Home insurance in Barrie varies, depending on the coverage you’re required or choose to have, as well as the area you live in and past home insurance history. The average home insurance costs can range from thousands of dollars annually and are based on location in the city and the neighbourhood. It also includes other factors such as home size, replacement value, coverage type, etc..... all these factors can affect the rate, so contact your dedicated insurance advisor today to start shopping for affordable home insurance.

No, there’s no fee. Comparing quotes from the top Canadian home insurance companies will help ensure you aren’t overpaying for your insurance. Compare the best insurance companies in Canada with Surex for FREE.

It will strongly depend on your home’s physical structure, the value of personal property (including clothing, appliances, TV’s). It’s a good idea to take an inventory of your possessions to confirm you have an accurate idea of the value. There are limits that you’ll need to work with so it’s important to check with your insurance company to see what the best insurance coverage is for you. 

Here are the main types of home insurance policies you need to consider for your Barrie dwelling:

Comprehensive: This covers the structure of your home and its contents from all risks, except ones that are considered uninsurable, or where you would need extra (optional) coverage for things such as earthquakes and overland flooding etc…

Basic or Named Perils: This coverage is the opposite of comprehensive and only covers your home and its contents against perils specifically listed in your policy. For example, if the policy doesn't mention fire damage, then a claim filed as a result of fire damage will not be accepted. Check with your insurance broker for a full list.

Broad: This coverage is a hybrid of comprehensive coverage and basic and is also known as a “broad-form” policy. For your home itself, it is similar to a comprehensive plan, where it covers all perils except those that are uninsurable. For your belongings, it's similar to basic coverage and only covers named risks while unnamed risks are not covered.

No-Frills: This is limited coverage for properties that don’t meet the normal standards of insurance providers. It usually is for homes that have structural defects or other extensive issues.

Of course, you can always add optional coverage (or endorsements) to your policy to cover more risks not normally covered in your home insurance. Some endorsements homeowners in Barrie might consider:

• Overland flooding - this occurs when you have overflowing rivers or lakes as a result of heavy rainfall or melting ice and snow
• Flooding from heavy rainfall
• Sewer backup from extreme weather events, construction accidents, or poor municipal maintenance

Home insurance is a tricky thing to predict, as many factors come to play when calculating the rates. Things such as the age of the structure and the construction of your home, wiring etc...all these items that can be found in and around your home all affect the rate. Plus, the top Canadian home insurance companies underwrite risk differently, so that is why getting to compare quotes is important.

Here are a few things you can do to help reduce the cost of your rates and get affordable home insurance:

• Increase your deductible: This is the amount you pay towards an insurance claim, so by offering to pay a higher percentage of a future claim, your insurance company will decrease the cost of your premium. But, keep in mind you will be paying more out-of-pocket when, and if, you ever file a claim.
• Bundle your insurance: Bundling always helps you save, whether it's your phone, tv, and internet! So, if you have a car, or any other insurable item, think about going with the same insurance company, who will most likely reward you with a discount!
• Shop around: Always compare home insurance quotes to see what all your options are on similar policies. No two policies are the same, so comparing will let you choose what's right for you.
• Lump-sum payment: providing payment for the entire year instead of monthly payments
• Ramp up your home’s security: Getting a home security system can help, specifically ones that are monitored 24/7 by a security company. (you can inquire if your insurance company is partnered with a specific one for more of a discount). Also, equipping your house with smoke detectors is a good move too (for everyone's sake).
• Purchase new: Sometimes buying a brand new build can result in receiving discounts on your premium. Doesn't hurt to ask!
• Professional membership: Do you belong to a union, an alumnus at a particular university or college, or a CAA member? Some insurance companies will offer a discount or group policies to professional members, associations and organizations.
• Claim Free: Obviously being 'claim free' has an advantage.
• Seniors: Being a senior will qualify you for a certain discount

Home insurance coverage in Barrie depends on the type of insurance you need. Here are a few examples of different types of coverage:

Tenant insurance:  Also known as rental insurance, it typically covers the contents of a unit and liability.

Homeowners insurance (condo): Covers the condo unit and upgrades but not the condo building, as that is covered by the condo corporation, hence condo fees. Your home insurance policy would also cover contents (e.g. theft, damage, etc.) and liability.

Homeowners insurance (house): This is the most comprehensive coverage and includes the entire rebuilding costs for your property, liability, and contents inside the home. You can get additional coverage to protect against a wide range of natural impacts such as earthquakes, flooding, snow damages, etc... and tree and gardens as well as for some additional structures on your property like your shed for extra storage.

Having a continuous history or record of insurance shows your provider that you are willing to manage the risks you take on by owning or renting a home. When you have no gaps in your insurance coverage, this means that you are always protected. Continuous insurance for several years without having made any claims may amount to a lower overall premium because your provider might see that you are properly managing your risk to prevent avoidable losses. 

Give us a call to get your online insurance quote today. Speak to a licensed insurance advisor who will walk you through the process of getting homeowners’ insurance set up. Our advisors will help you get insurance online by collecting your information and doing the hard work for you by shopping around and providing quotes from the top Canadian home insurance companies.

Home insurance helps you protect investments made in your home whether you own the house or are currently renting. The purpose is to manage risk if anything were to even happen to the contents and to provide coverage so you don’t need to worry in these situations. Home insurance isn’t mandatory in every Canadian province (i.e. in Ontario), but the majority of financial institutions require it before you can take on a mortgage. As for tenant insurance, landlords will often request some form of proof of home insurance before giving you a lease. Consider the benefits of home insurance.

Some common homeowners insurance riders (a.k.a. endorsements) that you may want to add to your insurance policy are:

Scheduled personal property coverage: This coverage goes beyond your personal property coverage that includes the basics such as furniture, clothes, and electronics and covers more valuable items such as jewellrey, fur, and antiques. The extended coverage protects against additional risks your basic policy doesn't cover like the misplacement of losing valuable items.

Water backup damage: A standard homeowners policy typically does not cover water damage from a backed-up drain or sump pump, so you'd need to add optional water backup coverage to your policy. It helps pay to repair certain types of water damage such as the cost of replacing furniture or removing water after an unexpected backup that can damage your home.

Building code coverage: The standard dwelling coverage in a homeowners insurance policy helps pay to repair your home's existing structure to its original state after a covered claim. But, if your home is damaged and not up to building codes when a claim is filed, you'll likely have to pay out of pocket to cover the difference between getting it fixed and up to current building code standards. This additional coverage will help pay for the extra costs accumulated to comply with local building codes required for the repair of your home.

Business property coverage: If you are running a home-based business or have a business property you keep in your home, you should consider this option, as not every standard homeowner's insurance policy will include this. This additional coverage will protect the business-related items you keep stored in your home (i.e products you are planning to sell) as well as your home business.

You may also be able to get additional home insurance riders added to your policy for things like landscaping and renovation projects.

Insurance riders, also known as endorsements, expand your basic policy, letting you get more home insurance coverage. It's an optional add-on to your policy that allows you to increase the overall coverage of your home insurance. By adding a rider, you can select addons for certain category items such as an expensive jewellery collection or for drain back up - you essentially choose what you want the additional coverage for.

There are some specific risks to be aware of when getting home insurance in Barrie, they include:

• Ice or hail storms - Weather events like this happen frequently and can cause damage to the exterior of your home as well as cause flooding.

• Heavy snowfall - The city gets a lot of snowfall during the winter months which could cause damage to your roof or also cause flooding when it all thaws.

• Wind damage

These perils can impact your premiums, so talk to the best insurance broker for more information on what you need to know.