Is Fire Damage To a Vacation Home Covered?

8/28/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damaged home

Owners of vacation homes are often unsure about the status of insurance coverage for a seasonally occupied property. It is important to maintain vacation home coverage, document damage and make claims in a timely manner to ensure that a home fire at a vacation property qualifies for a level of coverage comparable to that available under the homeowners insurance policy for a primary residence in Tulsa, OK.

You Need Vacation Home Insurance Coverage

A vacation home requires additional insurance coverage above and beyond the policy for a primary residence. Insurers consider vacation homes higher risk for several reasons:

• Intermittent occupancy
• Likelihood of delayed response
• Disaster risk in some destinations
  
  

The premiums for insuring a vacation home may be relatively high, but the ability to make a claim for a vacant home fire is worth it. Based on how long it takes for a blaze to be reported and extinguished, the cost of repairing damage can be considerable.

Making a Claim for a Vacation Home
In order to make a home fire claim, a vacation homeowner must submit documentation of damage. If you are not staying at a property when a fire breaks out, it may be possible to have damage cleanup and restoration professionals document damage. It may be necessary to go to a vacation home to meet with an adjuster.

Perils That Are Not Covered
A vacation home without a dedicated insurance policy does not qualify for coverage under the owner’s primary policy. An intentional fire or arson is also excluded from every policy.
In order to make an insurance claim after a home fire at a vacation house, it is necessary that the owner maintain vacation home coverage. As soon as the fact that a fire has taken place is apparent, property owners should take measures to document and mitigate damage in preparation to make a claim.