Is Your Empty Home Actually Insured?
Six questions, two minutes. Most seasonal homeowners assume their policy covers the house while they're away — many policies quietly disagree. See where you stand.
1. How long does your home sit empty at a stretch?
2. Have you told your insurer the home sits unoccupied for the season?
3. Do you know whether your policy has a vacancy or unoccupancy clause?
4. Does your policy require the home to be checked while you're away?
5. What happens with the water supply when you leave?
6. If you had a claim tomorrow, could you prove the home was being looked after?
0 of 6 answered — your result appears when all six are done.
The fine print most seasonal homeowners never read
Standard homeowner policies were written for occupied homes. When a home sits empty past the policy's threshold — commonly 30 or 60 consecutive days — vacancy and unoccupancy provisions can reduce or eliminate coverage for vandalism, glass breakage, and in some policies water damage, unless you've arranged an endorsement or met care requirements like periodic inspections.
None of this is a reason to panic — it's a reason to make two phone calls: one to your insurance agent with the questions above, and one to a professional home watch provider who documents every visit. Our homeowner's home watch checklist covers what those visits should include.
This quiz is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Policies vary widely by state and carrier — always confirm specifics with your own insurer.
Home watch professionals: this quiz sells your service better than any flyer. Share it with prospects and snowbird groups — and see how Home Watcher produces the GPS-verified reports the result page describes.