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As Canada’s first full-service online insurance broker, we at EasyInsure know your time is valuable and you work hard for your money. Since 2007, our brokerage has been helping clients shop the market to find the most affordable home insurance policies customized to your needs. EasyInsure.ca makes it simple to find out which leading insurer will save you money.
After choosing the policy that’s the best fit, you can purchase your home insurance policy, print your proof of insurance, and manage your policy information anytime with your EasyInsure MyAccount.
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Home Insurance 101
Home insurance is a form of property insurance that protects your home and belongings against loss or damage. There are three different types of insurance you can purchase in Canada if you are looking to insure your primary residence whether it’s a home, condo, or a place you rent. Here are the differences:
Home: This covers your property, structure of your home and contents inside. You are also protected against liability for any injuries sustained by other people while they are on your property or in your home.
Condo: Like home insurance, it includes damage to your unit, belongings, and liability if someone is injured on your property. However, the condo building is insured by the condo corporation. Insurance doesn’t cover the structure of the building, only the interior of your unit. Some polices come with guest insurance, which covers the medical expenses of a person injured while at your condo if you are not at fault. Click here for Condo quotes.
Tenant: Also known as renters insurance, this will cover your belongings against several common risks such as theft or fire. Click here for a Tenant quote.
Is Home Insurance mandatory in Canada?
No. But, if you own the property and require a mortgage, it’s a different scenario. Then, your bank or lender will likely require you have home insurance, and that they are named on the policy. Furthermore, if you rent, the landlord may require you have tenant insurance.
How does Home Insurance in Canada work?
When you are looking to purchase home insurance, the insurer estimates an annual cost or premium to accept the risk of covering your home. Premiums are based on how much money insurers think they’ll need to pay for the coming year’s claims. You pay premiums or an annual fee to your insurer for them to assume this risk on your behalf. The contract is for one year only. The insurer puts all the premiums into a pool, which is used to pay for the losses of those who make claims that year.
Who does Home Insurance cover?
A home insurance policy covers you and your family members. If you share your home or rent a part of your home to a friend, relative or roommate, advise your insurer.
The term coverage is the maximum amount of money your insurer will pay if you make a claim for a loss, or an event covered by your policy. Personal property coverage protects you from loss or damage to your home or personal possessions. Insurance also covers any structures on the property (a shed, detached garage), and additional living expenses incurred if the house is uninhabitable.
Liability coverage protects you against legal liability for losses caused by injury to other people or damage to the property of others. It does not apply to family members that live with you.
What doesn’t Home Insurance cover?
Home insurance won’t cover damages your insurer determines were caused by neglect. For example, if your roof caves in, but should have been replaced years ago, it would not be covered. You’ll need to show you took every reasonable action to keep your home in good condition.
High-value individual items, such as jewelry or rare art, will likely need additional policies or, alternatively, you can add them to your home insurance policy — but you may need to buy additional coverage.
Types of Home Insurance coverage
There are different types of coverage available to homeowners and tenants. They are:
Comprehensive covers both the building and its contents for all risks, except for those specifically excluded. A middle-of-the-road option is the Broad insurance policy. This provides comprehensive coverage on big-ticket items, such as the building, as well as named perils (unexpected or accidental event) on contents. Some insurers offer Basic coverage for properties that don't meet normal insurance standards. However, if there are physical problems with your home, you may save money by correcting them to qualify for better coverage.
Whether you own or rent, you can be held liable for bodily injury – for example, a slip and fall accident - or property damage unintentionally caused to others. A home insurance’s personal liability portion provides coverage if that occurs on your property.
What type of Home Insurance do I need?
That depends on your individual circumstances. If you want the most coverage, a comprehensive policy is the right choice. A mid-level choice would be a broad policy, which would cover the big items and specify what perils are covered. And, basic, is just that – a no-frills option. Home insurance will usually cover only the following risks: theft, fire, lightening, broken windows, certain types of water damage, wind, hail, explosions, vandalism, electrical current, smoke damage and falling objects. Your broker can help you determine what would be the best fit.
How much is Home Insurance?
The average cost of home insurance in Canada is $960 annually. For example, Ontario homeowners pay an average of $1,250 a year, while in P.E.I. the average is $870, and it’s $924 in B.C.
How much you pay depends on several factors, including the specifics of your dwelling, type of coverage, location, and insurer. The more it will cost to rebuild your home, the higher your premiums will be. Depending on where you live, you may have risk factors that make home insurance cost more, such as weather-related damage. The good news is many insurers try to be competitive, which is why it always pays to shop around.
Do I need Home Insurance in Canada?
Your home is likely the biggest investment you will make in your life. Home insurance protects you from having to pay out a huge amount at once, often at a very difficult and emotional time. Just think, if you were to lose everything – including all your personal belongings – in a fire. How could you afford to rebuild your home, replace everything, and pay to live somewhere else while repairs or rebuilding takes place? Beyond that, most banks and lenders make home insurance a condition of approving your mortgage because they’re protecting their investment too. So should you.
How much Home Insurance do I need?
