Tiny Home Insurance

[metaslider id=”9349″]

Tiny Home Insurance: A Buyer’s Market

Written By Janet Thome

Insurance will be a requirement if you are going to finance your tiny home. Insurance  for  Tiny Homes and Park Models has become very affordable and many carriers are jumping on board because it has become a very hot market. Prices vary greatly so do some price comparison, because it is now a buyer’s market.

Park Model Or Tiny Home

Many builders market  the park models they build as tiny homes. It is important to know this when you want to obtain insurance. There is no legal, unified definition for a tiny home at the moment.

The term’s definition is as fluid as the wind and because it is not universally agreed upon, it is up for interpretation and you will find that almost every lender, insurance company , city or county has a different explanation for what a tiny home is.

Some insurance companies lump tiny homes and park models together and some companies have created separate divisions for them. Some allow wheels, some do not. Some companies allow tenant occupied, but not an Airbnb and some will allow an Airbnb.

Almost 5 years ago, my insurance was canceled 2 weeks after the policy was written because they said my park model was a tiny home.  Now they are insuring both. Progress!

Certification Requirement

RV Certification is required by some companies and not required by others. Most companies want the home to be professionally built, but now there are options for self builds. There is actually only one insurance carrier that requires certification that I have listed here.

Are You Thinking  Of Foregoing Insurance? Think Again

Read these stories and you might change your mind. Click Here.

Builders Risk Insurance

When choosing your builder for your tiny home, make sure the company has Builders Risk insurance that will cover your tiny home while being built and find out when the coverage stopped. You will want to have your insurance in place to avoid any gaps of coverage.

Excellent article from FitSmallBusiness regarding Builders Risk Insurance.

DIY Build

If you are building your own tiny home. There is insurance to protect your home while you are building your home.

Cautionary Tale: DIY Self Build WITHOUT:   Insurance Tiny House Talk

Full Time Living Covered!

Every resource I list allows for full time living whether it is owner or tenant occupied or an Airbnb.

Credit Counts

Your credit score counts toward the amount your policy will cost. Talk to several companies without pulling your credit to determine what is best for you, the prices range considerably. as much as a $500.00 difference.

Tiny Home Villages

If you have a tiny home village or you are  going to start one, make sure you consult with your insurance company to make sure there is not a lapse of  coverage with your property and outbuildings and your tenants. Get their advice on what the insurance requirements should be from your tenants including liability.

Who would clean up the mess, if someone brought a tiny home in and they had no insurance and a fire occurred? I personally lost everything in a fire because of someone else’s negligence- so I know the devastation that lack of insurance can bring.

One Policy With A Primary Residence And A Tiny Home ADU

You can also check with your primary insurance company and see if they will insure your tiny home as an ADU as a secondary residence on your property.

Transport Coverage

When choosing a company to transport your tiny home, make sure they have liability and cargo insurance and make sure their drivers are vetted.

Every Need Can Covered In The Tiny Home Industry

• Park Model Insurance For Temporary, Vacation, Full Time Residence
• Tiny Home Insurance With Or Without Wheels For Temporary, Vacation, Full Time Residence
• DIY Tiny Homes With Or Without Wheels
• RV Certified And Non Certified
• For Those Who Travel
• Airbnbs
• Tiny Home Villages And Hotels
• Trip Collison Coverage
• Rental Reimbursement For Loss Of Income
• Builders Insurance
• Under Construction
• Off The Grid
• Wood Stove As Primary Heat
• Other Structures
• Theft
• GPS Tracking
• Loss Of Contents
• Appliance Loss
• WorkCampers
• Personal Liability
• Professionally Converted Vans And Skoolies
• One Policy For Your Primary Residence And Tiny Home As A ADU

Tiny Home Insurance

American Modern

Homeowner’s Policy: Perfect Policy Meant For Owner Or Tenant Occupied

American Modern Specializes In Manufactured Home Insurance: Direct Insurance Company In All Fifty States

American Modern is now insuring Airbnbs!

Park Model: Wheels Must Stay On

The type of product they offer will consider your home as a park model style home under the manufactured home category. It is meant for a home that will not be moved around frequently, and that will stay in one spot once placed and be tied down/secured or placed on a foundation. Wheels must stay on.

Program offered is for home located in a park or on private land

 Can be full-time owner occupied, seasonal, rental or vacant

Comprehensive coverage for: The home itself, including any professionally attached structure, deck, porch, awnings and content coverage’s for belongings

Liability coverage in the event that a neighbor slips and falls on the homeowners deck for example.

