Whether your seasonal home is a summer getaway on Cape Cod, a vacation property in New Hampshire, or a second home in Florida, it deserves the same attention and protection as your primary residence. Because these homes are often vacant for extended periods, they can present unique insurance considerations.
We've answered some of the most common questions we receive from seasonal homeowners to help you better understand your coverage and protect your investment year-round.
We've answered some of the most common questions we receive from seasonal homeowners to help you better understand your coverage and protect your investment year-round.
Last Updated: July 2026
I recently bought a second home. Should both homes be insured with the same company?
Not necessarily. Keeping both properties with one insurance company can sometimes simplify your coverage or provide discounts, but it isn't always the best option—especially when the homes are in different states or have very different risks.
As an independent agency, we can look at the properties individually as well as together. Our goal is to find an insurance arrangement that provides appropriate protection for both homes rather than simply placing them with the same carrier for convenience.
As an independent agency, we can look at the properties individually as well as together. Our goal is to find an insurance arrangement that provides appropriate protection for both homes rather than simply placing them with the same carrier for convenience.
I'm closing my vacation home for the winter. Does my insurance change?
Your policy doesn't necessarily change simply because you close the property for the season, but your responsibilities as the homeowner may. Some policies have requirements related to maintaining heat, shutting off water, winterizing plumbing, or periodically checking the property.
Before leaving for an extended period, it's a good idea to understand those requirements. We'll review your policy with you so you know what precautions may be expected while the home is unoccupied.
Before leaving for an extended period, it's a good idea to understand those requirements. We'll review your policy with you so you know what precautions may be expected while the home is unoccupied.
Can friends or family stay at my vacation home when I'm not there?
Generally, having friends or family use your vacation home is different from renting it to paying guests, but how frequently others occupy the property can still be important to your insurance company.
If other people regularly use the home while you're away, tell us how the property is being used. We'll help you understand how your policy applies and whether there are any coverage considerations you should know about.
If other people regularly use the home while you're away, tell us how the property is being used. We'll help you understand how your policy applies and whether there are any coverage considerations you should know about.
Does having a hot tub, pool, or outdoor kitchen affect my vacation home insurance?
It can. Pools, hot tubs, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and other recreational features can increase both the value of your property and your potential liability exposure, particularly when guests regularly use the home.
If you add new outdoor features, let us know so we can review your coverage. We'll help make sure your policy reflects how the property has changed and discuss whether additional liability protection may be appropriate.
If you add new outdoor features, let us know so we can review your coverage. We'll help make sure your policy reflects how the property has changed and discuss whether additional liability protection may be appropriate.
What happens if a storm damages my vacation home while I'm away?
Damage can be more difficult to discover at a vacation home because no one may be there when it happens. A small roof leak, broken window, or other storm damage can become more serious if it goes unnoticed for several days or weeks.
Having someone periodically check the property or using remote monitoring devices can help identify problems sooner. We'll also help you understand what your policy expects during extended absences and what steps to take if damage is discovered.
Having someone periodically check the property or using remote monitoring devices can help identify problems sooner. We'll also help you understand what your policy expects during extended absences and what steps to take if damage is discovered.
Is insurance for a seasonal home different from my primary residence?
Yes, in many cases. Because seasonal homes are often unoccupied for weeks or months at a time, insurance companies may view them differently than owner-occupied homes.
Vacant periods can increase the risk of unnoticed water damage, theft, vandalism, or weather-related losses. That's why seasonal home insurance may include different coverage options, policy requirements, or underwriting guidelines.
When we review a seasonal property, we take the time to understand how often it's occupied, how it's used, and any unique risks that may affect your coverage.
Vacant periods can increase the risk of unnoticed water damage, theft, vandalism, or weather-related losses. That's why seasonal home insurance may include different coverage options, policy requirements, or underwriting guidelines.
When we review a seasonal property, we take the time to understand how often it's occupied, how it's used, and any unique risks that may affect your coverage.
What should I do before leaving my seasonal home for an extended period?
Preparing your home before you leave can help reduce the risk of damage while it's unoccupied.
We often recommend checking your heating or cooling systems, shutting off the water if appropriate, securing doors and windows, arranging for someone to periodically inspect the property, and documenting valuable belongings.
Taking these steps not only helps protect your property but may also help you meet certain policy requirements related to vacant or seasonal home
We often recommend checking your heating or cooling systems, shutting off the water if appropriate, securing doors and windows, arranging for someone to periodically inspect the property, and documenting valuable belongings.
Taking these steps not only helps protect your property but may also help you meet certain policy requirements related to vacant or seasonal home
Does my seasonal home insurance cover frozen pipes or water damage?