When trying to determine how much home insurance you’ll need there’s several factors to consider. Here are some guidelines to help you decide:
Home’s structure: While a standard policy provides coverage for things such as damage due to lightning, hail, and explosions, you’ll want your policy limits to be high enough for the cost of rebuilding your home. The price you paid for the home (or market price) may be close to the cost to rebuild. If the limit of your policy is based on your mortgage, it may not cover the rebuilding cost.
While your insurance broker can recommend coverage, there are other ways for you to make sure. For a quick estimate, multiply the square footage of your home by local per-square-foot building costs. The land is not part of this equation. To find out what the construction costs are where you live, contact your real estate agent or builder’s association.
Other considerations: Building codes may have changed since your home was built. If it’s damaged, you may have to rebuild according to the new codes. Insurance policies won’t usually pay for that extra expense. If you think certain aspects of your home are not up to code, investigate getting an endorsement to your policy called an Ordinance or Law, which pays a specified amount toward bringing a house up to code during a covered repair.
Older homes: Many have special features such as plaster walls and moulding. They are expensive to replace, and some insurers won’t offer replacement policies. If you own an older home, you may have to purchase a modified replacement cost policy. This means instead of replacing the features, the insurer will pay for repairs using today’s building materials and construction techniques.
Inflation: This can impact rebuilding costs. You may want to add an inflation guard clause to your policy. A guaranteed replacement cost policy will pay whatever it costs to rebuild your home as it was before a disaster strikes. Similarly, an extended replacement cost policy will generally pay an extra 20 per cent above the limits.
Your possessions: Most home insurance policies provide coverage for your belongings at about 50 to 70 per cent of the insurance on your dwelling. That may not be enough. To learn if it is, create a home inventory. Several apps can help you do this. While listing your possessions, think about if you want them insured for actual cash value (less money for older items than you paid for them new) or replacement cost, which is typically about 10 per cent more but a good investment in the long run. If you think you need more coverage, contact your broker, and ask about higher limits.
Most home insurance polices limit how much they will pay for jewelry, silverware and collectibles. Check your policy for coverage limits. If your home inventory includes items for which the limits are too low, consider buying a special personal property floater or an endorsement. This allows you to insure valuables individually or as a collection, with higher limits.
Additional Living Expenses: If you can't live in your home due to a fire, severe storm or other insured disaster, Additional Living Expenses (ALE) pays the additional costs of temporarily living elsewhere. It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other expenses incurred while your home is being rebuilt.
If you rent part of your home, it reimburses you for the rent you would have collected. Many policies provide ALE coverage for about 20 per cent of the insurance on your house. In most cases, you can increase this coverage for an additional premium.
Liability: The liability portion covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or family members or pets cause to other people, as well as court costs and damages awarded. You should have enough liability insurance to protect your assets. Most home insurance policies provide a minimum of $100,000 in coverage, but higher amounts are available. Increasingly, it’s recommended homeowners purchase at least $300,000 to $500,000 of liability coverage.
Umbrella or excess liability policy: This provides coverage above standard home liability policy limits. These policies start to pay after you have used up the liability insurance in the underlying policy. The cost of an umbrella policy depends on how much insurance you have and the kind of risk you represent. Most companies will require a minimum of $300,000 in underlying liability.
Know your policy!
Insuring your home involves many considerations. One of the most important things that you, the homeowner, can do is know your policy. You don’t want to find out after something has happened that you don’t have the coverage you thought you did. Read the fine print. If you have questions, ask your insurance broker or provider. It’s worth it!
Who has the most affordable home insurance?
The easiest way to get the best rate for your home insurance policy is to comparison shop. The good news is that’s what EasyInsure.ca does on your behalf. We’ll present you with quotes from leading Canadian insurance providers in just minutes! The insurance industry is competitive and wants your business. We’ll find the policy that’s right for you at the right price – saving you time and money!
What information is needed for a Home Insurance quote?
The main piece of information you need is your address. At EasyInsure.ca we do most of the work for you, but there’s some other things that can be helpful to have at your fingertips when deciding on a policy.
- Exact Address
- Insurance information – Your current policy and renewal date
- Claims history – Have you had any? What it was for, amount paid out, and when.
- Home occupants – Who will be living there? Are there tenants or pets?
- Property details – Material the home is built with, heating, outbuildings (garages, sheds), type of electrical and plumbing, trees, pool etc.
- Personal belongings – The approximate value of what you own
What is the average Home Insurance premium in Canada?
The average cost in Canada is $960 a year but varies based on location and other factors. For example, in Ontario it’s $1,250 per year, or just over a $100 per month. Tenants in the same province pay $210 annually or just shy of $20 per month. Ontario condo owners pay an average of about $345 per year.
What is a good deductible?
A deductible is what you agree to pay before your insurer covers the remaining cost when you have a claim. Deductibles are usually a set dollar amount but can also be a percentage. Deductibles don’t apply if your claim is related to third-party liability coverage.
Put simply, the higher your deductible the lower the premium. That’s because you’re assuming more risk. However, don’t choose a higher deductible just to decrease your monthly payments. That’s because if you need to file a claim and don’t have the funds to cover the deductible, it can cause financial stress. Should you file a claim, your monthly premiums may increase at renewal. If you can afford to pay for minor damage without making a claim, your premium is unlikely to rise.