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By Richard Godman
Manager Technical Underwriting, Consumer Insurance
5 December, 2016
Holiday homes are a Kiwi dream, and there’s nothing like escaping to the family bach for a well-earned break.
Maybe you like to hit the road with your kayaks or skis, or perhaps you’re taking your TV for a weekend away from it all to catch up on your Netflix. But regardless of whether your bach is a high spec designer’s dream, or furnished with three generations worth of hand-me-down furniture, the place you make your memories is worth protecting.
Protecting your holiday home
Most Kiwis who are lucky or hard working enough to own a holiday home will have taken out insurance cover to protect their asset. It’s a good idea to check what you’re covered for – particularly if you’re lending or renting out your home. For more information, see our blog on Airbnb and insurance.
It’s also worth checking that you meet any policy conditions. For example, if your holiday home is vacant for more than 60 days at a time, you’ll need to let us know. You’ll also need to make sure that it’s being properly cared for and supervised in order to maintain your cover.
Avoid water damage
Even a very small leak can cause a lot of damage to your home over time if you don’t notice it, and your cover is usually limited if the damage is gradual.
One of the best ways to protect your contents and your home is to turn the water off when it’s not occupied.
Protecting your stuff
You may not think it’s worth taking out contents insurance on the old furniture and mismatched plates at your bach, but it’s a good idea to assess the contents in your holiday home and figure out what it would really cost to replace them - they might add up to more than you think.
Protecting what you take with you
Whenever you go away for a weekend or a longer vacation, you’re taking things with you. It may just be simple items like clothes, or you may be taking sporting equipment or your TV and Sky box so you don’t miss the rugby.
So take a look at your policy to see if your items are covered while they’re in transit, and whether they’re still covered when you’re at your bach.
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The information in this article has been compiled from various sources and is intended to be factual information only. Full details of policy terms and conditions are available from Vero Insurance New Zealand Limited or your financial adviser. For advice on product suitability, please contact your financial adviser. While we take reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained in this article is accurate and up-to-date, it is subject to change without notice. Vero Insurance New Zealand and its related companies does/do not accept any responsibility or liability in connection with your use of or reliance on this article.
