What does an insurance company consider physically present for home coverage purposes

The purpose of inhabitation for a homeowners policy is to reduce risk. Uninhabited houses tend to have higher incidents of breakins, broken windows, vandalism. Furniture in the home does not significantly reduce that risk.

Asking your homeowners insurance company could tip them off to your plans but they are the best people to ask if the policy does not clearly define the concept. Companies differ too much. Depending on the size of a potential claim some companies will more aggressively fight the issue than others even if they have the same definition.

One idea you might consider is to check whether the company will not issue a policy for lack of inhabitation or whether that just places you into a higher risk (cost) category. Some companies will continue to cover the house for a 'short' period of time, others will bump your premiums.

If you trigger a claim when the house is not inhabited that does not mean the claim is denied. It might mean, depending on the company, that your claim is pro-rated to the amount owed under that premium for an uninhabited premises (if offered).

Call your agent.