It depends on the cause of the damage and the terms of your policy.
Water damage can be especially concerning in seasonal homes because problems may go unnoticed until you return. Some policies may require homeowners to take reasonable steps to maintain heat, shut off the water, or winterize the property during extended absences.
We'll review your policy with you so you understand what precautions may help protect both your home and your insurance coverage.
Water damage can be especially concerning in seasonal homes because problems may go unnoticed until you return. Some policies may require homeowners to take reasonable steps to maintain heat, shut off the water, or winterize the property during extended absences.
We'll review your policy with you so you understand what precautions may help protect both your home and your insurance coverage.
Can I rent out my seasonal home when I'm not using it?
Possibly—but it's important to let us know before you do.
Renting your seasonal home, even for a few weeks each year, can change how your insurance policy responds to certain claims. Standard seasonal homeowners insurance may not automatically provide the coverage you need for short-term rentals.
If you're planning to rent your property through Airbnb, VRBO, or another platform, we'll review your current coverage and discuss whether additional protection may be appropriate.
Renting your seasonal home, even for a few weeks each year, can change how your insurance policy responds to certain claims. Standard seasonal homeowners insurance may not automatically provide the coverage you need for short-term rentals.
If you're planning to rent your property through Airbnb, VRBO, or another platform, we'll review your current coverage and discuss whether additional protection may be appropriate.
Should I insure my seasonal home's contents separately
Many seasonal homes contain furniture, electronics, sporting equipment, boats, bicycles, or other valuable belongings that should be considered as part of your insurance review.
We'll help you understand how your personal property is covered and discuss whether additional protection may be appropriate for high-value items kept at your vacation home.
Our goal is to make sure both the home and the belongings inside it are properly protected.
We'll help you understand how your personal property is covered and discuss whether additional protection may be appropriate for high-value items kept at your vacation home.
Our goal is to make sure both the home and the belongings inside it are properly protected.
Do I need flood insurance for my vacation home?
If your seasonal home is located near the coast, a lake, or another body of water, flood insurance may be worth considering.
Standard homeowners insurance generally doesn't cover flood damage, and many vacation properties are located in areas where flooding can occur from storm surge, heavy rain, or rising water.
We'll review your property's location and help you understand whether flood insurance should be part of your overall protection plan.
Standard homeowners insurance generally doesn't cover flood damage, and many vacation properties are located in areas where flooding can occur from storm surge, heavy rain, or rising water.
We'll review your property's location and help you understand whether flood insurance should be part of your overall protection plan.
How often should I review my seasonal home insurance?
We recommend reviewing your seasonal home insurance every year, especially if you've made improvements, purchased new furnishings, or changed how you use the property.
Whether you've added a deck, renovated the kitchen, started renting the home, or purchased recreational equipment, those changes may affect your insurance needs.
Annual reviews help ensure your policy continues to reflect your property's current value and how it's being used.
Whether you've added a deck, renovated the kitchen, started renting the home, or purchased recreational equipment, those changes may affect your insurance needs.
Annual reviews help ensure your policy continues to reflect your property's current value and how it's being used.
Why should I work with an agency that understands seasonal homes?
Seasonal homes come with different challenges than primary residences, and we believe those differences deserve personal attention.
For decades, we've worked with homeowners who own vacation and seasonal properties, particularly in coastal communities where weather, occupancy, and property use all play an important role in insurance planning.
Whether you're buying your first vacation home, reviewing your existing policy, or preparing your property for the season, we're here to help you understand your options and protect your investment.
For decades, we've worked with homeowners who own vacation and seasonal properties, particularly in coastal communities where weather, occupancy, and property use all play an important role in insurance planning.
Whether you're buying your first vacation home, reviewing your existing policy, or preparing your property for the season, we're here to help you understand your options and protect your investment.
Every seasonal home is different, and we're always adding new questions based on conversations with our clients. If you don't see the answer you're looking for, we'd love to hear from you.
Your vacation home is a place to relax, spend time with family, and create lasting memories. Having the right insurance helps protect that investment when you're there—and when you're away.
At Arthur D. Calfee Insurance Agency, we've helped homeowners insure seasonal and vacation properties for decades. Whether your home is on Cape Cod, in New Hampshire, or in Florida, we'll help you find coverage that fits your property, your lifestyle, and how you use your home throughout the year.
At Arthur D. Calfee Insurance Agency, we've helped homeowners insure seasonal and vacation properties for decades. Whether your home is on Cape Cod, in New Hampshire, or in Florida, we'll help you find coverage that fits your property, your lifestyle, and how you use your home throughout the year.
