Why a Seasonal or Rental is Not a Vacant Home

Isn't a seasonal property or a beach property a vacant home, and why do some homes need vacant home insurance coverage and this is not required on vacation homes or homes rented out?

First, the word is just beginning to spread that if you have a house that is empty or unoccupied for over 60 days, chances are you are losing or have lost insurance through your regular homeowners insurance company and you need to put vacant home insurance or vacant homeowners insurance coverage on the home. Those that don't realize this are risking much.

However, someone that owns a property on the ocean, say at the New Jersey Shore, may watch it sit empty for 10 months a year, and these properties do not need a vacant home insurance policy in most cases. Investment properties that are rented for part of the year can be covered under standard landlord/tenant dwelling policies. Insurance companies do not see these properties for rent as the same risk as a vacant home. Properties that are for rent are kept up well, and may often get visitors from owners, realtors, cleaning people etc.

A "second home" also may sit empty for 10 months a year, yet rarely requires a vacant homeowners insurance policy either. In fact, in most cases, the same company that provides homeowners insurance on the primary home will also extend "all risk" insurance to a seasonal or second home. We admit, this is a bit of a paradox. One home is empty or vacant and only expensive vacant homeowners solutions can be offered. Another home sits unoccupied in Scottsdale AZ as a second home and there are no problems securing good coverage at a lesser price. We will continue examining this one.