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How long can a house sit unoccupied?
Generally, if you plan to leave your home vacant or unoccupied for 30 days or more, you’ll want to purchase unoccupied or vacant house insurance. While terms vary by policy, most insurance companies will deny claims that are made if your home is left alone for longer than 30 days.
How do you prepare a house to sit empty?
Home Alone: How to Prepare Your Home for Winter Vacancy
- Turn off the water supply. The most important thing you need to do, especially if you’re leaving for the entire winter, is shut off your water supply.
- Drain the waterlines.
- Insulate pipes.
- Turn down the heat.
- Unplug all appliances.
- Throw out the trash.
What do you do when you leave your house for 2 months?
A Checklist to Complete If You’re Leaving Your Home for an Extended Period of Time
- Alert the post office to hold your mail until you return.
- Stage your home as if you are still there.
- Set an alarm.
- Place small valuables in a hidden place or safe.
- Hire someone or notify your neighbor to do the simple things.
What happens if you leave a house empty?
Most standard home insurance policies will only provide full cover for empty properties for up to 60 days. Properties that are empty present a much higher risk of burglary, water damage, fire, vandalism, and even squatters moving in.
How do you secure an unoccupied house?
10 Tips for Protecting a Vacant Home After You Move
- Lock and secure all windows and doors.
- Give a neighbor or friend an extra key.
- Take care of your yard.
- Install motion detector lights.
- Remove valuables from the home.
- Keep home security system sign out front.
- Keep your alarm system up and running.
How can I protect my vacant home?
8 Ways to Protect Homes That Are Vacant or Under Construction
- Get an Alarm.
- Maintain the House and Yard.
- Install More Lighting.
- Park a Car in the Driveway.
- Keep Your Neighbors in the Loop.
- Install Security Cameras.
- Consider Buying Insurance.
- Board-Up the Property.
Is it important to winterize your vacant home before you leave?
Whether you’re flying the coop for the whole winter or taking a long holiday vacation, it’s important to winterize your vacant home before you leave. If you don’t take precautions, you could end up coming home to some serious and expensive damage.
Should you let the world know that your home is vacant?
When it comes to home protection, don’t let the world know that your home is vacant. Hold off on sharing those vacation photos until you get home and definitely don’t post your travel plans in advance. This can be more complicated than just not broadcasting your location. Some technology is a little too “helpful” for our own good.
Should you clean your home before a vacation?
Often, you hear advice to clean your home before a vacation. But really, who cares about dust on the bookshelves when you get back from a trip? Instead, focus on what matters: identifying anything that might start to rot and getting it out of the home. Empty the trash and recycling.
What should I do to prepare my home for a holiday?
Shut off the water to washing machines and dishwashers where possible, to avoid any leaks or broken hoses while you are away. Turn off the heat source and water supply to hot water heaters (if separate from your boiler). Consider shutting off and draining outdoor water faucets to prevent vandalism and freezing damage.