How to Prepare a Winter Home for Hurricane Season
A home left for winter needs someone checking on it, because most storm damage claims hinge on whether the house was maintained while you were gone.
Secure the structure, then arrange for someone to check it
Preparing a home you won't be living in for hurricane season means two things. First, the physical work: roof, windows, drainage, anything loose outside, and the trees near the house. Second, and just as important, lining up a person who will physically check on the house during the season, because an empty house that takes damage and sits unrepaired for weeks turns a small problem into a large one.
This matters more for a home you're not living in than one you are. Insurers generally expect a homeowner to take reasonable steps to prevent damage and to limit damage once it happens. A house nobody is watching can't do either. What counts as reasonable and what your policy requires if the home is vacant part of the year depends on your insurer and your policy's terms, so this is worth asking about directly rather than assuming.
Whether your policy treats the home as vacant
Many homeowners policies change how they respond, or what they require of you, once a home is unoccupied for an extended stretch. Some insurers ask you to notify them if the house will sit empty for a season. Some require specific steps, like having someone inspect the property on a regular schedule, before they'll pay a claim for certain kinds of damage.
If you winter elsewhere, ask your insurer directly whether your policy has a vacancy clause and what it requires. This is not something to guess at or assume works the same as it did last year, because insurers do change these terms.
If your policy does require regular inspections, keep a simple record of when they happened. A text to a neighbor with a date and a photo, or a note in a logbook, is enough to show you met the requirement if a claim ever comes down to that question.
Some insurers offer a water leak sensor or monitoring discount for vacant or seasonal homes. Ask whether yours does, since this is the kind of coverage detail that varies by company rather than by state.
What actually causes damage while a house sits empty
The biggest risks to a winter home during hurricane season aren't usually the wind itself. They're what the wind and water find once they get a way in: a loose shingle, a clogged gutter, a tree limb that was already weak, a door seal that wasn't checked.
Before you leave, walk the outside of the house the way an inspector would. Trim or remove branches that could come down on the roof. Clear gutters and downspouts so water has somewhere to go. Check that doors and windows seal properly, and that any storm shutters or protective coverings are in working order before the season starts, not after a storm is forecast.
Inside, shut off the water supply if you won't be using it, and know who to call locally for a plumber, a roofer, and a tree service. Having those names ready before you leave saves time if your contact there needs to act quickly.
Turn the water heater down or off, and set the thermostat to a level that will prevent pipes from freezing if your winters there do get cold enough to matter, which your local utility or a local contractor can advise on better than any general rule can.
Questions people ask about this
Should I turn off the water main before leaving for the season?
Many homeowners do, specifically to limit damage from a pipe that fails while no one is there to notice. If you turn it off, drain the lines afterward so there's no standing water left in the pipes.
Does homeowners insurance cover damage found weeks after a storm?
This depends on your policy and your insurer, particularly if the home was vacant when the damage occurred. Ask your insurer directly how a delayed discovery is handled and whether the vacancy affects that answer.
Who should I ask to check on the house while I'm away?
A neighbor, a local property manager, or a company that offers vacant home checks can all work. What matters is that whoever you choose can get inside, assess visible damage, and reach you or your insurer promptly if something happens.
Do storm shutters lower my homeowners insurance cost?
Many insurers offer a discount for permanent storm shutters or impact-resistant windows, since they reduce the odds of damage. Ask your insurer whether yours qualifies and what documentation they need.
What should I photograph before leaving for the season?
Photograph the roof, siding, windows, and any area prone to water damage, along with the general condition of the home's interior. These photos establish what the house looked like before you left, which helps if you need to file a claim later.
See what other homeowners pay to insure a home they don't live in year-round.
Call your insurer this week and ask two things: whether your policy has a vacancy clause, and what it requires if the home will sit empty during hurricane season. Walk the property and deal with anything loose, overhanging, or blocked, like branches, gutters, and loose shingles, before you leave rather than after a storm warning goes out. Arrange for someone local to check the house on a regular schedule and keep a simple record of when they did. Save the contact information for a local plumber, roofer, and tree service somewhere you can reach it from wherever you'll be. Take photos of the home's condition before you go, inside and out, in case you need them later.
