Working Overseas, Don't Forget the Vacant Home

When my employer sent me overseas for 5 months to finish the programming on a big computer project I had a lot on my mind. I had to be on the project site in 7 days. I had just renewed my homeowners insurance policy with the leading insurer and didn't think there was any problem whatsoever. I was just going for 5 months and my mother will come by once a week or so to look in on the place.

Well my mother did just that but after a few weeks here visits went to once every two weeks. A hailstorm that was very local to our town blew out the picture window in the living room. The house was soaking wet for almost 10 days and mold was growing by then. When I filed the homeowners claim I was given a check for $4,000 but the total damage was over $30,000 because of the mold and how long everything was wet.

I was told I needed to secure vacant homeowners insurance even if I was only going to be away for just 2 months. No one told me I needed vacant home insurance. I was stuck paying the difference out of pocket. The impression I got from the homeowners insurance company was that I was lucky to get even the $4,000 because I had not imformed them the house was going to be empty or vacant.