At Insbuyer we’re always trying to find ways to help you with your insurance queries and to help you find the best insurance deals around. Many homeowners find that there comes a time when they need to leave their property empty - perhaps when they are in the process of selling their home and moving in to a new property.

Many home insurance policies stipulate that if a property is left empty for a certain period, usually three months, then your insurer has the right to invalidate that insurance. If you are planning to leave a property empty for longer than a month or two, check with your existing insurer as to their vacant home policy.

Leaving your home vacant for any length of time increases its risk to insurers in several ways. Firstly your property is more likely to be burgled or vandalised when it is unoccupied. There is also an increased risk of vagrants inhabiting your property.

Your home is also left more vulnerable to weather damage, as well as water damage from burst water pipes. And there is also the possibility of infestations of insects, mice or rats that may go unnoticed in a vacant property.

These increased risks mean higher home insurance premiums for you. There are several things that you can do to obtain the most cost-effective cover however.

If you can prove to your insurer that your property will be checked regularly then this may help to reduce your rate. If you can’t find any friends, families or neighbours to help out, then hiring a property management company to check on the property daily for any damage could be well worth the cost.

If you must leave your property vacant, then you should do everything possible to make it look like it is in use. Stop or redirect your mail, and stop your newspaper deliveries too, as mail piling up at the door is a sure sign of a vacant property. Tim er switches can be fitted to your home lighting to automatically switch lights on when it gets dark.

Any signs of life will help to deter intruders, so pay attention to the exterior of your home too. Hire someone or ask a friend to mow your lawn regularly and tend to your garden. And parking a car or two in your driveway is also a good idea.

Using the internet for your research will really help with your insurance hunt. Here you’ll be able to compare a whole range of insurers, and find details of insurers who specialise in vacant property insurance quickly and easily.

Using the internet can also save you money on your premiums, as most major insurers offer discounts to those who purchase and manage their policy online. Co-operative Insurance (previously CIS) for instance offer a 15% discount for using their website to find home insurance.

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