the materials used and when it
was built, you could be at risk of it collapsing
during a major weather catastrophe.

Exterior
The exterior of a house refers to all the aspects
that are outside and exposed to nature. Some
examples include the siding, your roof and even
windows and doors. All of these elements help
keep the house insulated from extreme weather
conditions, and when well-kept, can even work in
your favor to boost curb appeal.

If you are unsure about where all of these

exterior elements are situated throughout your
home, it’s a good idea to take inventory of their
location, what materials they are made of and the
state that they are in. This could help you keep
your home safe and even lower your home
insurance in the future, especially if you decide
to revamp something to a newer, sturdier
version. 

Some of the exterior features include:

The front, back and side doors: located along

the house 
Garage doors: typically in the front or around
the side of the house facing the main street
Windows: built into the walls 
Porch: can be found along the front, back,
and sides of the house surrounding the
exterior walls
Balcony: usually an extension of one of the
rooms in the upper levels of the house
Backyard patio: often serves as a sort of deck
extending the living area from inside to out
Chimney: typically originates from the
fireplace into the ceiling and out through the
roof
Roofing material (tile, ceramic,
etc.): incorporates everything used for the
exterior portion of the house ceiling
Gutter: horizontal metal pipes used along the
edges of the roof to gather rainwater coming
from the roof and into the downspouts
Driveway: the path that leads from the street
and onto the property 
Drainpipe: normally located close to the home
accompanying the main sewer line in a series
of clusters  
Alarm system: mounted along one of the
walls on the inside or outside of the house  
HVAC system: can be found inside or outside
the house, oftentimes split halfway down the
middle and inserted in both the inside and
out 
Fusebox: most commonly located on the
outside of the house along one of the side
walls 
Water shut-off valve: found anywhere from 3d
5 feet away from where the water enters the
home 
Service lines: a group of wires located around
the exterior of the home (mostly found
underground) that supply electricity, water,
and sewage services, while connecting the
property to the city’s main supplies

Interior
The interior is everything within the home’s
structure, such as the walls, flooring, outlets and
everything in between. It’s important for
homeowners to know every part of their home’s
interior because keeping each feature in tip-top
shape can help you avoid costly issues in the
future. 

Examples of what you might find in the house

interior:

Walls: used to separate rooms and assist with

supporting the frame 
Lighting: used to illuminate the space and
typically found on the ceiling of each room or
hallway
Light switches: used to turn lights on/off and
found along at least one wall per room at eye
level or below
Doors: used at the entrance/exit to each
room 
Outlets: used to plug in electronic devices
and inserted into the walls at ground level 
Plants: used for decorative and therapeutic
purposes and found anywhere throughout
the house
Furniture: used anywhere in the home space
to provide comfort, functionality and appeal
to the home and 
Personal belongings: any items or
possessions that belong to the inhabitants of
the house

What is the basic structure

of a house?
The basic structure of many modern houses
includes a foundation, frame, roof, door, chimney,
windows, garage, yard, driveway and mailbox.
Knowing the different types of elements that you
may come across for a roof or foundation can
help you further down the line when dealing with
anything from maintenance to repairs and
renovations. See below for a description of each
part, along with basic things to look out for.

Foundation
The foundation of the house is one of the first
pieces that is laid out during its construction.
The thicker and higher quality the foundation a
house has, the longer it will last before
encountering any problems. 

If you recently moved into your home or are

unsure of the condition of the foundation, have a
professional come in for an inspection. Many new
homeowners often conduct inspections of their
home before moving in. Foundation problems can
be costly, complicated and time-consuming. 

Make sure you know what kind of foundation

your home has and the condition it’s in, this will
help you know how to keep it in good condition. 

Types of foundation:

Concrete slab foundations 

Basement foundation (full vs. daylight)
Crawl space foundation
Pier foundation
Wood foundation
Poured concrete foundation
Precast concrete panel foundation
Concrete masonry units 
Stone foundation
Footing and stem wall foundation
Pier and beam foundation
Some common foundation issues include:

Cracks and other types of fractures on the

wall/floor
Foundation upheaval 
Foundation settling or sinking 
Doors that stick open or do not close
properly 
Gaps around the exterior doors and window
frames
Uneven or unstable floors 
Cabinets and counters separating from the
walls
Damp crawl spaces 
 
Taking care of your foundation now can help
avoid running into problems in the future.

