How to protect your vacation home
Sometimes owning a vacation home doesn’t feel like a vacation. Opening the cottage or the pool for the summer is usually a lot of work, and it sometimes leads to unpleasant surprises.
Properties that sit vacant for extended periods are subject to more insurance risks than a typical residence. That’s why many insurance providers in Massachusetts charge a higher premium to insure vacation homes. Check that your insurance coverage meets your needs as a vacation property owner and use the following tips to have fewer unplanned repairs.
Keep the house looking lived in
A home where the lights are never on, the shades are always pulled, and the driveway is always empty is an invitation to burglars and squatters. Ask a neighbor or hire someone to maintain signs of life by occasionally parking a car out front, mowing the yard, and moving garbage cans to the curb and back. Use smart technology to turn lights on and off and to raise and lower shades.
Get real-time alerts
Speaking of smart technology, moisture detectors help minimize one of the biggest causes of damage to unoccupied property in Massachusetts: water damage. Sensors placed near areas prone to leaks can ping your smartphone so you can investigate a puddle of water before it turns into a flood. Smart water monitors also detect problems with pipes and can turn off the water automatically if there is a catastrophic leak. Your insurance provider may offer you a discount on your insurance for proof of activation of a water leak detection system. Smart smoke alarms and thermostats also notify you on your mobile device when they detect a problem and give you control over the devices in your vacation home, even when you’re away.
Match your insurance coverage to your use
Property insurance policies for vacation homes are typically less generous than standard homeowners insurance. Make sure you know the named perils in your policy and add coverage where needed.
How you use your vacation home makes a big difference in the type of insurance coverage you need. Your insurance provider considers many factors, such as how long the property is unoccupied and whether you rent it to others. The environment around a vacation home affects the cost of homeowners insurance and available coverage. For example, a home in a wooded area is more susceptible to fire, and houses on a beach are more vulnerable to flooding and hurricanes.
Secure attractive nuisances
Playground equipment, a trampoline, or a swimming pool make summer gatherings more fun, but they also increase your liability. First, take steps to avoid a problem. Create obstacles, such as fencing, and use pool covers designed for safety. Remove the ladders from a treehouse or a trampoline when you are not around. Place a recommended soft surface around a play structure. Second, check your insurance coverage. If the worst happens and a child is injured when playing with your toys while you’re away, you will be held responsible. Given the high cost of medical care, your standard homeowners’ policy may not cover it.
Close up properly when you leave
Leaving a vacation home for a season is never fun, but don’t rush through your goodbyes. Depending on how soon you will return, prepare your property for off-season weather by installing hurricane shutters or storm windows, turning off the water, and clearing rain gutters. Inspect your home’s exterior and surroundings: Is there a tree branch that might fall in the next Nor’easter? Do you have flammable materials, like firewood or propane tanks, stacked on the deck? Are there loose shingles or roof tiles that might expose your home to damage? If your home has a basement, be sure there’s nothing on the floor that could be damaged by water.
Helping property owners for more than 50 years
Planning and forethought can prevent many of the surprises Massachusetts vacation homeowners face. We are happy to help you avoid surprises with your insurance company with a no-obligation review of your current homeowners coverage for your primary home or vacation home. And if damage occurs, we are here to ensure that you get the full compensation you are entitled to. Please contact Grenier Public Adjusters or call 774-239-6822 anytime.