Home Insurance in Elmira

Elmira basic property insurance coverage

Start protecting your Elmira home today with quality home insurance. Did you know that house insurance can safeguard both your home and its contents from common risks like theft, property damage, and even third party liability claims? That’s right, standard home insurance policies in Ontario can help protect your home in a wide variety of circumstances. Keep reading as we outline the three components of basic home insurance below:

1. Dwelling coverage

The first component of most home insurance policies is dwelling coverage. This coverage pertains to your physical home and its structure. In the event that your home is damaged by a covered loss, such as lightning, smoke, wind, or a falling object, your policy may cover you thanks to the dwelling cover portion. To give you an idea of which circumstances dwelling coverage may protect your home against, the experts at BrokerLink have compiled the following list of common perils:

• Fire
• Lightning
• Smoke
• Theft
• Wind
• Car / aircraft impact
• Explosion
• Falling objects

2. Contents coverage

While dwelling insurance pertains to the physical structure of your Elmira home, contents coverage pertains to the belongings inside of it. In other words, contents coverage is designed to protect the items housed in your property. It is important to review the specifics of your policy to better understand which items are covered. However, generally speaking, contents coverage may pay to repair or replace the following items in the event of loss or damage: furniture, clothing, electronics, jewellery, sporting equipment, and more.

3. Personal liability coverage

You will want personal liability coverage in your Elmira homeowner’s insurance policy if a third party injures themselves while on your property. In this scenario, you as the homeowner could be held liable, even if you had nothing to do with the incident. The result could be expensive medical fees or even a lawsuit. But if your Elmira homeowner’s insurance contains personal liability coverage, this portion of your insurance plan might help cover these costs. Personal liability insurance can also cover policyholders if their properties cause damage to neighbouring properties.

Additional house insurance coverage for Elmira homes

There are some instances when basic home insurance coverage isn’t enough. That’s where additional coverage comes in. Many insurance providers in Ontario offer extra coverage options to Elmira residents. So if a standard policy is not enough, consider adding a business, equipment breakdown coverage, identity theft, or sewer backup endorsement to it. This way, you can have peace of mind knowing your home is protected in all kinds of scenarios. Continue reading to learn more about three of the most popular home insurance coverage add-ons in Elmira:

1. Business coverage

A business insurance add-on is important for all Elmira homeowners who operate home businesses. In fact, it is not just important. In some cases, it is necessary, especially when you consider that most basic house insurance plans in Ontario do not protect against damages related to business operations. Without adding a business insurance endorsement to your policy, you likely would not be covered if a damage or loss occurred as a result of your business. No matter if it is property damage or a personal injury on the premises: At the end of the day, if you have a home business, it is recommended that you add a business coverage ride to your Elmira homeowner’s insurance policy.

2. Equipment breakdown coverage

Elmira homeowners may wish to add equipment breakdown insurance to their policies for the peace of mind it offers. How equipment breakdown insurance works is as follows: If a piece of equipment in your home suddenly fails, your insurance provider may step in and help you pay to repair or replace it. The exact types of equipment that this insurance covers varies by insurance provider but it may include washers, dryers, air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, kitchen appliances like ovens and refrigerators, and home security systems.

3. Sewer backup coverage

A sewer backup is a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Thankfully, sewer backup coverage exists to help mitigate such a disaster. With this type of coverage, your insurance provider may help pay for the cost of damage in the event of a sewer backup in your home. They would also pay and take care of the cleanup for a sewer backup.

The aforementioned additional home insurance options are usually added to existing home insurance policies as add-ons, riders, or endorsements, though customers may also be able to purchase them separately.

What your Elmira home insurance policy may not cover

Home insurance is generally designed to protect a policyholder’s home, but this protection is not infinite. As with any insurance policy, home insurance has limits, which are detailed in the terms and conditions of your policy. Specifically, a policy’s terms and conditions outline the exact parameters of the coverage, as well as some circumstances in which the coverage may become void. Elmira homeowners must have a solid understanding of the circumstances that can void their policies if they want to avoid not being covered in the event of a claim. For example, many home insurance policies in Elmira do not cover vacant homes, home sharing, or damage that occurs during renovations. So before buying a house insurance policy, carefully read the terms and conditions or contact a trusted insurance broker who can walk you through them. Below, the experts at BrokerLink put together a list of circumstances and incidents not typically covered by home insurance policies in Elmira:

1. Home sharing

Home sharing is commonplace throughout Canada thanks to popular home sharing sites like Airbnb and VRBO. But what many homeowners fail to realize is that home sharing can have consequences for one’s home insurance policy. So while lucrative, renting out your home without notifying your insurance provider can be risky. In fact, failing to inform your insurer about your home sharing plans might mean that you will not be covered if a damage or loss occurs due to home sharing. So if you plan to turn your home into a short-term rental and want to be covered by your home insurance policy while renters are staying there, you must contact your insurance provider or broker beforehand. They can advise you of limits on your existing policy and make sure you purchase the necessary coverage for home sharing.

