All you need to know about holiday decorations and home insurance
This article has been updated from a previous version. From trees and lights to candles and ornament...
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Congratulations. You either own a home or are in the market to purchase one. It will likely be the most expensive asset you own. That’s why you’ll want to protect it, and the contents within it, with the right home insurance coverage.
Home insurance in Canada is not mandatory. But it will save you tens of thousands of dollars, and more, should your home or possessions end up damaged or lost due to a natural disaster, theft or some other peril. Furthermore, most mortgage lenders require home buyers to have home insurance to protect their investment. So, unless you can afford a home without taking out a mortgage, you’ll probably need insurance.
Home insurance may cover:
damage or loss to your home
damage, theft or loss of your personal possessions
personal property stolen from your vehicle
damage or injury to others who visit your home or property
accidental damage you cause to somebody else’s property
Home insurance is regulated at both federal and provincial levels. The provincial governments are responsible for market conduct, while the federal Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) is focused on the industry’s financial safety and stability.
People interested in home insurance have a variety of choices and ways to protect their homes. There are four types of coverage to choose from, including:
Comprehensive: Comprehensive or 'all perils' policy provides the most coverage. It covers all risks to your home and contents except for any risks named as exclusions.
Basic: Also known as a 'named perils' policy, this one provides less coverage than a comprehensive policy. It only covers the risks to your home and contents that are named in your policy.
Broad: Broad form policy extends beyond the basics to include rare events that may be of serious risk to the insured. This type of insurance usually commands a higher premium and has a deductible.
No-frills: No-frills policy provides the least amount of coverage. It offers very basic coverage for homes that don’t meet the usual standards for insurance and only pays for damages outlined in your policy.
Those seeking home insurance should also consider the specifics within each type of policy. They might want to include:
Building/property coverage: This provides protection if there is damage to the structure of your home, including the walls, roof and floors. It can sometimes also include things like fixtures. If you own your own home, you'll need to have building coverage just in case your home is damaged and needs repair.
Contents: Besides the physical structure, your home is filled with your prized possessions, furnishings, electronics – essentially everything you own. You’ll want to have a solid inventory of your possessions, with their value listed, if possible, in case of a claim. More expensive items like fine art or jewellery can be insured separately through ‘riders’ or ‘endorsements’ that single out these items due to their intrinsic value.
Personal liability: Home insurance can protect your possessions from damage or theft. It can also protect you from personal liability. For instance, if you cause damage to a neighbouring home, or someone is injured on your property, and you are sued, personal liability will save you money on legal fees and protect you from potential financial ruin.
Additional living expenses: In cases of extreme damage or a mass evacuation from a dangerous area, your home insurance can pay for additional living expenses (ALE). Depending on your policy, ALE will pay for temporary rent, transportation and food. However, ALE will not cover expenses if you move out for convenience purposes, say, during a renovation.
There are several optional coverages, or ‘endorsements,’ that can be added to home insurance policies.
Flood protection: Sewer back-up and overland floods are rarely covered by most policies – unless you add them as an endorsement. Sewer back-up covers water damage from overflowing drains, eavestroughs, sewer pipes and sump pumps, while overland water covers flood damage due to overflowing bodies of water, such as rivers or streams. While sewer back-up can happen to almost anyone, overland flooding only happens in certain areas.
Earthquakes: Depending on where you live, damage from earthquakes can be a very real threat. Earthquakes are more prominent on the west side of Canada, but the east isn’t necessarily off the hook either. According to the IBC, there is a 5%-15% risk that a powerful earthquake can hit areas between the St. Lawrence River Valley and the Ottawa Valley, which include cities like Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa.
Home-based business: Most home insurance policies should cover lower-value possessions like books, tools or instruments. However, if you are running a small business from your home, consider a home-based business insurance add-on to protect your work equipment.
Exceptions: Exceptions to home insurance coverage often mold, maintenance and infestations. All these issues can be prevented by the homeowner through basic upkeep, which is why insurance companies almost never cover them.
Freezer food: If your food spoils due to a freezer malfunction or power outage in your home, this will cover the costs of replacing the food, and in some cases, the freezer itself. This is especially useful if you have multiple freezers in your home. Do note that if your food spoils for other reasons, such as you not closing the freezer door, then you won’t be covered.
Mass evacuation: If you find yourself under an evacuation order, whether it’s due to wildfires, flood or a tornado, this will cover the extra expenses you may incur as a result, such as hotel fees, groceries or travel.
