Study shows thousands have still not reported to their insurance company that their home is vacant

There is only one way to cover an empty or vacant home, with a vacant home insurance policy. No matter what an agent tells you, there is NO OTHER way to cover a home that is vacant or unoccupied. So, why are there still thousands of homeowners with vacant homes but no vacant homeowners insurance? Here are the top reasons

1. They simply don't know they need vacant home insurance. Insurance companies don't do a good job letting clients know they won't insure homes that are unoccupied for just 60 to 90 days or more.
2. Vacant home insurance is expensive, and to avoid the cost, many homeowners won't inform their homeowners insurance company that the home is vacant, hoping they won't have a claim or hoping for the best if there is a claim. Thousands play insurance Russian Roulette.
3. They have gotten bad information from a friend, Realtor, or even an insurance agent. Does the agent even know their own insurer's limit on the time a home can be empty. It sounds impossible but many won't know. Also, many don't want to lose their commission and we have seen many "bury the paperwork" or provide bad advice to the home owner.

The rule is not flexible. If a home is empty, vacant, or unoccupied for over 90 days, and not under major repair or renovations they only way to cover the home is through vacant home insurance.

Snow Load Leaves Vacant Home Insurance Insureds Thinking About Policies

The East has seen over 50 inches of snow this year. Normal, yes, for Lake Tahoe CA, Crater Lake Oregon and Buffalo NY but not for New York or Washington D.C. Across the U.S. people with vacant home insurance policies are learning, quite frankly, that their policy is not very good.

When 36 inches of snow and ice sit on your roof, now is not the time to learn you have poor vacant home insurance coverage. Most vacant home insurance is very limited in scope, and is not comprehensive all-risk homeowners insurance. Many insureds buy policies and don't even know the list of named perils they are covered for in the vacant homeowners insurance policy. Some policies may be fire only! Some are fire, wind, smoke, and hail. These are not good homeowners policies.

After 3 blizzards people tend to pull out their policy and hope they have good coverage. Vacant Home Insurance Now (.com) always provides the very best programs, and stopped offering limited coverage options a long time ago. Vacant home insurance now has done the comparisons so clients do not have to.

Underwriting Factors offering Vacant Home Insurance Discounts

When it comes to vacant home insurance, a good low cost solution does not exist in the United States. Vacant home insurance is 3 times to 5 times as expensive as regular homeowners insurance in most instances, and there is no way around this if you want a good policy.

Even "fire only" policies may be more expensive for vacant homeowners insurance than regular homeowners insurance and what are you getting, fire only!

There are certain factors that can get you the best rates possible for your vacant or empty home during the vacant home underwriting process. These are listed below

1. Will the vacant home be visited at least 4 times per month? Homes that don't get 4 visits are loaded or not rated at all. Visits mean inside inspections not grass cutting.
2. How long as the home been uninsured or is the home currently insured.
3. Is the vacant house within 1000 feet of a fire hydrant and within 5 miles of a fire station
4. What is the type of construction on the empty home? Brick and mortar is better than wood frame and cedar shake.
5. Is the home in a coastal community or a beach community.