rural cabin insurance

LanceT18 · Jul 18, 2006

Does anyone know how to go about insuring a small cabin on rural property. I've run in to deadends from my carrier and everyone else I've talked to. This is a small one room cabin on 60 acres and is more of a weekend/hunting type thing. The cabin is relatively low cost ($5000) but I'd hate to be out the money if something happened to it. Thanks.

HomeBrew2 · Jul 18, 2006

LanceT18 said:
Does anyone know how to go about insuring a small cabin on rural property. I've run in to deadends from my carrier and everyone else I've talked to. This is a small one room cabin on 60 acres and is more of a weekend/hunting type thing. The cabin is relatively low cost ($5000) but I'd hate to be out the money if something happened to it. Thanks.

I ran into the same prob a couple years ago. You'll have to shop for an insurance "broker" that deals with "surplus lines" (I believe it's called).

Cheers!

stumpfield · Jul 18, 2006

LanceT18 said:
Does anyone know how to go about insuring a small cabin on rural property. I've run in to deadends from my carrier and everyone else I've talked to. This is a small one room cabin on 60 acres and is more of a weekend/hunting type thing. The cabin is relatively low cost ($5000) but I'd hate to be out the money if something happened to it. Thanks.

If any carrier willing to insure will probably charge you an arm and a leg on the premium. IMHO, I don't think it's worth to insure it. I would more worry about the liability end than the cost of the cabin.
However, you can check your homeowners policy on your primary residence to see if they are willing to cover the cabin as personal property.

shasta · Jul 18, 2006

In our area the American Modern Insurance Group handled by Grange Insurance Co.will insure them against loss, personal liability, damage, and vandalism. Like stumfield says it is relativly expensive, eg. $100,000 cabin costs about $960 per year.

EddieWalker · Jul 18, 2006

When I lived in town, I had State Farm as my homeowners policy. I had half a million dollar policy on the land as vacant land. As long as nobody is living there, it's included in your homeowners policy already. You just have to call your agent and notify them that you have some rural property.

I don't know if this is true in every state, or with your policy, but it wont hurt to call your agent and find out.

Eddie

BarryinMN · Jul 18, 2006

I had same problem in TX.

Try a local agent maybe tied to RE office. I believe my policy was based in Kerrville or Midland. Could not tie primary homeowners to a second rural property in TX.

Highbeam · Jul 18, 2006

Don't worry about the small risk such as the 5000$ dollar cabin. Intead, worry about the big costs, such as your liability if a trespasser falls into a hole and breaks his leg and then sues you for 500,000 for leaving an open hole. Yes, you even owe trespassers a certain amount of liability.

Liability risk is way huger than that 5000$ cabin.

txdon · Jul 18, 2006

Try Farm Bureau Insurance or Germania Insurance.

scott_vt · Jul 19, 2006

Mornin Lance,
I cant speak for Texas but up here I have insurance on my 900 sq ft cabin on 10 acres and pay about $440 / yr.

Dwelling/ $95,000

Other Structures $9,500

Personal Prop $47,700

Loss of Use $19,100

Personal Liability $500,000

Med to Others $5000

This is how the breakdown is listed on the policy.

Company is Union Mutual , broker is Poulos Insurance Poultney,Vt

I had two other insurance outfits before these people and they were more $

So I switched. This is a part time residence !

ToadHill · Jul 19, 2006

I have a summer home on 87 acres. It is insurred by Sterling Ins at a cost of about $250 per year. This is for fire and theft. Liability is an add on to my homeowners for about $15 per year.