Can you get homeowners insurance on a home that is not occupied & will be for sale in the next few months?
Mother-in-law just died. Her estate is a mess. She let her homeowners insurance expire (didn’t renew her policy) in 2004. The broker that previously insured the home is having trouble getting an insurance company to pick up the home because it will not be occupied by anyone and will be on the market in a few weeks. I am concerned that something might happen to the home between now and the closing date (which may be months away). Anyone know an outfit that will insure this home?
No, what you need is a "vacant property policy".
Your best bet is going to be with Foremost Insurance – www.foremost.com . . . several companies write vacant property policies, but only Foremost will give you a pro-rata cancellation if the house sells. The others won’t refund your money.
If your agent doesn’t represent Foremost, you can go to their website – www.foremost.com – and find an agent near you who does.
**reading the other answers – Laughing at State Farm writing this. Standard companies will NOT write a vacant property. State Farm won’t touch this. Other companies that would, would be American Standard, and Lloyds of London – but Foremost is cheaper.**