When most people think of homeowners insurance they don't consider all the angles. For example, they forget that their primary residence isn't the only place they need to have covered with a good homeowners insurance policy! You also need to protect your vacation home. The price for not doing so can be devastating to your pocketbook.

It's tempting to skimp on homeowners insurance for your vacation home. It's okay. You can admit it. No one's going to hold it against you. When you're almost never there the cost for maintaining coverage may seem like more of an expense than it's worth. After all, what's the worst that could happen? You wouldn't be left homeless if the house were to, say, burn down in a fire or be flattened by a hurricane, which is the main reason that most people invest in a home insurance policy.

The catch is, you can still sustain some pretty impressive losses on your vacation home even when you're not there very often. For example, consider the price of electronics. You may carry your laptop with you to and from your vacation (nobody uses a desktop these days!) but chances are good you've got a state of the art television set, complete with stylish sound system, just lying around your second home waiting for you to come use it. And what about your personal possessions? It costs a great deal to replace a summer wardrobe. Furnishings? Cooking appliances?

No, they're not really a need since you don't use them all the time, but the expense of having to replace them down the road if you wanted to continue having them at your vacation home in the future can take a big bite out of your bank account. Remember, your television might not be able to survive the house caving in, but your roof and walls aren't going to take too much damage if a thief decides to come and haul your t.v. out.

That's where your home insurance comes in.

Your homeowners insurance policy will pay to replace the property you lost, keeping you protected even when you're not at home. Not being home much can be an issue when it comes to the cost of your insurance coverage, however. By standing empty your home is a potential goldmine for thieves, and it's more likely to burn to the ground because a small electrical fire started and no one was there to put it out than your full time residence is. This makes it a bigger risk, and homeowners insurance companies hate that risk.

Plan on paying more to insure your vacation home than your other home. Period.

There are a few things you can do to take the bite out of that bill. For starters, buy a vacation home in a gated community-preferably one with full time security and close, full time neighbors that can call the police if something should happen. Invest in an electronic security system that connects directly to your local fire and rescue (and law enforcement) and choose a community that has a professional fire department rather than a strictly volunteer group.

These things aren't necessarily going to make insuring your vacation home cheap, but it will go a long way toward saving you 10% or more on your policy and letting you put those dollars to much better use-like enjoying your vacation!

Sunscreen, anybody?