1. Damage by freezing.
Although you may visit your property from time to time during the winter months, you will likely be required to drain the plumbing system to prevent water damage or freezing of pipes and plumbing fixtures unless you happen to have someone who can check your property on a daily basis to insure the heating system is functioning. There may be other items that would be damaged if heat is lost or turned off. If you are maintaining heat in your seasonal home understand what the requirements are in order to maintain full insurance coverage year round.2. Is the home accessible by road year round?
If this is the case there is a good chance that some of the coverage under your policy will be restricted. Make sure you understand what coverage is being provided. Vandalism, damage from bears, and theft may require additional premium. Remote locations require more attention. Make sure your agent knows year round access is not possible.
3. Do you visit your property at least once in a twelve month period?
Coverage on your home will automatically stop if you have not been to the property at least once in a twelve month period. Make sure you understand what that means. Do you personally have to be there?4. Damage caused by waves and ice piling up on the beach is not insured under your policy.
Remove docks and boat lifts from the water and make sure they are far enough from the shore that if ice piles up due to the waves it does not get damaged. There is really not much that you can do to stop the ice from piling up once the conditions are right, so know the risks when you purchase your seasonal home.5. Personal belongings and contents have to be insured on your seasonal home policy.
Personal belongings that you take with you when you go to the lake needs to be insured under the seasonal home policy. Make sure you have enough coverage on your personal belongings at the seasonal home.6. Are personal belongings insured for replacement cost?
Many insurers do not automatically give replacement cost on contents so you will want to establish if the coverage is being offered.7. Is your seasonal home insured for replacement cost?
If your seasonal home is in reasonable repair and well built there is no reason why you would not qualify for replacement cost coverage. That does not mean that you have it. Check to make sure.
8. What about your watercraft, atv's, golf carts, and other items of this type.
Most of the time coverage does not exist or is very restrictive under a home insurance policy for these items. People are usually required to purchase separate insurance for them. Some choose to purchase it as rider on their home insurance and some prefer to purchase it under a separate policy. You may get better coverage under a specialized package of insurance where replacement cost is offered even on older items.
For those of you that may own older items with low cash value and do not wish to insure them for physical damage (theft, wind, fire, etc) you still want to have liability insurance for the use of these items. The loss of a $3000 boat is one thing; as $500,000 liability claim is another.9. Snow load and collapse can be a concern.
Many seasonal home locations are quite sheltered. Wind may not be able to clear enough snow from the roof causing excessive snow loads. Wind may even cause unusual deposits of snow on your roof. A loss from snow load can be extensive even if collapse is not the outcome. If you do not get to the property regularly you may want to ask those who do, to check and report any heavy snow conditions that cause concern.10. Heating
It is common to find auxiliary heating units as the primary heating appliance in seasonal homes. Wood is common choice. If you have a wood stove it may have to be approved in order to have coverage. If you use a fireplace as your primary heating source it may have to be approved. Make sure your insurance company has approved the type of heating you have.
Those of you who have older properties, properties that are at remote locations, or property you can not get to year round are well advised to go over your insurance with care as coverage is often restricted or limited by insurance companies.
For the Best Seasonal Home Policy call the
NO Hassle Insurance Guy 306-821-1620.
