Compare British Columbia home insurance quotes

To ensure the best home insurance you often need extra coverage, such as flood insurance or earthquake insurance, to protect yourself from risks that aren't included on a standard policy. Most comprehensive policies are otherwise relatively complete, covering fires, windstorms, and other perils from damaging your house and detached structures (e.g. fence, gazebo). A standard home insurance policy also has built-in liability for anyone who gets injured on your property and chooses to sue.

Aside from floods and earthquakes, the other potential gap is with your contents insurance. Your home insurance covers your stuff (e.g. furniture, appliances, belongings), but if you have jewelry or any collectable with value, consider upping your limits for specific items.

To save more money, consider renovations and upgrades that improve safety to reduce the risks of a home insurance claim. You can even go so far as to install a monitored alarm system to deter thieves and maybe earn further discounts on your BC home insurance premiums. 

TD, BCAA,  and Intact are major providers, but it doesn't mean they're the best for you. Finding the best home insurance company for you doesn't mean choosing what brand you know best. Understand that each home insurance company, be it small or large, will look at your unique housing situation and put a price tag on it – some charge more than others, and it fluctuates all the time. So we recommend that once a year, when you get your renewal slip in the mail, to compare home insurance quotes online to see which company will give you the best price for your unique profile. 

You can start by comparing insurance quotes online to see, in just a few minutes, which company will give you the cheapest rate.

Once you have a company selected, ask them about increasing your deductibles (the portion of the claim you pay before the company pays the rest). Higher deductibles reduce the chances of any small claims since you'll pay more in deductible costs than actually repairing it yourself. 

If you have the budget, pay annually. It reduces any administrative fees and saves the company (and you) money. 

Use renovations and upgrades to improve the safety of your home. It could be as simple as securing hand railings, or trimming back a big old tree – they both reduce the chances of a claim. Other renovations like monitored alarm systems and doorbell cameras to deter thieves can earn you discounts on your home insurance. 

Always remember home insurance is not a maintenance plan – it's there for emergencies. So if you have an ageing roof or if you have an animal infestation on your hands, deal with it quickly. Making a claim due to negligence from the homeowner will often be denied. 

If you have a history of filing many claims or missing a payment, you can end up in a high-risk category. Having multiple mortgages, a century-old home, or even a vacant property in BC might require high-risk coverage. If you're in an earthquake zone, you may need it. 

We work with a number of insurance companies and our quoter can tell you, based on your personal profile and home details, which insurance company will offer high-risk home insurance.  Specifically, we work with Perth, Coachman, and Echelon Insurance who are specialists in this field.

It depends on the occupation. For example, if you're a freelancer doing graphic design or blog writing, home insurance will cover your laptop. However, if you're operating any machinery – say photography or running a home daycare – then you may need business insurance. 

Finding the best home insurance broker is a difficult process. Friends and family can have great recommendations based on personal experience, but you could experience something quite different with the same brokerage.

By getting an insurance quote with us, we're able to help you compare rates from different companies. Not only that but once you pick your provider, we'll connect you with a vetted insurance broker who can help answer any questions you may have before putting the finishing touches on your policy. 

There are some things that are excluded from standard policies. It's most often due to wear and tear that gets worse due to negligence. For instance, mould is seen as a lack of maintenance from a homeowner. If a home insurance claim could have been avoided with regular maintenance, you can expect it to not be covered.

Other common exclusions include infestations from termites or rats, home businesses, dangerous dogs, and sewer backups. Some of these may require an endorsement for an added cost.

Otherwise, you're likely covered. The question then becomes should you make a claim? The easiest answer is the cost of the claim should grossly outweigh the cost of your deductible. If your kid smashes a window and you want to file an insurance claim, first get an estimate on the repair. If the repair is $200 and your deductible is $1,000, then it really doesn't make any sense to file a claim. 

Yes, if you’re unhappy with your rate or customer service, feel free to move on. However, before you do, it’s important to shop around for home insurance quotes, select your new provider, inform your old provider, and ensure there are no coverage gaps while you transfer. Read our blog on how to change your insurance provider.

A home insurance peril is an unknown or accidental event. For instance, if your home is struck and damaged by lightning, creating a hole in your roof, there is no way you could have prevented it. But a home insurance policy is not a maintenance plan, so if your roof has slowly degraded over time and now needs replacing, it is not a peril since its eventual replacement is expected.

Make a complete list of damaged or stolen items. Call your insurance provider as soon as you can and ask about what you’re entitled to, especially if you can’t currently live in your home as you may be entitled to hotel and food expenses. A claims adjuster will be in contact with you to fill out a proof of loss form. Ask about using your own contractor or if you’re required to use one they supply to repair the property.

Your deductible is the portion of the claim you’re responsible for paying before the insurance company will pay the rest. A higher deductible, meaning you'll pay more than standard in the event of a claim, will result in lower premiums.

Yes, is the simple answer. While Airbnb does provide host protection, it may not be enough. You should contact your insurance provider before any changes to your policy and that includes renting it out. If they’re not fine with you renting your property, you can move your policy to another provider who will.