Compare the best home insurance quotes in Winnipeg for free.

Insurance companies underwrite risk differently, so home insurance premiums in Winnipeg can vary. The amount you pay really depends on the company you sign up with and your individual situation. The best way to get a home insurance estimate for a Winnipeg residence is to apply for a quote through a rate comparison site.

While property insurance in Winnipeg doesn’t differ greatly from property insurance in other cities, there are a number of weather events you might encounter:

• Flooding.
• Extreme cold.
• Strong winds (tornadoes have been known to occur in Winnipeg).

Generally speaking, home insurance coverage in Winnipeg includes:

• Damage or loss to your home.
• Personal property that was stolen from your vehicle.
• Damage or injury to others who visit your home or property.
• Accidental damage you cause to somebody else’s property or person.
• Additional living expenses if you’re temporarily unable to live in your home, like hotels or renting a home.

Your home insurance policy may cover damages incurred by the following events, but you’ll need to confirm with your provider first:

• Fire including wildfires.
• Wind-related weather including storms, tornadoes and hurricanes.
• Ice and hail.
• Theft.
• Vandalism.
• Water damage from inside your home (for example, from a broken pipe).

Home insurance providers may deny claims for some unexpected events. The types of incidents that insurance companies include under this banner are:

• Flooding.
• Extreme cold.
• Earthquakes.
• Landslides.
• Sewer back-ups.

Insurance companies may often refuse to cover incidents that are the result of neglect or lack of home maintenance.

For example, if you forget to turn your water off before leaving for winter vacation and your pipes freeze and burst, your insurance company may decline to help with the cost of repairs. Or, if your roof collapses because you didn’t make regular repairs, your insurance company may also deny your claim.

The events in the example above are what insurance companies refer to as expected or predictable events.

Some home insurance companies in Winnipeg will offer endorsements for these types of perils. Endorsements are optional coverages you can add to your policy at an extra cost.

Sewer backup, overland flooding and earthquake coverage can all be purchased as an endorsement.

The addition of any endorsements should be discussed with a home insurance broker or agent in Winnipeg at the outset.

There are four basic types of home insurance:

Comprehensive - This type of policy provides the most coverage. It covers your home and its contents against all perils, except for those that are explicitly left out of the policy. Comprehensive insurance is the most expensive type of policy.

Standard - A standard policy offers less coverage than a comprehensive policy. It only covers your house and contents against named perils.

Broad - Provides a level of coverage that’s in between a comprehensive and a standard policy. It covers your home against all risks, minus anything that’s been excluded. Your contents are only covered against any named risks, similar to how standard policies work.

No frills - This type of policy provides minimal coverage and is generally reserved for homes that don’t meet underwriting standards. It’s also the cheapest form of insurance available.

Also, because of the specific risks posed by Winnipeg’s climate, you may want to consider purchasing an endorsement: optional add-on coverage that costs extra. Some home insurance providers, like Royal Sun Alliance and Aviva, offer flood and sewer backup endorsements.

It’s difficult to predict exactly what the price of your home insurance in Winnipeg will be. Every home insurance company underwrites risk differently. In addition, the average cost of home insurance in Winnipeg probably wouldn’t be an indicator of what you’ll pay because rates vary based on age of the structure, construction, wiring and other items based in and around your home.

That being said it’s not impossible to find affordable home insurance for Winnipeg residents.

Here are a few strategies you can use to reduce the cost of home insurance in Winnipeg:

Increase your deductible: Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay towards an insurance claim. If you tell your insurance company you’re willing to shoulder a greater percentage of a future claim, they’ll decrease the cost of your premium. On the other hand, you’ll have to pay more out of pocket should you ever file a claim.

Bundle your insurance: Purchase car insurance from the same company that provides your home insurance. You’ll get rewarded with a discount.

Ramp up your home’s security: Subscribe to a Central Station Alarm company. It’s the type of home system that’s monitored 24-7 by a security company. Ask your insurance company if they’re partnered with a specific company for the best discount.

Don’t switch before renewal: Your current insurance company could enforce penalties for breaking your contract before your renewal date.

Renew with your current provider: Some insurance companies will provide discounts for homeowners who stick with them through the years.

Review your policy annually: You may have purchased more insurance than you actually need. Review your policy once a year — and especially after major life changes — to see if this is the case.

Shop around: Compare home insurance quotes in Winnipeg to see what all your options are. Just keep in mind that one insurance company's policy will differ from the next. Make sure you’re comparing similar policies.

Finding cheap home insurance in Winnipeg can be a great way to cut down on expenses, but getting cheap quotes shouldn’t outweigh the importance of securing the coverage you need just in case something bad happens.

There’s no one insurance company that provides the best home insurance rates to all Winnipeg customers because what works well for you might not work for your neighbour and vice versa.

Another important factor to consider when choosing an insurance company is how your broker or agent interacts with you. Do they take time to answer your questions? Do you feel pressured into a sale? These are the folks that will be one of your first points of contact after an emergency. How they treat you under low-pressure situations is important.

Remember to shop around to compare different home insurance quotes in Winnipeg before you choose an insurance company to work with so you can compare current home insurance rates from Winnipeg providers.

Here’s a list of some of the major companies offering homeowners insurance in Winnipeg:

• CAA Insurance
• The Co-operators
• Wawanesa
• RBC Insurance
• Intact Insurance

LowestRates.ca can help you find coverage. To get started, enter your postal code above and select either the condo or renters insurance option. If you’re looking for more information about either of these products, we have more information on finding the best condo insurance or renters insurance.