For many people, a vacation home is a true escape – a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and relax in a peaceful setting. Whether you’re spending time by the beach, hiking in the mountains or just enjoying the company of family and friends, you want to know that your vacation home is safe and protected. That’s where secondary home insurance comes in.
Just like your primary homeowners’ policy, a secondary home insurance policy can help to safeguard your property from loss or damage due to fire, theft, weather events and more. In addition, it can also provide protection for any personal belongings that you keep at your vacation home. So whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, be sure to protect your investment with secondary home insurance.
Why Does Your Second Home Need More Insurance?
A vacation home is a significant investment, and one that should be protected with adequate insurance coverage. While a primary residence is typically occupied on a full-time basis and therefore enjoys a higher level of protection, a vacation home is often left unoccupied for long periods of time. This increases the risk of damage from weather events, as well as the threat of theft and vandalism. In addition, vacation homes are often located in remote areas that may be subject to natural hazards like floods or wildfires.
Breaking down the risks further can help build a better picture of why comprehensive second home insurance is so important.
Vacant Homes Have Less Visibility
When a house isn’t your primary home, more often than not, it’s left unoccupied for a majority of the year. Although a caretaker may check the property from time to time, or landscaping may be there to keep up the looks, there is no replacement to presence in the house. The primary concern of vacancy is the delay in response to dangers outlined above. Leaking ceilings are hard to see through a single security camera. Get the house inspected whenever you might need an expert opinion or if you need to winterize it for long seasons without visitation when the cold weather rolls in.
One way you might be able to minimize the feeling of uncertainty and increase your response rate is setting your house up with a more all-encompassing system like a Nest. If you have interior and exterior cameras, as well as a central hub that connects the technology, you can receive alerts of unusual activity or large interior condition fluctuations.
Environmental Factors Pose a Risk
When you purchase a vacation home, you're likely doing so because of its wonderful location and features. Unfortunately, those same features could put your property at a higher risk for a natural disaster. If your vacation home is located in an area prone to heavy storms, floods, hurricanes or wildfires, you'll need to purchase additional insurance coverage to protect your investment.
A great insurance provider will be familiar with the area and can help you determine which natural disaster coverages may be important for you to have. Don't let the fear of a natural disaster deter you from purchasing your dream vacation home - just be sure to take the necessary precautions to protect it.
Liability Coverage for Friends and Family
When you purchase a policy for your secondary home, liability insurance is included in the coverage. This type of insurance protection can come in handy if you accidentally cause bodily injury to another person or damage to their property. It can help cover expenses like medical bills, legal fees if you’re sued, or paying for the repairs to someone else’s property. That way, you can enjoy hosting guests on your property without worrying about being held liable for any accidents or damage that might occur.
Insuring Personal Property in Your Second Home
It's important to protect your vacation home so that you can enjoy your time away without worry. When it comes to securing your vacation home, don't forget to protecting your personal belongings as well. Things like furniture, electronics, clothing and appliances can quickly add up, and if they're damaged, destroyed or even stolen. That's where personal property coverage comes in. Personal property coverage can help ensure you have the financial resources you need to repair or replace your belongings if they're damaged by a covered loss. So when you're looking to protect your investment, be sure to consider personal property coverage as well.
Personal property coverage will provide protection up to a certain limit for the value of the items you own. Because of this coverage threshold, you should make sure to inquire about broadening your protection with itemized personal property coverage. For more valuable or unique items in your vacation home, such as antiques or art, you can add an increased level of coverage by where they’ll also be covered for a larger range of risks. By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your vacation home is protected in the event of any type of loss or damage.
Proper Second Home Coverage Brings Peace of Mind
Whether you own a summer beach-front property, log cabin by the lake or cozy ski-in/ski-out near a resort, you want to make sure that the place you go to relax and make memories is protected. Just as you safeguard your primary home from the unexpected with homeowners’ insurance, you’ll want a vacation home or second home insurance policy to cover the structure and contents of your secondary home.
Whatever the case may be, choosing a reliable insurer that understands your needs can help ensure you're covered effectively and comprehensively. Contact us today to get started.
