Hunting cabins offer you and your family more than just a respite from the rest of the world. They also offer you the chance to get back to nature and embrace a simpler way of life, if only for a few weeks out of the year. But a hunting cabin that is small, no-frills, and sits empty most of the year is not a property that should remain uninsured. Many hunting cabins are exposed to the risk of fire as well as damages from summer and winter storms, hurricanes and even theft or vandalism. If you want to continue to use this property well into the future, then keeping it insured so that you are reimbursed for damages is vital.
As with any home, vacation or primary residence, your hunting cabin should be insured for both its contents and its potential rebuilding costs. In addition, if your hunting cabin is near a lake or in a FEMA-designated flood zone, it's a good idea to consider getting flood insurance as well.
Because of the additional liabilities present due to the nature of the hunting cabin’s use, you may find that you’re liability coverage and premiums are higher than they otherwise might be. In addition you might consider the value of an umbrella policy for an added layer of liability protection. It's important to notify your insurance company that there will be firearms on the premises. Let them know how the guns are kept, for example in a locked gun case and unloaded. Your rates are likely to be lower if you have safety locks and storage devices that help minimize the risk of children or untrained individuals getting their hands on the firearms.
Adequately insuring your hunting cabin isn't just about liabilities, however. You must also consider the expense of the contents. If you keep guns in the hunting cabin year-round then it's important to have them appraised so that you can ensure you have the right contents limits. To counteract this expense you can consider risk mitigation steps such as antitheft devices and sprinkler systems to help minimize the risk that you present to the insurance companies and gain valuable discounts on your premiums.
Give us a call at Henrich Insurance Group to get free insurance quote on covering your hunting cabin and tips for how to keep your premiums affordable.