Offers shown here are from third-party advertisers. We are not an agent, representative, or broker of any advertiser, and we don’t endorse or recommend any particular offer. Information is provided by the advertiser and is shown without any representation or warranty from us as to its accuracy or applicability. Each offer is subject to the advertiser’s review, approval, and terms. We receive compensation from companies whose offers are shown here, and that may impact how and where offers appear (and in what order). We don’t include all products or offers out there, but we hope what you see will give you some great options.
When you purchase a new home, detached home insurance is a policy to protect your house from unexpected issues to your contents or the structure of your home. It’s an important safeguard, which gives homeowners the peace of mind that their house is protected in the event of a fire or similar damage, should they need to move out temporarily, replace contents, and other related repairs. It’s also an essential coverage that protects homeowners from legal issues which may arise if someone is injured on your property.
Homeowner insurance isn’t required by law, much like certain types of coverage required for businesses or auto insurance. While it’s not mandatory, detached home insurance is highly recommended for every homeowner, as it can provide a layer of protection if there is an unexpected event.
When registering for insurance coverage, you’ll need to provide details about your home. Based on this information, a price for this insurance will be calculated, which is your monthly premium. There are various factors insurance companies consider before a price or premium is determined, including the size of your property, square footage, and the type of property.
The replacement cost is a significant part of determining your premium, the quality of construction, the materials used, the replacement value of items, and the structure. The type of property also includes the age, any wear and tear, the type of house, and if it’s going to be your principal residence, a seasonal home, or rental property.
In some cases, damage to your home may impact personal belongings more than other expenses. An example of this type of damage may result from flooding, house fires, previous improper maintenance, and other factors. If your home’s appliances are considered high risks, such as a wood stove, or other appliances that can cause damage to your home, the insurer may consider this when calculating the cost of your premiums.
Ideally, good quality home with excellent construction and low-risk appliances and items will result in a favorable insurance rate. For this reason, it’s important to install fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors as they are legally required and include extra extras.
Suppose your new home was previously renovated, or an addition was built onto the house, including a solarium, more living space, or an outdoor patio or structure. In that case, these can impact the value of your home and the insurance cost. Older houses and properties may have lead piping and other materials susceptible to leaks or damage.
In contrast, new plastic or copper piping is generally safer and is less likely to corrode or cause problems in the long term. Electrical wiring is another essential part of assessing a home’s insurance coverage and premiums, especially if there are fire risks or other issues associated with improper materials or clusters of wires that pose a serious risk.
If you buy a home without renovations but plan to add more to your house in the future, it’s essential to inform your insurance provider, as the value of your home, the coverage, and the policy will likely change.
It’s also essential because the new areas of your home were constructed since the initial insurance policy may not be adequately covered unless the policy is revised. While this may increase your monthly premium, ensuring that your entire home and property are covered is worthwhile.
Are you going to replace your roof, or do you need to refinish the basement? These may seem like ordinary projects, and while they improve your home, they can also change your insurance policy, which makes it essential to document and share with your provider. If these changes are beneficial to the structure of your home or add more excellent protection, this may improve (or decrease) the cost of your insurance overall.
More minor changes to your home, including interior renovations, should also be recorded and provided to the insurance company, as even less impactful changes may affect protecting your home with insurance. This includes electrical upgrades, new pipes, a change in appliances, renovating a room with a new wall, or other changes that may impact the structural integrity of your home.
Is your home close to a fire hydrant? Are you moving to an address known for its high crime rate or other issues, such as flooding? These factors, including many others, based on your location and the environment in your area, significantly impact your home insurance coverage. For this reason, it’s essential to research the neighborhood and general area of a new property, even before you decide to buy it, as this can significantly affect the pricing of your insurance premiums and other risks to owning a home in a specific region.
While many homes are bought as a principal residence, many people choose to rent out a portion of the house, or the whole building, to make extra income. In some districts, residential homes may also include a storefront business, or the area is zoned for other purposes other than residential, which can impact your detached home insurance. When you regularly rent out your home or use it for other reasons, there is a higher risk of damage due to other people or groups using the building as a vacation spot, event space, or other purposes. Including these details as much as possible when your home is assessed for insurance coverage is essential.