Identity theft and fraud: Whether someone steals your identity or uses it for fraudulent activities (e.g. your social insurance number is stolen to gain access to your bank account), your insurance provider can cover the costs of restoring your identity.
Lock replacement: If your lock gets damaged due to a break-in or burglary, your insurance can cover the cost of replacing or repairing the damaged lock.
Your home might be the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. Protect it with a great home insurance policy. LowestRates.ca will bring you the cheapest house insurance quotes from all the top providers in your area.
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Type of home | Location | Previous claims | Lowest rate | Average rate | Saved |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quote from November 29, 2024 Type of home Townhouse 1,557 sq ft | Location Oakville, ON | Previous claims None | Lowest Rate $114/mth $1,370/yr | Average rate $164/mth $1,968/yr | Saved $50/mth $600/yr (30.00%) |
Quote from November 28, 2024 Type of home Detached 2,902 sq ft | Location Victoria, BC | Previous claims None | Lowest Rate $171/mth $2,055/yr | Average rate $361/mth $4,326/yr | Saved $189/mth $2,268/yr (53.00%) |
Quote from November 28, 2024 Type of home Detached 1,203 sq ft | Location Vavenby, BC | Previous claims None | Lowest Rate $204/mth $2,451/yr | Average rate $299/mth $3,592/yr | Saved $95/mth $1,140/yr (32.00%) |
Here’s how to get a home insurance quote on LowestRates.ca in 4 easy steps.
Scroll to the top of any home insurance page on our site. Select which type of property insurance you’d like to purchase and enter your postal code. Click “Get Started.”
Next, you’ll be asked to enter a bit of information about yourself and the other occupants of the home. Tell us when you’d like your new policy to start and the date you moved into the property. We’ll automatically calculate your home’s square footage, age, distance from a fire station, and more. Leave the details to us.
In order to be eligible for discounts, you’ll need to answer several questions. Be prepared to answer whether you’d like to bundle your home and auto insurance policies with your new insurance company. For the best possible experience, make sure you know whether your property has a monitored fire alarm, deadbolt locks, fire extinguishers (and how many there are), a monitored burglar alarm, and/or a sprinkler system.
Get ready to see your quotes. You’ll be directed to your quote results page, which ranks quotes from lowest to highest. Your cheapest quote will be displayed first, along with the contact information of the broker or agent who can help you lock your new rate. You’ll also be able to see what 50+ other insurance companies are willing to offer you. Just like that.
By entering a few details about your home, you can compare the quotes from the best home insurance providers in your area. That’s all it takes to save hundreds of dollars per year on your home insurance policy — just like that.
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There are many ways to lower the price of your home insurance, starting with comparison shopping on sites like LowestRates.ca. Doing so will get you a variety of cheap quotes from top providers in seconds, and for free.
Other ways to lower your home insurance premiums are:
Increase your deductible. The more you add to your deductible, the lower the risk is for your provider and the higher the discount they can offer. It may cost you more if you make a claim, but you can save money in the long run.
Install a theft alarm system and smoke detector. The more security features you have – to protect your home from theft and damage alike – the less risk there is for losses. Insurance providers will reward that with discounts.
Upgrade your electrical, heating and plumbing systems. Any upgrades to your home’s systems mean a reduction in risk for damage or fire.
Protect your home from severe weather and water damage. If you’re worried about extreme weather damaging your home, adding safeguards such as sump pumps, reinforcing basement walls or re-doing your roof can save you money in the long run and protect your belongings.
Ask your broker or agent for discounts. You can do this around policy renewal time.
Pay your premium annually instead of monthly. Many providers offer discounts for upfront payment as it helps reduce their own administration costs.
Don’t increase the replacement value of your home. If you’re planning renovations, let your insurance provider know ahead of time to ensure you don’t accidentally increase the replacement value of your home – because this can also increase your premiums.
Bundle with your car insurance provider. Your loyalty to one provider is often rewarded with discounts for the extra business. Bundling can also reduce the hassle of payments and can simplify the claims process.
Compare home insurance quotes from various providers. LowestRates.ca is your one-stop shop for cheap home insurance quotes. Just input a few bits of information about your insurance needs and location, and we’ll do the rest. You’ll receive instant quote comparisons from top providers. It’s free and there’s no downside.
Your home insurance policy will be customized to suit your needs and the property you’re insuring.
Canadian home insurance quotes can be like fingerprints – they are different for everyone. However, there are some factors that insurance companies look at to help determine their home insurance quotes, including:
Square footage of your home: Larger homes generally cost more to insure due to their size, more furnishings and possessions, and ultimately, a higher risk for the provider.