Roof
The roof is the top covering of the house’s
physical structure and includes all the materials
necessary to keep the house protected and
unharmed from outside weather conditions.
There are several types of roofs to choose from
depending on the style of the home and 
the local climate. Some homes have slanted tile
roofing to keep snow from piling up, while others
have metal roofs to assist with temperature
control (very helpful in desert climates).

If you’ve ever experienced a leaky roof, you know

just how inconvenient it can be, especially in the
case of major weather occurrences. Over time,
leaks can cause severe or even permanent
damage to your roof or property. So when in
doubt, check that roof out. 

Types of roofs:

Gable roof 
Hip roof 
Dutch roof
Mansard roof 
Flat roof
Shed roof 
Butterfly roof
Gambrel roof 
Dormer roof 
M-shaped roof
Common roof problems:

Roof leaks
Damaged flashing
Broken or missing shingles
Granules clogging downspouts
Stagnant or pooling water
Tree damage
Damaged roofing materials

Chimney
Chimneys were traditionally built as air vents to
let out smoke from a home’s fireplace or coal-
burning stove. They typically start as an opening
coming from inside the house that leads up and
out of the roof. Most modern homes 
do not possess chimneys, so this is likely not
something most people need to be concerned
about. 

If your home does possess a chimney, be sure

you become familiar with how to maintain it.

Types of chimneys:

Masonry chimneys 
Metal chimneys
Factory-built/prefabricated chimneys
Fireplace-insert chimneys
Freestanding stove chimneys
Wood burning stove chimneys
Common issues with chimneys:

Creosote buildup 
Cracked or spalling bricks
Damaged mortar 
Missing chimney caps or chase covers
Cracks in the chimney flue
Chimney obstructions
Rotting wood

Window
If you’ve ever written “lots of natural light” on a
house-hunting checklist, you know how
important windows are. Windows, meant to invite
natural light and fresh air into the space, can also
help insulate heat in a home during cold weather.
But, unfortunately, the opposite can occur if the
window is old or not working properly.

Luckily, they are made to last, so if you do end up

having to switch out your windows, it’ll easily be
one of the best long-term investments you could
make for your home. If you don’t want to replace
your windows just yet but are concerned they
aren’t working properly, try resealing their edges
with a weatherproof bonding material.

Types of windows: 

Hopper windows
Fixed/picture windows
Single-hung windows
Double-hung windows
Custom shaped windows
Bay windows
Side slider tilt windows
Awning windows
Bow windows
Single slider tilt windows
Commons problems with windows:

Difficulty to open 
Fogging windows
Drafting windows
Warping or rotting 
Broken windowpane
Water leaking through 

Door
A door is a large piece of wood or some other
material that fits into the entryway of the house.
Doorways can come in various shapes and sizes.
French doors, for example, are a style that
involves two doors side by side with the
doorknobs located at the interior center of each. 

Doors are meant to keep you in and everything

else out. If you plan on leaving your home for the
holidays or an extended vacation, and want some
added protection, then you may wish to look into 
smart home devices to help monitor your home
while you’re away. 

Types of doors:

Wood doors
Steel doors
Fiberglass doors
Aluminum doors
Glass doors
Battened and ledged doors
Flush doors 
Dutch doors
French doors
Common issues with doors:

Door hinge problems

Doors that won’t stay latched
Doors that draft 
Bottom wall plates that are misaligned 
Trims that do not fit in the space provided
Warped door 

Balcony
Generally speaking, a balcony is a platform that
is enclosed by a low wall or a railing above the
ground floor of a house that overlooks the back
or front yard. Some balconies extend across an
entire floor, while others contain limited access
through only one room. Not every home has a
balcony.  

Over time, some balconies may become unstable

or in need of repair. The most common types of
balcony fixes generally require switching out the
platform or the hand rail — the metal structure
that keeps you from walking off the edge. During
the winter months, especially in areas that
experience blizzards, it’s also a smart idea to
cover your balcony to provide added protection
from the weather. 

Types of balconies:

Hung balcony
Stacked balcony
Projected or cantilever balcony
Bolt-on or self-supporting balcony
Juliet balcony 
Common problems with balconies:

Construction defects
Moisture problems
Structural deficiencies

Garage
The garage is the room in the house meant to
keep the car and other storage items safe from
weather or theft. Most garages come equipped
with automated doors and remote controls, and
some may even be detached from the house
entirely. Detached garages are often turned into
a home den or additional bedroom that can be
used for guests or tenants. 

