outcampinagain
TT
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Joined: 10/20/2009
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but not because I want to be!
I asked a couple of questions last year to those who still own a S&B or who used to part time about do you turn your fridge off etc....well the time to go is here (next 2 weeks) and we are really getting excited, but last year we returned to a leak in the bathroom (which resulted in us putting in a whole new floor etc... ) We would like to skip that this year and would like to shut the water entirely off, drain everything and treat the house like we winterize our TT. DH is all about doing this, but then I started to wonder about something I heard an ins agent say. If you dont live in the house they consider that abandonment and wont cover anything in the event you need them to...load of garbage or truth? Can we just shut it down in the house (nobody knows but we still get stuck with the bill) or notify our town and risk the ins knowing (am I over concerned here?)
Anybody know? What do you do?
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding of me asking this again....next year I promise I will have it down or get rid of the S&B!  )
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Clay L
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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Joined: 07/01/2002
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I depends on how long you will be gone. You will need to check with your agent.
In some cases you can buy a rider that will let you be gone for longer than their limit.
Clay (WA5NMR), Lee (Wife), Katie (cat).
Full Timing in a 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N, Workhorse chassis, Honda Accord toad
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I am still wayne_tw
everywhere
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Regarding the water, just turn it off at the street...no need to drain everything unless you will be gone during freezing temps and no heat in the house.
Regarding the insurance issue, that question should be asked of your agent. Gone on an extended vacation may not initiate the clause about vacant property.
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Fishinghat
Western Washington, USA
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The standard rule of thumb for "abandonment" is 3 months. You could have someone stay at the house for a few days every month and that would qualify as not abandoned.
Holiday Rambler Navigator DP, Hummer, and Honda VT1100C Shadow
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hoss1045
Central Ohio
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You better do your homework. i have been through this. Depends on how long your gone. I still own a home in Ohio, i closed it up rather than renting it out. Moved to Washington for one year. after 9 months my ins man calls and says that they will no longer cover my home if no one is living there. So I had inlaws move in. So dot your i's and cross your t's. so you don't get stuck.
2007 GMC Yukon XL
2004 Fourwinds 25' HTT
Go BUCKEYES
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outcampinagain
TT
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Thanks everyone! Working at cross t's ! I didn't want to contact my agent for fear of raising a red flag. We leave in the summer vs winter so the winterizing would be to keep the smell down and prevent leaks only. DH doesn't want anyone staying in our house while we are not here.....time for plan B
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John&Joey
Some Location
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Geee, I wonder how all of those people that go south for the winter get away with it then?
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outcampinagain
TT
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me too! Do you just go away??
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MichDoc
Michigan
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I spoke with my insurance agent a few years ago when I first heard about the "abandonment" concern. He stated that it only applies if certain triggers occur, such as water, electric or gas turned off for NON-payment, furniture and/or appliances moved out, entry points left unlocked, etc. He said just going on an extended vacation does not automatically make the property "abandoned". I don't know if it varies according to the specific insurance company, but he was pretty explicit about the position that his company took.
Regarding the water, what we do is turn the water valve off in the basement at the meter, and open all of the faucets to let as much water drain as possible. We then flush the toilets to drain the tanks, and set the thermostat at 50, with a cold temperature alarm set for 45. If the furnace goes out, we will have enough time to make arrangements to have the problem corrected. But, even if it freezes, there will be so little water left in the pipes that freezing should cause minimal damage. My main concern isn't cracked pipes, but the water gushing into the house after the pipes thaw if the water was not shut off. That would cause major flooding, not just a puddle or two.
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outcampinagain
TT
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Thanks MichDoc! That sounds like a good option for us.I am more comfortable with that. Never having done this before we were not sure it that would leave a lot of pressure on the system between the house and the street. We thought we would drain the hot water heater also so it doesn't give us any surprises either...
happy trails all!
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