Can offer flood and earthquake coverage (as offered per state/program)

Primary Heat Source Must Be Electric

 Home cannot have a wood stove or fireplace (supplemental source) as main heating source- must have electric baseboard, hot water baseboard (boiler) or forced air/ducts as primary heat source

 Home also must be wired for electricity, cannot be 100% solar powered. Solar must be a secondary source of power.

Details on coverage: Click Here

Trip Collision Coverage

American Modern has an excellent trip collision coverage that is priced very reasonably with a $100.00 deductible. It only lasts 30 days, but can be added when you first have your cabin delivered OR at anytime you have to move it. It covers the entire cabin including tires and axles. Depending on the location, the cost is  between $25 to $35.

Tiny Homes: Without Wheels

American Modern has another division just for tiny homes WITHOUT wheels.

You Can Call American Modern Directly Or  Find A Local Agent

American Modern: 866-880-8651
Find An Agent ClickHere

Mary Ponsness Insurance Agency LLC : Idaho, Oregon And Washington State

Mary And Dave Ponsness are based in Moses Lake, Wa. They specialize in Tiny Home and Park Model insurance and are a One Stop Agency For All Insurance needs from home, life, auto and medical.

Mary Ponsness Agency LLC

Strategic Insurance Agency LLC: Andrea 719 476 0106

If you are going to be traveling in your tiny home and need a homeowner’s policy and you want to cover the transport because you are picking it up yourself, give Andrea  a call. Strategic also offers insurance for off the grid tiny homes.

States  they provide tiny homes insurance in are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oregon,Tennessee & Washington. Liability limits of $50k, $100k & $300k, and a trip endorsement which is $150 for the policy term, regardless of the amount  of trips.

 Commercial Insurance With Strategic Insurance Agency LLC

Martin Burlingame 719 476 0104 For your commercial needs

Strategic Insurance

Homeowner’s Policy: Self Built  And For Those That Will Travel Often: Transport Can Be Covered

Mac Insurance Company

Micheal Carmona : Agent, Owner 971-238-2502

Specializes In The Lloyd’s Of London Tiny Home Policy

Located in Portand, Oregon: Can Insure In Over 40+ States

Tiny Home Coverage Can Include:

• Personal Property
• Liability
• Manufactured Built
• RV Certified And Non Certified
• Theft
• Coverage When You Are On The Move
• Trip Collision

Types Of Tiny Houses That Can Be Covered:

• Tiny Homes On Wheels Stationary Or On The Move
• Tiny Homes Without Wheels Or On The Move
• Park Models
• DIY Built
• Manufactured Built
• Professionally Converted Van And Skoolies

Tiny Homes Can Be Used As:

• Primary Home
• Tenant Occupied
• Second Home-Vacation Home
• Airbnb

Builder Coverage:

A builder can be covered for general liability, professional liability, business auto and inventory

What Is The Difference Between A Homeowner’s Policy And The Tiny Home Policy?

Regular home insurance policies weren’t written to cover a home that has the ability to be on the move or has a chance of getting stolen. 

Types Of Coverage in The Tiny Home Policy

Personal Liability – Provides coverage for inside your premise and outside your premise. If someone were to get hurt on your premise and they were to sue you this is where your liability comes in. It would help pay towards any medical bills or charges from a lawsuit. This also covers you if you were to accidentally somehow hurt someone else. Like when a snowboarder collides with another or a fisherman hooks his buddy. Personal liability would also cover your tiny home if you are renting a space on someone’s else’s property in case you cause damage on their property.

Wood Stoves- They will insurance tiny homes that have wood stoves as their primary heat!!!

Mac Insurance

Foremost Insurance Group: The only company that requires certification

Foremost Insurance Group writes park model policies and tiny home policies. When you speak to an agent, make sure they know there are separate divisions for them. It is a newer change and not everyone is up to date on this.

You can obtain Foremost insurance through a Farmer’s agent.

Farmers Insurance

Insurance For Tiny Homes: Ontario, Canada

Dave Burns is a broker with Kingston Specialty Group that can help you obtain insurance in Ontario, Canada.  If you live in a different province, he can refer you to another broker.  Dave can provide insurance for owner or tenant occupied and off the grid tiny homes. Dave can also provide insurance for shells. If you are from Canada and you are having a cabin built in the US,  it is a good idea to talk to Dave Burns first regarding the heating choices allowed and inspections required.