Some people like to convert their garage into

a room they can rent as a way to generate
income. Regardless of whether you are the
landlord or the tenant, it's a good idea to
consider obtaining renter’s insurance as a way to
ensure that protection is extended to all parties
involved.  

Types of garage:

Detached garage
Attached garage
Internal garage
Portico garage
Workshop garage
Carport
Barn garage
Carriage house garage
Common issues with garages:

Garage door opener doesn’t work

Garage door doesn’t close completely
Cracks in garage flooring
Loud garage door
Garage door becomes stuck 

Driveway
The driveway is the space in between the
beginning of the property and the front door or
garage opening. It is most commonly paved by
concrete, stones or other weather-proof
materials. Driveways can come in a lot of
different styles. They can be long, wide, straight,
narrow, curved, or anything in between.

Types of driveways:

Concrete driveway
Brick driveway
Asphalt driveway
Gravel driveway
Crushed stone driveway
Paver driveway
Basalt driveway
Cobblestone driveway
Common problems with driveways:

Bulged driveway 
Cracked driveways
Sinking driveways
Crumbling driveway
Uneven driveway

Yard
The yard is the outdoor space that covers the
front, back and sides of the house. It is typically
landscaped with anything from grass and flowers
to fruit trees and potted plants. Some yards can
be lush and rich with a diverse array of plants,
while others may contain a more simple or totally
open layout. 

Landscaping your home’s yard can be expensive

and often require a lot of maintenance. If you
happen to be looking for a more sustainable and
economically viable way to landscape your yard,
check out this guide to xeriscaping.

Types of yards/gardens:

Vegetable garden
Flower garden
Rock/stone garden
Herb garden
Indoor garden
Tropical garden
Greenhouse garden
Botanical garden
Therapeutic garden
Succulent garden
Bamboo garden
Xeriscaped garden
Vertical garden
Ornamental grass garden 
Common yard/garden problems:

Crabgrass
Dandelion
Yellow nutsedge
Compacted soil and improper aeration
Thatch and brown patches
White grubs and insects

Mailbox
The letterbox, more popularly known as a
mailbox, is the small box often located
somewhere in front of the house. While
mailboxes often look like small tins, people use
them as a way to display their personal flare. Not
every household has its own mailbox; some
homes use the Post Office or may have
community boxes opened with a card, passcode
or key. 

As a homeowner, you likely want to know when

any bills or documents come in the mail and
checking your mailbox regularly is a good way to
stay on top of this. 

Types of mailboxes:

Collection boxes
Mail slots
Apartment mailboxes
Wall-mounted mailboxes
Pedestal mounted boxes
Freestanding mailboxes
Parcel boxes
Common issues with mailboxes:

Wet or damaged mail

Missing delivery or burglary 
Stuck mail doors or hinges

What are the seven rooms

in a house?
While residential homes can have a variety of
room types, the seven most common rooms that
you’ll likely find in a house are the bathroom,
kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom,
laundry room and den or office space. While no
two houses are exactly the same, most houses
usually include their own version of these seven
rooms.

Of course, your home should be an expression of

you and your family and certain rooms have the
ability to serve more than one purpose as you
update from year to year. What is most important
is that these rooms suit your lifestyle and your
needs.

Smart home devices for

every part of your home
Once you become familiar with every part of your
home, it may be time to see what types of
upgrades make sense. Adding smart home
devices and/or appliances can only make it
better. Here at Hippo, we provide smart home kits
 that include ways to help you save up to 25% on
your annual insurance premium. 

See below for some ideas of what you can do to

upgrade any room in your house to discover new
levels of comfort, convenience and functionality.

Bathroom
If you are unsure of whether to renovate and
want the highest return on your investment, start
with the bathroom. Adding 
smart bathroom technology can make you feel
more comfortable and potentially raise your
property value. 

Smart home ideas for your bathroom: water

recycler, floatation tub, smart faucets, smart
scale, floor heating system, smart shower,
adjustable privacy glass and interactive LED
mirrors.

Kitchen
If you find that you spend the most time in the
kitchen, then this may be the time to add on
some nifty kitchen technology. As one of the most
utilized rooms in the house, any investment made
in the kitchen can bring a great deal of added
value. 

