To the editor:
Thank you for writing a very important article on homeowner’s insurance on islands [WWF Feb. 06]. It needed to be written and something needs to be done.

You asked for feedback from islanders regarding their experiences. Here are mine.

My husband and I purchased a home by the water on Cliff Island in 1998 and lived there
until August of 2004. Our homeowner’s insurance was very consistent at about $230 per year during those years. VERY affordable.

Though the fire department on the island grew and became better equipped over those years, it still could not compare to a firehouse on the mainland — simply because of lack of use. The island was fortunate not to have had any
major fires during our time out there.

We decided to sell the house November of 2003 and it was on the market until we sold it in August of 2004. I became very concerned about even being able to sell the house when I read (and our realtor confirmed) that homeowner’s insurance was “more difficult to find” and if you found it, it was very expensive.

What had changed since we purchased the house seven years previously? Indeed, the fire
department, as mentioned above, had become even more capable of doing its job.

Well, we did sell the house and I have no idea what the new owners pay, but I know it took our realtor a bit of research and sweat to even find someone to cover them.

OK, fast forward to January 2005. We bought a place on Peaks Island. Our insurance premium was $150 the first year we were here and it
increased to $165 for 2006.

What is wrong with this picture? I was very concerned that we would be paying a very high premium “going into” a new purchase on an island but was (pleasantly) surprised.

The only thought I can offer for our “good fortune” is that we have been with our insurance company for over 30 years — having insured all our homes, cars, etc. with them during that time even in other states.

Your article expressed every question/concern I had about this issue and I commend you for writing it. I look forward to hearing more about it and would like to hear what you have gleaned from other folks.

Libra Cusack
Peaks Island