When locking up your property in Bulgaria for the season, it is important to ensure that you have the proper insurance cover. Sometimes insurance policies can be altered or even void when the property is left empty for a certain period of time. Even so-called “holiday home” insurance plans include difficult restrictions on leaving your home unoccupied. Rather than learning the hard (and expensive) way by claiming when you are actually not covered, it’s better to figure out the complex insurance puzzle beforehand to make sure that you are covered in any event. Holiday home insurance should be part of the plan anytime you buy or sell property in Bulgaria.
Minimum Temperature
Find out what the minimum temperature is that must be maintained at your property throughout the winter. You may be tempted to shut off your heating entirely while you are not there in order to save on energy bills. However, if your pipes freeze your insurer can refuse coverage if your house was not heated to a minimum temperature.
Water Systems
Sometimes insurance policies state that you need to drain the water system before leaving your holiday home unoccupied. Damaged caused by burst pipes can be huge, so many policies insist that if the property is left for more than 30 days all of the water should be turned off and drained.
Security
Leaving your property unoccupied for several months at a time makes it more vulnerable to break-ins and theft. Burglars target empty houses. Many insurance companies have special requirements that might void your break-in claim, so be careful.
Always make sure that you close and lock all windows and doors before you leave, as leaving even one open will invalidate your claim if someone does break in.
Friendly Neighbours
Sometimes insurers require that your property in Bulgaria be inspected weekly. This is of course, not practical if you live in another country. However, you might be able to ask your neighbours in Bulgaria to keep an eye on your property for you. If this is not feasible, choose an insurance policy that does not require frequent inspections.
Insurance can be a tricky game, so it is crucial to understand the ins and outs of your policy so you know the exact restrictions on leaving your holiday real estate in Bulgaria unoccupied. It may seem like a pain, but it is much better to take the time now to figure it out, rather than leave yourself financially responsible for any damage that occurs to your property.
House Sales Bulgaria are market leaders for property Bulgaria. Leading real estate Bulgaria with the latest Bulgaria property available to view online. Options to sell property Bulgaria as well as market news and advice: http://www.housesalesbulgaria.com for more information
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