Leaving Your Home Empty Could Leave You Uninsured

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If you’re going on a long term holiday, work away for long periods of time or have another reason to leave a property vacant for a long period of time, it’s worth considering how doing these things can affect your home insurance – or more importantly, how they can completely invalidate it…

It’s not a particularly well known fact that nearly all home insurance policies will lapse if your home is left unoccupied for a long period of time – funnily enough, many providers keep quiet about things like this – which is probably somewhat of a worry for the half a million Brits who live abroad for half of the year, or the 300,000 people who head off on a gap year or career break every year. However, people going on a long holiday should also double check the small print on their policies, as many providers will allow for as little as 30 days of vacancy before they stop covering you, and in the best case scenario you will have 60 days before your insurance documents are worthless.

What’s interesting is that a more expensive policy doesn’t necessarily mean more cover: In sample home insurance quotes taken to cover a £150,000 Manchester (M20) Semi, with £35,000 of contents insurance and 5 years no claims discount, the second cheapest quote (At £138.18) provided 60 days of protection, whereas The most expensive (at £332.53) was almost 2.5 times more expensive, and offered half the amount of cover.

If you plan on going away for longer than two weeks, there are a number of things you should do to protect your home. First on your list should be contacting your insurer, as they will let you know of any precautions you should be aware of - although be aware that some may charge you an increased rate for the time you are away, although this varies from case to case. You should also cancel any milk or papers you have delivered, as these are key signs that the house is empty. Furthermore, if you keep an emergency key anywhere, give that to someone you trust and definitely don’t leave it within “hooking” reach of the letterbox. A light on a timer is also a good idea, but ideally having someone visit the home for a few hours a day is ultimately a better idea. Not only can they open and close curtains as needed, but they can also move post away from your front door, as well as feeding animals and watering plants for you – Or if you’ve got the right person to house sit for you, maybe even indulge in that noisy or obtrusive DIY job you need to get done but don’t want to live with.

The key thing to remember is to speak to your insurer before you leave – after all, you can make all the preparations in the world, but these are wasted if you’ve not done something else that the provider wants in the first place – and get someone who can keep tabs on the house, as not only could they save you extra costs in insurance premiums, they could also prevent having to make a claim.

Chris Spann
moneysupermarket.com Financial Group

House sitter found for Myrtle Creek, Oregon, with walks in the Woods, and beautiful view, peace and quiet, USA housesit

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"I had no idea there were so many qualified house sitters out there and your site worked extremely well for us.
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Terry and Carol Myrtle Creek, Oregon

View details for house sitter required Myrtle Creek Oregon USA

Like animals, a beautiful view, peace and quiet? We live in a secluded - but easily accessed - location on 120 acres between Myrtle Creek and Roseburg, Oregon.


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House Sitter found for Mornington Peninsula House Sitting

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"Many thanks for your wonderful service, through which I have met a very nice couple who are happy to care for my Goldie.

Best regards Betty (mygoldie1008)

House sitter Karen secures a Mt Pleasant WA housesit

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Hello Ian, Yes thank you. I have been successful so far with a house sit booking in Mt.Pleasant WA from 30/08/10 - 16/09/10. I will update my details now .

My profile has also been edited and I have included a current photograph.

Thank you for the excellent service so far. Yours sincerely
Karen N (UserName = Peace2010)

View details of sitter profile, Peace2010 house sitting in Mt Pleasant WA

I am an independent,trustworthy,responsible ,fit and healthy female available to care for your home and pets during your absence. I own a campervan and currently I am a house sitter.I enjoy peace and quiet so that I can write my book,work on my art and study theology.I love animals and being close to nature.

Housesitting writer, editor and marketing/PR lands a Tacoma WA housesit

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Thanks, as always, for your excellent site-related service. I'm close to securing another house-sitting gig with a woman in Tacoma. >Will let you know. Regards, Tim W.

