Get the Lake Coverage You Need (& We Don’t Mean Sunblock)

Prepping your cabin or lake home for summer use should involve more than getting the building ready for occupancy. For fun in the sun instead of frustration over vacation, think about updating your lake home insurance policy, too.

For year-round protection, there are 10 things you need to update on your lake home insurance policy:

1. Make sure all owners of the home or property are named on the policy.
2. Confirm your lake home value with a replacement cost report provided by your agent.
3. Know which type of claims you have coverage for:
• A comprehensive policy is the best coverage available and covers most losses, unless something is specifically excluded.
• A named peril policy only covers losses from an event specifically named in your policy.
4. Ensure you have at least 125% home replacement cost to protect against supply and demand for rebuilding after a claim.
5. Remember your belongings. Make sure you have replacement coverage on your home's contents and that your contents limit is accurate. If you don't have documentation of your belongings, make and maintain a home inventory. (The easiest and most effective way to do this is to go throughout your home, taking a video of what you own. Include each item's value and the serial numbers of appliances, if possible.)
6. Check your liability limit. It should be $500,000 or higher to protect yourself should someone get hurt on your property. You'll also need a $5,000 limit or greater for medical payments if someone is injured on your property.
7. Don't assume your docks and lifts are covered. You might need additional coverage, so ask your agent if you have it.
8. If your lake home is a condo, you'll need at least $50,000 in loss assessments coverage to protect against claims submitted to the condo association.
9. Are your toys covered? Think boats, golf carts, ATVs, jet skis, tractors, go carts, scooters and motorcycles. Make sure to contact your agent any time you get a new recreational vehicle.
10. Consider purchasing an umbrella policy for additional liability coverage that goes beyond the limits of a homeowners' auto or watercraft policy.

Let's face it. We'd all rather daydream about warm nights around a crackling campfire and weekends filled with tubing, family adventures (and SPF 50!) than worry over hailstorms, wind and boating accidents. But if lake life is calling, these are situations you should consider.

We're here to help make sure you're protected, so you can focus on fishing and family time. Call our office at 800-369-2501 or request a quote online.