"Vacancy is treated differently depending on if the client is currently insured versus if they are a new customer," says Hansen. "If a client has a homeowners policy but will be out of the country for a few months on business, they can likely have a vacant endorsement added to their existing policy. However, if the client is not insured, then the only option for insurance will be through the non-standard property insurance market." Not all insurance companies offer vacant home insurance, however, because of the risk. Hansen says you can obtain this kind of policy, which could be as short as a one-month term or as long as one year, from a specialized agent or broker known as a Managing General Agent (MGA), which has the expertise and authority to sell specialty policies on behalf of an insurance company. The cost and eligibility will depend on the length of time the home has been vacant, how much longer you plan to leave it as such, the condition of the home, and the length of the policy. Generally, though, the cost will be higher than your regular insurance policy due to the considerable risks.