Whether you buy a newly built house or a heritage home with a lot of history, it’s essential to research any significant changes to the structure, including roof repairs and replacements, retrofitted windows, and other areas of the home that have been modernized or upgraded before making your purchase. Previous claims are also an important indicator of how much you can expect to pay in insurance premiums. For example, if your roof is several decades old and hasn’t been repaired, or there have been previous fires or other issues with the home’s electrical wiring, this can impact the insurance cost.
Detached home insurance is vital to safeguard your home and personal belongings. It can also help protect you from legal action, especially if an incident involves a claim from a guest about an injury or another issue. Even when you invest in a well-built home with little or no risk, an unexpected event can alter everything and cause significant damage. Insurance coverage gives you the means to cover additional housing and living expenses, repairs to your home, and other costs incurred as a result. These costs include, but are not limited to, additional clothing, personal items, hotel or temporary lodgings, and other day-to-day expenses.
Another critical reason to consider detached home insurance is the possibility of theft, which can result in vandalism or loss of personal property. Content insurance also offers coverage for these items and may include items stored in your vehicle or other parts of your property. Home insurance may also cover damage to another person’s property if a tree from your lawn falls on your neighbor’s home or other areas of their land. Suppose you have many trees on your property or other structures that may impact surrounding properties and homes. In that case, insurance providers can provide additional property and casualty insurance coverage.
One of the most crucial aspects of home insurance is the protection it provides if an injury or incident can result in injury on your property. This coverage applies whether you use your home for residential purposes only or in part as a business location. If you operate a business out of your home or rent to guests as a vacation property, there is a higher chance that one or more people could claim injury, even if it is not the property owner’s fault.
If slippery surfaces are on your driveway or the stairs to your front entrance, a visitor’s slip and fall could result in a claim against you, especially if there is an injury. A fire in your home or on the property may spread or cause damage to a neighbor’s home or property, resulting in a claim. Home insurance will protect you in these situations, primarily if the incident occurred at no fault of your own and your home is safe, with all the requirements, including carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarms.
Suppose you operate a business from home, live in a condominium, or rent instead of purchasing your home. In that case, there are other types of insurance coverage you’ll need to consider for your protection. While home insurance is vital for any property purchase as a principal residence, there are additional types of coverage you may want to consider for various reasons.
Business insurance will give you added protection if you operate a company or home-based business from your house. Even if you don’t plan on running a company from your home when you initially make the purchase, it’s essential to inform your insurance provider when this changes, as adding business coverage may impact your home insurance. It’s also essential that the type of company you’re operating from home doesn’t invalidate your current policy. A home insurance policy won’t pay for related claims if any incidents occur due to your home-based business.
While home insurance covers items and issues arising from your principal residences, such as damaged equipment, injury claims from clients visiting your business, and other incidents related to your home-based company are covered by business insurance.
Condominium insurance is similar to detached home insurance in that it protects your personal belongings, repairs, and related incidents inside your home. It doesn’t cover any items outside of the condo unit, as this is covered by the condo corporation’s master insurance policy. Detached home insurance covers more than the inside of your home, including the external structure, garage, front and backyards, and other buildings or items on your property.
Like detached home insurance, condo coverage similarly protects property that includes damage to renovations or improvements to your unit, changes to the unit completed by a previous owner, and coverage for your belongings if lost or damaged. Condo insurance may also cover any damage in your unit that impacts a neighbor’s apartment, such as a fire or flood, up to a certain amount. This coverage is similar to home insurance, which can protect against damage to other properties or houses nearby.
There are several levels of home insurance coverage to consider, based on the type of property you own, the cost of personal contents, renovations, and general use of your home. Before you commit to a policy, reviewing all your options and the various degrees of coverage is crucial to ensure that you get exactly what you need for your home.
Comprehensive detached home insurance includes coverage for all risks associated with your home and its contents. While there are some exclusions in this type of policy, comprehensive insurance typically covers the most compared to other home coverage levels. It’s the best option for homeowners with luxury houses, furniture, and expensive personal belongings.
Standard coverage protects all the essentials of your home and property, though not as much as the comprehensive policy. This insurance policy is also considered a basic coverage level, typically less expensive than more comprehensive policies. It’s a good option if you can cover certain losses on your own in the event of a flood or similar situation. While this coverage doesn’t give you as much protection in an emergency, it’s ideal for people who are on a budget or need to save on insurance premiums.
There is another type of insurance for your home is through a broad-form policy, which falls between standard and comprehensive policies. This insurance policy generally covers all risks to your home, with more exclusions than the comprehensive plan, while also covering risks to your personal belongings or contents. A broad policy may be the best option for affordability and coverage when a standard policy isn’t enough for your home and a comprehensive plan is too expensive.
