Gray areas regarding vacant building coverage bring about vast misunderstandings among property owners, publishes vacantbuildinginsurance.org

Chicago, IL -- (SBWire) -- 11/18/2014 --The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports more than 28,000 vacant building fires occur each year resulting in an estimated $900 million in property loss in the residential sector alone. In addition to mounting property losses, owners of these structures also find themselves responsible for the extensive costs of more than 40 deaths and over 200 injuries annually. Although owners typically hold insurance policies on their properties, most general policy providers tend to fall short on their coverage of structures considered vacant.

In light of these issues, John Brown of Vacant Building Insurance has launched heightened efforts to extend more complete coverage to vacant property owners throughout the United States. Said Brown, "Most general insurance providers are quite vague when it comes to their definitions of 'vacant' as well as the coverage they offer their policy holders in these situations. This leads their clients to believe they're covered when, in fact, they aren't. We specialize in vacant building insurance and work with a number of major insurance companies across the country to provide thorough coverage for owners of properties falling into this category."

According to the vacantbuildinginsurance.org website, commercial and residential buildings less than 35 percent occupied are classified as vacant. Vacation and seasonal homes are also typically considered vacant properties. Structures currently under renovation are likewise included in this designation. All these scenarios are not covered under a standard insurance policy.

Severe storms and flooding resulting from heavy rains or neglected plumbing are among the most common causes of vacant property loss; however, fire is the most prominent culprit. Unsupervised furnace systems, combustible materials and hazardous chemicals greatly increase the risk of fire. Many unoccupied buildings are also at greater risk due to improperly maintained fire suppression systems. Vandalism plays a significant role in property loss as well.

In addition to ensuring proper insurance coverage for these types of structures, the experts at Vacant Building Insurance advise taking certain safety precautions to reduce the risks involved in ownership of unoccupied buildings. Professional roof inspections are crucial in this respect as the roof is the structure's primary line of defense against the elements. Plumbing and sprinkler systems should also be properly inspected and maintained. These assessments should be performed annually as well as following tornadoes, hurricanes and bouts of severe winter weather.

Brown concluded, "We encourage anyone who needs an insurance policy of this nature or is unsure of the extent of their current coverage to call us or visit our website for a vacant building insurance quote. We can help our clients get the most out of their insurance budget while keeping potential losses at a minimum. Our goal is to work with our clients on an individual basis to help them get the best and most affordable coverage available in their unique circumstances."

About Vacant Building Insurance
Licensed to provide insurance in all 50 states, Vacant Building Insurance agents are dedicated to putting their 2 decades of specialized experience to work for their clients. Their affiliations with a number of providers across America afford them the unique ability to quickly provide property owners the best coverage rates in the country.