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View profile of house sitter dilaram for Tacoma WA housesit

Nearing the end of my career as a writer, editor and marketing/PR director, I feel the need for a change of scene and pace. Although I've had much success serving an art festival, opera company, symphony orchestra and other clients, it's simply time for a new chapter. I'm extremely fastidious and would take care of your home, grounds, pets, etc., as if they were my own....

HouseSitter found for 5.5 Month housesit Sharon Springs large beautiful upstate New York Victorian Home

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"We are most grateful for the service that this site has provided us. We will again use it next year.
Kai (username BonitaKa)

Housesit details United States Sharon Springs Upstate New York Schoharie Central NYS

We are looking for a housesitter or couple to care for our large beautiful upstate New York Victorian home for five and 1/2 months. The house is situated on two hundred acres that includes a six acre pond,forty acres woodlands and fields.

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Nedlands Perth WA homeonwer selects sitter with confidence

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"Just a line to say thank you for your service. I found your website informative and easy to use, and had confidence in it. There were a lot of responses to my request for a house sitter so I had a good number to choose from. It was helpful to read the guidelines and agreement. After my holiday I'll know just how successful the exercise was, but I've already recommended your website to several friends. It's good to know you are there for next time!"

Yours sincerely,"Hyacinth"

View Housesit Details - housesitter needed, Nedlands Perth WA

I would like a responsible person to take care of my home, a "character" house with renovated kitchen and bathroom, in my absence. Two cats who live outside the house need feeding twice a day. The garden is spacious but not high maintenance- roses will be lovely! Within walking distance of shopping centre, transport, UWA, the river and Kings Park. Security and the cats are my main reasons for having a house sitter.

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Skystorm from Wellington NSW, can now go on a long awaited holiday and know their home and pets are in excellent care

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Bindigirl from Traralgon, Gippsland VIC has trips away after finding terrific house sitters

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rainbow07 finds PERFECT couple to take care of their Roydon London Essex/Herts England UK Home

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"Many sincere thanks for your website. It has been fantastic in providing us with the PERFECT couple to take care of our home and pet.

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Kind regards

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View housesit details for house sitter required for Roydon Essex/Herts England UK housesit

We are looking for a House/Pet Sitter for 6 months while we are in Australia from early October 2010 to early April 2011 (dates variable). There will be a charge to cover the cost of electricity & gas etc.

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A couple or family would be preferred to care for our dog and the cottage. We look forward to hearing from you....

Fraudulent house sitter apprehended: The dangers of chosing a sitter from craig list

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The sitter advertised on craig list.

This reinforces our recommendation that homeowners
1. Ask for references that can be verified
2. Perform identity checks on housesitters
3. Sight the original police clearance certificates.

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Read full article :House-sitter defrauded clients

NorthJersey.com: House-sitter defrauded clients, GRPD says
Mary Ann Demmy, 71, arrested last week on charges of identity theft while
house- sitting a Sommer Avenue home

Sooke/Victoria Island, British Columbia Homeowner finds housesitter for Sunny, private, modern home and small llama farm on 10 forested acres

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The 10 llamas are very easy to look after

House sitter Credible lands 8 week housesit in Ajijic, Mexico and gets to celebrate las fiestas patrias.

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"Am really excited, thanks to your site I will be spending 8 weeks in Ajijic beginning August 22nd. I will be able to celebrate las fiestas patrias.

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Credible (aka Minnie)

View house sitter profile for Credible

Sept is fiesta time in Mexico, there are good
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View details of housesit in Ajijic village, Jalisco Mexico

Fall is perfect time of year to see Ajijic, temps are moderate

Barjon find suitable house/pet sitters for beach Home , 300 metres from Corindi Beach NSW Mid North Coast Australia with Whale watching in season - dolphins always!

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"We wish to thank you for the excellent service you provided us in our search for suitable house/pet sitters for October 2010. The number of quality applicants, their various backgrounds and interests, demonstrated there is a massive population out there 'on the move', and we thank them for their efforts."

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View ad/profile for sitter required ad Mid North Coast NSW

Barjon find suitable house/pet sitters for beach Home , 300 metres from Corindi Beach NSW Mid North Coast Australia with Whale watching in season - dolphins always!