Second Home Insurance Coverage for Your Vacation Home

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Homeowners Insurance for a Second Home

couple researching second home insurance

Whether you use it regularly or seasonally, having a homeowners insurance policy for your second home is just as important as your primary home policy.

The protection you get with a homeowners insurance policy for your second home is essential. Standard homeowners insurance policies for second homes can help protect from damages caused by a variety of events, such as fire, lightning and wind. At The Hartford, we’re here to help if your second home is damaged by a covered event, offering homeowners insurance that can help with the rebuilding costs.

The homeowners insurance for your second home also gives you personal liability coverage. This helps cover the cost of a lawsuit if someone who doesn’t live in your home is injured on your property and you’re found responsible.

Factors That Affect Secondary Home Insurance

couple protected by home insurance for second home

A secondary homeowners insurance policy is essential, but it’s important to know you may also need additional coverages depending on a few factors. Your second home most likely isn’t used the same as your primary home. It may be vulnerable to different risks, which can affect your secondary homeowners insurance.

Some factors that can affect your secondary homeowners insurance policy include:

Replacement Cost: Just like with your primary home policy, if your second home costs more to replace, it will affect your secondary homeowners insurance.
Vacancies: If your second home is empty for an extended period, it can be more vulnerable to damage.
Location: Your insurance rate may be higher if your second home is far from emergency services.
Rentals: If you’re going to offer your second home as a rental, you’ll most likely need additional coverage, like landlord insurance.

Increasing Protection for Your Second Home Insurance Policy

Second homeowners insurance policies can come with limited coverage. Adding coverages to your policy can increase your protection. If you’re looking to keep your second home well protected, consider adding:

Personal Property Coverage: This helps protect your belongings, such as furniture, clothing and appliances. It is standard on a homeowners insurance policy, but you can customize it to make sure all of your belongings are protected.
Personal Liability: If you’re found responsible for an injury to someone on your property who doesn’t live in either of your homes, this can help cover medical or court costs.
Flood Insurance: Regular homeowners insurance policies won’t protect your home from floods. And if your second home is near a body of water, it could have a higher risk of flood or water damage.
Full Replacement Cost: This additional coverage helps by paying the full cost to rebuild your home if it is a total loss up to 125% of your coverage limits. You may be able to receive up to 150%, depending on where you live.

Do You Know Your Home's Market Value vs. Its Replacement Cost?

Your home's market value and replacement cost are two different amounts.

Your home's market value is what a buyer is willing to pay for your house and land in its current condition. It's influenced by:

Your location, like being near water or on an elevation with views
The quality of the local school systems
Your proximity to police, fire and medical facilities
If you're near stores, restaurants and entertainment
The status of your area's housing market
Extra structures on your property like a shed or pool

Your home's replacement cost is the amount it would take to rebuild your home with materials of similar kind and quality on your existing property, including:

The items needed to rebuild walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, roof, etc.
The labor to rebuild or repair your home
Clean-up costs and debris removal

How We Can Help

Once we determine an accurate replacement cost for your home, we verify that amount throughout the life of your policy, so your coverage is always up-to-date.

We also offer optional additional limits coverage that pays up to either 125% or 150% of your dwelling coverage limits in the event that you have extra rebuilding costs.

To learn more:

Get a Homeowner's Quote Today

Making simple changes to your second home can also help you save on your secondary homeowners insurance premium. Keep your home more secure and help reduce your payments by installing:

A keyless entry, or smart door lock, that lets you enter your home with a keypad or smartphone. You can even lock or unlock the door remotely. VIDEO: Smart Home Technology: Keyless Entry
A wireless doorbell camera so you can see who is at your door. You can also use it to deter unwanted visitors and interact with visitors when you’re not home. VIDEO: Smart Home Technology: Wireless Doorbell Cameras
Burglar alarms or security systems can help lower your premium and keep your second home safe. VIDEO: Smart Home Technology: Security Systems

Get Second Home Insurance Coverage From The Hartford

man gets an online insurance quote for his second home

Bundling your insurance policies with The Hartford can help you save money. You can combine your primary and secondary homeowners insurance policies to get great coverage at an affordable rate. If you bundle your auto coverage too, you can save up to 5% on auto insurance and 20% on home insurance.**

Whether you’re using your second home as a personal getaway or planning to rent it out, we can help make sure you have the right coverage. And if you’re looking to lease out your property, just remember it can impact your homeowners insurance policy. We can help make sure you understand it all.

Find an agent or speak with one of our specialists to get your questions answered and see how much you can save. We’re here to help. Call us at 800-624-5578 or get a fast and easy insurance quote for your second home online.

Last Updated: January 23, 2025

** Automobile/Homeowners discount is available only to policyholders who have both their auto and home (or condo or renters) insurance through the AARP Auto & Home Insurance Programs from The Hartford.

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