It is officially that time of the year again where the thermometer never rises as high as we like, and things like wind chill are deciding factors on what outfit we will choose for the day. The sun seems to remain hidden for longer than we like, and the malls begin to get busier and busier until Christmas. Families begin to plan schedules for the holidays, and that free trip to a warmer climate that the telemarketer promises after stealing your identity seems to look like a more attractive offer all the time- I mean, after all, is a little bit of identity retention worth this kind of cold? Fourteen days in the sun couldn’t sound more glorious at a time like this!
A few days away from home is something we all desire, but are there ramifications with your insurance if you choose to spend some time away? Well, lucky you asked, as this is the very place to find out the answer to that very question.
If you plan to be away for more than 72 hours in the winter time, there are stipulations tucked into your home insurance product that state the importance of having a competent person checking on your home at least once a day to keep all coverage in place.
You see, the last thing the insurance companies want is for someone to leave their home for a number of months in the heating season and simply trust that their furnace will continue to work without being checked on. Even with smart homes and remote temperature monitors being available, they still want little Johnny stopping by to make sure the pipes haven’t burst due to a furnace malfunction, and that everything remains in proper order. Having someone stop in also ensures that an unfortunate event, such as the “wet bandits” stopping by for some free merchandise, hasn’t occurred (forgive me for the Home Alone reference). Things like theft, vandalism or accidents such as a broken window can cause big problems in the middle of winter. Your furnace will have to work harder to keep the house warm, and there is no guarantee that it will be able to do that with a broken window in the house, or that it will continue to operate under increased load without malfunction.
Some home security companies install thermostats that they can monitor the temperature remotely. If the temperature of the home drops, they will send someone to inspect the home to see what has caused the issue. This is another alternative if you are unable to find someone you trust to check on your home. Most insurance companies allow this as an alternative if the “temperature of the home is monitored by a third-party vendor.” Please check your home wordings or ask us if your company allows this alternative.
This winter, if you should be so lucky to be heading away to bask in the warm sun for a few days, make sure to have someone checking into your residence daily. It will keep your coverage in full force, and could mitigate a bigger loss if your “home-checker” stumbles across something unplanned or unexpected.