One of the most important aspects of home insurance is the protection of homeowners against litigation or claims from injuries or damage to other people’s property. Fortunately, most detached home insurance policies include coverage for personal liability. If someone slips and falls on an icy driveway in the winter or suffers injury from an item or equipment on your property, you’ll be protected from their claims. Personal liability insurance is vital whether you rent or own your home. If you’re uncertain whether the insurance policy covers liability, you must inquire with your provider.
Basic Insurance coverage gives you the least amount of coverage. This type of policy is suitable for homes that may not contain too many personal belongings or do not meet the requirements for other types of detached home insurance. In some cases, a home’s insurance coverage may be too expensive or not eligible for comprehensive or standard insurance, which makes basic coverage a good option.
Many insurance providers are offering a variety of policies and options for homeowners. While some providers specialize in detached home insurance, condo insurance, and similar policies, other companies offer a wide variety of insurance policies that include auto, life, business, and other types of coverage.
While many insurance companies have great options available, reviewing every provider’s pros and cons while inquiring about specific covered items and requesting quotes is time-consuming. An easier way to find the most compatible insurance policy for your home is to search through a website designed to match your needs with the best provider. InsuranceHotline.com allows you to shop for the best insurance provider based on location, property, budget, and other factors to determine the ideal fit.
Sonnet gives you a range of options and quotes so that you can find the best insurance for your home. At the same time, Square One Insurance Services offers inexpensive plans that start at a low monthly premium, and your property and home can be easily assessed over the phone or online.
RBC Home Insurance offers the services of a licensed insurance advisor who will provide a one-on-one assessment to determine clear options for your home and the type of coverage that works best for you. Desjardins Home Insurance, much like RBC Home Insurance, offers similar insurance plans, with the advantage of discounts if you also purchase auto insurance.
CAA is known for its auto insurance and services, though the company also offers a wide variety of home insurance plans at an affordable rate. Allstate Home Insurance provides defined levels of coverage, and TD Home Insurance gives you options for protecting your home with Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Gold coverage levels. Intact Home Insurance customizes insurance protection for your home, personal liability, contents, and other related items, and BelairDirect offers home and auto insurance with discounts if you combine them.
There are many reasons to protect your home with insurance, whether you’re concerned with possible risks, potential damages to your contents, or other factors. Even in situations where your home isn’t at high risk, due to the location, a quality security system, upgraded electrical wiring, and plumbing, home insurance is essential if there is an unexpected situation, such as theft, fire, or flood.
While home insurance isn’t mandatory in Canada, it’s one of the essential items you’ll purchase when you buy your home. Fortunately, many insurance policy options cater to your type of house, how you use your home and your budget. While there is no set policy for all homeowners, researching insurance policies is time-consuming, but it’s a worthwhile investment.
If an insurance policy fits your home today, but you need to change the coverage level in the future, you’ll always have the option to switch from primary to standard or from broad insurance to comprehensive.
Overall, home insurance is a crucial safety net for homeowners that gives you peace of mind so that you can enjoy coverage in the event of the unexpected.
Make your money do more.
Offers shown here are from third-party advertisers. We are not an agent, representative, or broker of any advertiser, and we don’t endorse or recommend any particular offer. Information is provided by the advertiser and is shown without any representation or warranty from us as to its accuracy or applicability. Each offer is subject to the advertiser’s review, approval, and terms. We receive compensation from companies whose offers are shown here, and that may impact how and where offers appear (and in what order). We don’t include all products or offers out there, but we hope what you see will give you some great options.
This depends on the type of home you buy and other factors, including your budget, additional items you want to protect on your property, and more. In most cases, three or four companies can provide quotes to compare before you finalize a decision.
Comprehensive coverage offers the best insurance for homeowners with a high-value house and property, though it may not be an option that's eligible for everyone. It's also the most expensive insurance, which is essential to remember when deciding on a policy.
Yes. While it may or may not impact your home overall, it's best to have these changes assessed, just in case.
The premiums and overall cost of insurance depend on the risk factors, which may be increased with any one or more factors. These are individually assessed for every home before a policy is prepared.
Yes. It's essential to have a full inspection of the home to determine if any repairs are needed, which can also impact your insurance policy.
Gain peace of mind for your home