Smart home ideas for your kitchen: smart water

assistant, smart fridge, smart stove, integrated
coffee maker, robot vacuum, built-in herb garden
and smart trash can.

Living room
Do you find yourself easily entertained by a good
television show? Or maybe you enjoy lounging
around with friends and family after dinner? The
living room is the perfect place for that. Meant to
be filled with couches, cushions, a television and
sometimes a fireplace, this is the ideal spot to sit
back and relax. Adding on smart home
technology to your living room is not only a great
investment for your home, it’s also something
you can enjoy with the family. 
 Smart home ideas for your living room: Smart
lights, smart lock, video doorbell, a smart
thermostat, smart television and smart sound
system.

Dining room
Is gathering over a meal the way you enjoy
spending time with your home’s inhabitants?
With so many of us working long days, sitting
together for a nice meal in the evening can be a
special time in any home. In fact, one study
 showed that Americans spend on average
32,098 hours sitting and eating in their lifetimes.
Since the dining room is often a crowd favorite,
maintaining an area that is not only functional
but comfortable as well is a nice way to bring the
family together.

Smart home ideas for your dining room: Food

heating tray, smart dimmer switches, seat
cushion heaters, ice maker and water purifier.

Bedroom
You’re tired, It’s the end of the day, and all you
want is to go to bed. Ah yes, we are talking about
the bedroom. Some studies estimate that most
people spend at least one-third of their lives
sleeping. Because of this, investing in technology
to help you get a better night's sleep is crucial.

Smart home ideas for your bedroom: Smart

mattress, hands-free light-dimming device,
aromatherapy diffuser, heated pillow and
blankets and LED face mask.  

Laundry/utility room
While this may not be the crowd favorite, the
laundry room is one of the most useful rooms in
the house. From cleaning and folding the family
linens to keeping your pets in a nice quiet place
inside, the laundry/utility room is a versatile area
of your home just begging for a smart home
upgrade.

Smart home ideas for your laundry room: Smart

washer and dryer, wireless laundry sensor, leak
detectors, smart humidifier, self-cleaning litter
box and pet scale.

Office
Since the pandemic, a lot of jobs became remote
and a home office became the new space to
incorporate into your existing home. If you do
happen to work from home, upgrading your
space with the following smart devices can help
make your home office that much more
functional.

Smart home ideas for your office: Portable laptop

monitor, air quality monitor, smart plugs, wireless
printer, smart speaker, scanner and a remote
control standing desk.

Den
The den is a place for privacy. Do you find
yourself looking forward to a good read,
watching a movie in a secluded place, or playing
a game of pool in your own home? Typical dens
are home to plenty of bookshelves, a pool table
and storage containers, and some are even
converted into guest rooms. The den is a
versatile room in the house that can be made to
fit any household’s idea of leisure activities. 

Smart home ideas for your den: Smart fireplace,

bluetooth speakers, smart ceiling fans, voice-
activated heating system and smart air purifier.

How renovating your home

can help lower your home
insurance
When you renovate, you are reducing the risk of
issues occurring in your home, thus lowering
your home insurance in the process. Renovating
your home can help you lower your home, but
that’s not the only benefit to upgrading your
kitchen cabinets or switching out your smart
home alarm system.

There are several benefits to taking the time to 

renovate your home. Many homeowners may see
their home values go up after adding just a few
home upgrades. Looking to get your premium
down on an already renovated home? Keeping up
with home maintenance and upgrading your
home with smart devices can lead to lower
rates. 

Whether you are looking to spruce up your home

for the fall season or would like some ideas on
how to better maintain your home when
everyone is enjoying the summertime outside,
there is a renovation tip out there that fits you
and your home's needs. This is why we carved
out a whole blog section to address all your home
maintenance needs.

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to

upgrade your home, check out these nine 
free home renovation ideas. The truth is, we all
want better for our homes, we just don’t always
know where to start. 

At the end of the day, getting to know every part

of the home is crucial for a homeowner to be able
to feel confident in keeping it up and running it
properly. That’s why we offer Hippo Home Care
, as a complimentary service to our Hippo
customers. Homeowners can get the assistance
they need for every part of the home straight
from the experts. From understanding what each
room entails to which home improvements may
increase your quality of life and lower your 
homeowner’s insurance, Hippo is always happy to
keep you informed of everything you need to
know. For more ways on how we can help you
make sure your home is protected and taken care
of, give us a call and get your free quote today.

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