At one time or another you’ve probably heard “home is where you make it.” It’s a true statement; the white picket fence and porch swing doesn’t do it for everyone. So if you’ve renovated an old shipping container or school bus and made it into a fully functional home, will the traditional homeowners insurance package cover it? If so, will the package’s [homeowners insurance rates](https://coverhound.com/insurance-learning-center/north-carolina-homeowners-won-t-experience-home-insurance-rate-hikes-in-2015) climb or will they stay about the same?
These are all great questions.
In that vein, let’s take a closer look at what kinds of homeowners insurance policies you can expect to get if you live in a non-traditional space.
Hunkering down in one spot for too long can make those with a gypsy soul a little stir crazy. Wanting to explore the country and live off the land, meet new people and gain new experiences, families who’ve [made home their RV](http://www.liferv.com/public/What-is-it-like-living-fulltime-in-an-RV.cfm) can get insurance. Surprised? This is just one in a number of ways that insurance agencies have adapted to the changing times and updated their homeowners insurance packages.
Full-time RV insurance is similar to homeowners insurance in that it covers lost, damaged or stolen items, covers the detached shed and covers medical payments and property damage in as part of its liability clause. Though homeowners insurance is not technically required to have by law, full-time RV insurance is legally required for individuals who’ve made their RV their primary residence.
You’ve seen the [Youtube videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncXXLjf235g) and feel inspired: you’ve decided to convert an old school bus into a fully functional living space. To do that, you’re going to need bus conversion insurance. You can qualify for bus conversion insurance if you (the owner) converted the bus yourself, and if the bus was converted to model motor home facilities built as a Class A type bus shell.
Unfortunately, homeowners insurance has not come around to insuring converted school buses just yet, but if you call an insurance representative and discuss the remodel and plans for the bus, they will try to match you with the insurance policy that will protect the bus, your belongings and you. This may take the form of RV or auto insurance. Again, you need to speak with an insurance representative to make sure you get a policy that will protect you in all situations.
After creating a budget detailing the cost of materials, labor, land, permits and other legal fees before building your shipping container dream home it’s necessary to call your insurance agent to see if your new, non-traditional home is going to be covered. [According](http://www.containerhomereview.com/questions-to-ask-before-building/) to Container Home Review, informing your agent (as long as this is true information, you can get in a lot of trouble for lying on your insurance) that your shipping container home is an Intermodel Steel Building Unit (ISBU). This type of shipping container comes with “outstanding safety and fire ratings that are impressive enough to win over building code officials and insurance companies.”
Furthermore, shipping container residents (and the insurance industry) in hurricane-prone states like Florida and South Carolina benefit from the “strength and stability” of the shipping container. Because the shipping container will stand its ground in a hurricane, your chances of having to file a claim dwindle, and with it, your insurance risk. As result, your homeowners insurance premium will lower too!
You don’t have to live in a house with four walls to qualify for homeowners insurance or some variant of it. Just [call](https://coverhound.com/about#contact) an insurance rep today and they’ll help get you the coverage you need.
Insurance shopping simplified
Insurance shopping simplified
