Insure Your Vacation…Home

The Mountains of South Carolina are beautiful. The beaches around Charleston are to die for. Here are some places to visit when the mountains are calling your name; the Falling Water Scenic Byway, The Foothills Trail, Caesar’s Head State Park overlook, Hotel Domestique, Victoria Valley Vineyards, Devil’s Fork State Park, The Red Horse Inn, Table Rock Trail, Pumpkintown Mountain Restaurant, Travelers Rest and Jones Gap State Park.

Many people have second homes or vacation homes in these areas. Do you have the right coverage for your vacation home? Do you need special coverage for these often part-time residences? Let’s explore the answers.

• Property Crime – unoccupied property can be at a higher risk of break-ins. Property crime which includes burglary has fallen between 2016 and 2017 but you still need to be concerned about an empty home. Of the estimated 7.9 million property crimes, burglary still accounts for about 2 of every 10.
• Condo or Single-Family Home – owning a condo may give you access to insurance which the condo association pays for but clarify what that coverage entails. It may only cover the structure of the condo and not your contents.
• Flood Insurance – flooding can happen no matter where your vacation home is located even in the mountains. Check local flood maps for your flood zone to better assess your risk and need for flood insurance. If your mountain vacation home area is prone to heavy downpours and maybe even mudslides, then you may want extra insurance coverage. Remember regular home insurance does not protect against water damage.
• Property Amenities – review the liability portion of your policy to make sure you have extras like swimming pools adequately covered in the event someone is injured and decides to sue you for damages or medical bills. Look at your home the way a guest would to assess what might be unsafe or dangerous especially around younger children.
• Correct Value Assessment – most insurance policies place their value on what it would take to rebuild the home in the event of a total loss. You can add on additional coverage for content replacement at current market values, but this often requires keeping an inventory of what is in the home. Work with your professional certified insurance agent to make sure you are only paying for what you need. This will also save you money on insurance premiums.

In the meantime, go visit the mountains of South Carolina and have some fun. There is much to do and plenty to see and explore before the summer comes to an end.