Do you need to leave a house unoccupied for months at a time? If so, you should contact an agent at Jarosch Insurance who will understand your unique situation and explain why your current homeowner’s insurance may not protect your home adequately. Insurance companies view homes without residents as riskier to cover than occupied homes. In some cases, your policy might deny certain claims or even terminate if nobody lives in the home for too long.
Managing Risks of Homes Without Residents
Insurance companies may make a distinction between a vacant home and one that is simply unoccupied. If you plan to return, you’re likely to leave your furniture, appliances, and utilities in place. That simply makes the home unoccupied. If you plan to leave permanently, you’ll probably also move out your possessions and may even shut off of the utilities, and that defines a vacant home.
You should understand this distinction between vacant and unoccupied because the home’s situation may make a big difference to your insurer. The homeowner’s insurance company may deny claims and even cancel your homeowner’s policy if you leave your home vacant for longer than 60 days. If you merely leave your home unoccupied, they might have more lenient rules, particularly if you have your utilities on and a good security system activated. If you have to leave the home entirely vacant, you may need to purchase special homeowners insurance from one of only a few companies that sell it.
In either case, you’d be prudent to understand how your insurer deals with both vacant and unoccupied houses long before you have to make a claim. If you need to leave your home empty for months at a time, you might even consider leaving at least some furniture and getting a housesitter. Having somebody at home can reduce risks of common threats and the risks of vandalism or burglaries.
For instance, electrical fires often start with sparks. If somebody is home to see the sparks or hear the smoke detector, they can call 911 before the small problem turns into a devastating fire. Similarly, if somebody stays home, they can spot a minor plumbing leak before it turns into a flood that ruins your flooring and encourages mold.
Protecting Vacation Homes
You’re likely to find homeowners insurance companies that are friendlier to the idea of covering a seasonal home that you visit for vacations. Very often, you can find a package deal that includes both your primary residence and your second house. Just be sure that you protect your primary home if you plan to leave it for months at a time to live in the seasonal home.
Find the Right Coverage for Your Unique Situation
You can consult with an experienced insurance advocate right here Jarosch Insurance. You may need help determining the right kind of coverage you need to protect your vacant, unoccupied, or seasonal home. In turn, our friendly, local professionals can give you suggestions to keep your house safer if you must leave it empty. You can also count on them to help you compare a variety of different coverage options to find a high-quality, affordable solution.