Contents and quality of construction: More expensive contents will cost more to insure. Replacement value will be higher and insurance providers see that as extra risk. Also, construction is very important. Newer homes with better systems, roofs and materials pose a lower risk than older homes that have shoddier construction or need a lot of repairs.
The location of your home: A home located in a high-crime area or a flood zone, for example, is a greater risk for providers and will demand a higher home insurance premium. Safer locations with good security and/or low crime rates would be cheaper to insure. Check out these location-based home insurance endorsements to make sure you are fully covered.
Distance to a fire hydrant: The proximity to a fire hydrant can mean the difference between saving or losing your home, should a fire break out. Insurance providers look at this proximity when assessing risk and will take it into account when assigning your home insurance rate.
Your insurance claims history: Insurance providers look at history and assign risk to it. More claims filed in the past usually mean more claims in the future. Few or no claims could mean you are a low risk and may not make claims going forward.
The age of your roof: Your roof protects your entire home and its possessions. A new solid roof is a low risk factor and could help you save on insurance premiums. An old roof could be damaged easily in a storm, causing severe loss to you. As a result, your provider might deem it high-risk. Learn more about the impact of your roof on your home insurance.
Your home’s plumbing: A well-maintained home, including its plumbing, can prevent damage. Upgraded pipes and sump pumps, that can prevent flooding, will pose a lower risk than older pipes that can damage easily and cause flooding.
Your home’s electrical system: Old wiring and old ‘knob-and-tube' electrical systems can pose a severe risk of fire or a short circuit. Insurance providers will charge higher premiums on older systems, as the risk posed by them is greater than newer systems, which have fail-safe shut-off mechanisms and reduced fire potential.
The average cost of home insurance in Canada can range from $800 to $1,200 per year.
At the end of the day, however, each home insurance customer is impacted by different factors, including where they are located, the age of their home and the value of their possessions. These factors can either raise or lower the cost of your home insurance, depending on where you stand.
Comparing home insurance quotes online is a fast and easy way to ensure you’re getting the cheapest rate on what is likely to be your most expensive asset.
LowestRates.ca compares quotes from the top providers in the country, so you can get the best policy at the cheapest price. And because quotes can vary from province to province, and neighborhood to neighborhood, finding quotes through LowestRates.ca minimizes the stress of searching for them yourself.
Credit checks are not mandatory to acquire home insurance. However, many providers may ask for it and will need your permission to do so. Having a good credit score shows you are reliable and likely a low risk. That can help reduce your home insurance premiums.
LowestRates.ca only does one credit check per application, meaning your credit score will not be affected. Homeowners who search for an insurance plan on their own will often have to submit credit checks for each provider they get a quote from. And the more often you request a credit check, the lower your score will be. If you’re worried about your score, you can check it ahead of submitting a home insurance application using our credit score checker.
The replacement cost value (RCV) is the amount paid to replace property or personal belongings without any deduction for depreciation. The actual cash value (ACV) is the replacement cost value minus depreciation.
Which one is better?
Like most insurance questions – it depends. ACV can be a more affordable option, but it may not offer sufficient coverage if your personal belongings are stolen or damaged. On the other hand, RCV increases the cost of your policy, but the payout amount you will likely receive from your insurer will be higher in the event of a covered loss.
Assess your items and their value and talk to your provider about which option makes the most sense for you.
Submitting a claim is, hopefully, a last resort. However, it is important to be organized and ready, should such action be necessary.
You can start by speaking to your insurance provider, broker or even beginning the claim process online.
It’s best to make sure you have a list of the items you are making claims on, with their value (or original receipts/photos if you have them) and/or medical documentation if claims are related to personal injury.
Insurance is very personal. Your needs and home will differ from those of every other home insurance customer in the country. Finding the ‘best’ home insurance provider will require research on your part to see whose policies, rates and customer support best suit your situation.
You can start by finding the cheapest rates at LowestRates.ca. From there, we’ll put you in touch with a licensed broker, who can further advise you on providers that suit your insurance needs.
Joel Kranc
About the Author
Joel Kranc is an award-winning writer, author and journalist. Most of his experience lies within the institutional investment and financial services space. He also covers a variety of business topics for publications in North America and the UK.
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*Shoppers who obtained a home insurance quote on LowestRates.ca from January to December 2023 saved an average of 32%. The average savings percentage represents the difference between the shoppers’ average lowest quoted premium and the average of the second and third lowest quoted premiums generated by LowestRates.ca. Excludes tenant and condo insurance.