2. Vacant home

Leaving your Elmira home empty for a significant length of time (i.e. more than 30 days on end), could lead to your coverage being voided. That is why it is important to notify your insurance provider to speak about vacant home insurance policies: If you are going to be away from your home, it must be checked every 72 hours. If you fail to do so and a loss or damage occurs, while your: home is empty, your policy may not cover you. This would leave you responsible for covering any costs or damages incurred out-of-pocket.

3. Failing to maintain

Elmira homeowners might be surprised to learn that neglecting the maintenance of your home can also lead to voided coverage. If you allow your home to fall into a state of disrepair and a loss occurs as a result, your insurance provider may not cover you. A common example of this is if the roof on your home was missing shingles but you failed to replace them, which led to water damage. In this scenario, your insurance company may not pay for the necessary repairs: For this reason, among others, year-round property maintenance is crucial.

4. Renovations

One final circumstance your Elmira home insurance policy may not cover is if your home is damaged due to an upgrade or renovation. Many policies do not cover losses that happen as a result of home renovations. Since renovations increase the risk of damage, you may have to purchase an insurance add-on or pay a higher home insurance rate to be covered by your policy during this time. That is why it is important to tell your insurer before any renovations begin.

Tips for saving money on Elmira house insurance

Home insurance should be affordable for all, and BrokerLink Elmira strives to make it so. By shopping around on your behalf and comparing quotes, we ensure our customers receive the most competitive rates. Your BrokerLink Elmira insurance advisor will also inform you about lucrative insurance discounts and let you in on some of the industry’s best-kept secrets for saving money on home insurance. To get started, BrokerLink’s team of licenced advisors has compiled a list of some of their best tips for saving money on Elmira home insurance below:

1. Install a security system on your property

The first way to pay less for Elmira house insurance is by equipping your property with a security system. Some insurers are willing to offer discounts to customers who install certain types of home security systems on their properties. Give BrokerLink Elmira a call to learn more about the specific types of security systems that may make you eligible for a discount on your house insurance policy.

2. Bundle insurance and save

Another way to pay less for Elmira home insurance is to bundle multiple policies together. Some insurance companies offer discounts to customers who purchase more than one policy from them at a time. So if you are interested in buying more than one type of coverage (e.g. home insurance + auto insurance or home insurance + business insurance, or even two different types of home insurance), buy them together and you could save up to 15% per policy.

3. Increase your policy deductible

Increasing the deductible on your Elmira home insurance policy is another quick tip for saving money on home insurance (or any type of insurance). Whether it’s car insurance or home insurance, choosing a higher deductible typically means a lower insurance rate. That said, before raising your Elmira house insurance deductible, it’s important to understand how deductibles work and the pros and cons of raising them. For example, the higher your deductible, the more money you will have to pay toward an insured loss in the event of a claim, so you should never raise your deductible above an amount you can afford to pay. Get in touch with BrokerLink Elmira for more information and expert advice on your home insurance deductible.

4. Pay for your home insurance policy annually rather than monthly

Elmira homeowners may also save money on their home insurance policies by paying for them yearly rather than monthly. This is because some insurance companies charge administrative fees for each payment made, which is why paying off your insurance in one instalment versus twelve instalments can save you money. So if you have the option of paying for your Elmira home insurance policy monthly or annually, speak with an insurance agent to clarify the fees associated with each.

5. Avoid buying a house with a pool

If you want to pay less for house insurance in Elmira, consider the cost of a pool, not only will you have to pay for maintenance and upkeep, swimming pools, especially when they are unfenced, are a major liability. This means that your home insurance premium is likely to be more if your backyard has a pool.

6. Buy a house near a fire hydrant or fire station

Some insurance companies offer discounts to policyholders whose properties are located near emergency services, such as fire hydrants or fire stations. So if you want to save money on Elmira homeowner’s insurance and live near a fire station or other emergency service provider, notify an insurance broker as soon as possible. A BrokerLink insurance advisor can let you know of the specific conditions that need to be met to qualify for this type of home insurance discount in Elmira.

7. Tell your broker when you pay off your mortgage

Most major insurance companies will offer mortgage free discounts to clients who are the sole owners of their homes. This shows that they are responsible with their money, less likely to make a claim and often have great credit scores. When the bank releases their interest on your property, send a copy of the letter to your broker to take advantage of the savings.

8. Get the best coverage at the lowest price by consulting with the insurance experts at BrokerLink Elmira

One final money-saving tip for Elmira house insurance is to consult with an expert insurance broker at BrokerLink. BrokerLink’s team of fully licenced insurance advisors is dedicated to finding our customers the best coverage at the lowest price. We have years of expertise, which means you can trust us to find you a quality home insurance policy. We will take the time to understand your needs and learn about your home. From there, we promise to find an Elmira home insurance policy that’s right for you. Save time and money on Elmira home insurance by getting in touch with BrokerLink today.

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At Elmira BrokerLink, we’re here to help you with any insurance needs you may have. Whether it’s insuring your home, car, business, recreational items, or pets, let us help you find the best coverage possible:

You can reach us by phone, email, or in person at any one of our locations throughout Ontario. No matter how you choose to get in touch, a BrokerLink insurance advisor will be happy to assist you. We also encourage you to take advantage of our free online home insurance quote tool that can provide you with a competitive quote in minutes.

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