keeping unoccupied home during off-season

[Shabotnik]

Forget insurance the second the company finds out the home is unoccupied.

[motordavid]

^^^ We have never had a problem with the usual homeowner's insurance, on our SFH in Naples for 9 seasons,
and this new SFH in Venice area, for the past year. Nor do we have any problem with our domiciled home back in the mtns of far western NC...

In both cases, the agent and the company doing the underwriting were told up front that we were seasonal/non-rez.

Reasonable costs, good coverage, (we were able to pick and choose from options and delete stuff we didn't want),
all without a raised eyebrow or threat, or having to make up a story.

All these scary insurance concerns must come from some weird agents/underwriters, or urban myth, imo.
GL, mD

[Shabotnik]

The elderly lady down the street from me had her house listed and had moved out. Her insurance was cancelled. Fortunately, it just sold. No myth.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-...ill-insurance/

[motordavid]

^ No arm wrestle, but that anecdote is not analogous to one having a seasonal home.
My anecdote was simply that I have never had a problem or an inflated HI ins cost for a seasonal home, in 10+ seasons here in SW FL.

And I have had a few different agents/underwriters over those 10 'seasons'. I was simply responding to the comment implying that an unoccupied house other than seasonal, would have its HI cancelled, arbitrarily...

[sandandshore]

I'd highly suggest getting someone to look in on the property periodically. My friend got to know his neighbor fairly well and gives him a healthy gift card as appreciation for him looking in on his property. The neighbor spotted water running down the drive way and was able to stop the leak from the garage before any major damage. Also tipped off the homeowner his lawn care company wasn't cutting weekly while he was being charged for it.

[tzais01]

I second having a neighbor check in on the home regularly. Many in our neighborhood do that. Others use a homewatch service.

[dpbarr2000]

If you are buying a home, your neighbors will be your best resource at keeping an eye on your property. Same with a condo. Make sure the main water is shut off. Cable and phone have plans for snowbirds who will only be using their services for short periods during the year.