Cheap Brantford Home Insurance Quotes

Home insurance in Brantford  

A home in the birthplace of Wayne Gretzky will likely be your most expensive asset, and it deserves to be protected. Unlike auto insurance, home insurance is not mandatory in Canada. However, most lending institutions will only provide a mortgage if you have it. As a result, insurance is basically compulsory for most people looking to enter the housing market.  

Beyond helping you get financing, Brantford home insurance protects your liability, your home, and its contents. You will receive liability protection in case of injuries or lawsuits, your home will be protected from weather-related or other damage, and the contents will also be protected from damage, theft or vandalism.  

Home insurance is more important than ever due to climate change. Severe storms result in significant financial losses for the uninsured. Flooding is increasing, making water damage Canada's most common home insurance claim. A flooded basement will cost about $30,000 to repair. On a national scale, the economic devastation is staggering: the Insurance Bureau of Canada says insured damage for extreme weather events reached $3.1 billion nationally in 2022. That ranks as the third-worst year for insured losses in Canadian history. 

Let's dive into the different kinds of home insurance you can get in Brantford and why they are essential for your protection.  

Types of home insurance in Brantford  

These are the typical types of home insurance you will find for Brantford.  

Home insurance coverage  

• Property and building: This coverage protects your property and the structure of your home from various perils. Protected incidents include things like fire, theft and water damage. Please talk to your Brantford insurance provider if you require further protection or have other structures on your property.  
• Contents and personal property: Most of your home's contents, such as clothing, housewares and furniture, are protected by Brantford home insurance providers. Expensive items, such as fine art and jewelry, can be added to your policy at extra cost if you need additional coverage.  
• Additional living expenses: Sometimes, damage to your home can be extensive, and you may be displaced for some time while things are getting repaired. This coverage will provide you with expenses such as hotel or temporary rent and sometimes food and commuting costs while you are displaced. Talk to your provider about how much is allowable and if any caps are in place. 

Liability coverage  

• Personal liability: This will protect you from expenses incurred by someone injured on your property.  
• Voluntary medical payments: If someone is injured accidentally by you or any other way on your property, this will cover medical expenses for up to one year from the accident.  
• Voluntary property damage: This will protect you against unintentional losses or damage you incurred to someone else's property. It also covers accidental loss or damage to someone else's property by a minor (12 years or under) in your care.  

Add-ons to home insurance coverage in Brantford 

Standard Brantford home insurance policies will only go so far. But changing weather events, a growing population creating more density, and other issues may increase your need for add-on home insurance.  

These are some of the most common home insurance add-ons, also known as riders, that you can add to your home insurance policy:  

• Overland water: Protects you from overland flooding, which includes melting snow or flooding from rivers or lakes.  
• Sewer back-up: This protects you from main sewer back-ups that can cause severe damage to your home.  
• Earthquake: People living in areas prone to earthquakes may want to consider extra coverage for potential damages.  
• Mass evacuation: Things like earthquakes, wildfires, and flooding, for example, can force mass evacuations from your home. This would help with expenses related to those events.  
• Identity theft: This protects you from stolen documents such as passports.  
• Lock replacement: Break-ins may leave your home vulnerable to broken locks. Lock replacement insurance covers the costs of hiring a locksmith.  

What types of risks do homeowners face in Brantford?  

Home insurance contracts are largely the same across Canada, but parts of the country have differing risk factors that affect regional insurance costs. In Brantford, these factors include:

• Freezing temperatures. Canada is a northern country with low winter temperatures. This causes havoc on plumbing and can damage pipes.
• Snow and water damage. Heavy winter snowfalls can cause structural damage from the sheer weight of it on your roof or garage, for example. Spring thawing can also cause flooding or leaking in vulnerable areas such as basements or roofs.
• Sewage pipe back-up. Main sewer or drain clogging can cause severe water damage to your home.
• Window condensation. Fluctuating hot and cold temperatures can cause condensation in windows and create moisture within your home's structure. This can lead to water seeping into the wood, the foundation and possibly around electrical systems.
• Flooding. Brantford is near the Grand River, which is prone to flooding.

A standard home insurance policy in Brantford will cover your personal belongings (appliances, furniture and some electronics) and protect you from personal liability if you're sued by someone injured on your property.

Perils covered by basic Brantford insurance include:

• Fire
• Lightning
• Water damage
• Wind
• Aircraft or vehicle impact
• Explosion
• Smoke (caused by cooking devices or heaters, but not fireplaces)
• Theft and vandalism (such as broken windows)
• Falling objects (except if caused by an earthquake, landslide or snowslide)

There are other perils that standard Brantford home insurance policies won't cover. In these cases, add-on protection may be available for an extra charge. Whether getting additional coverage is worthwhile depends on how relevant any uncovered perils are for your home. Examples of circumstances that most homeowners insurance policies exclude include:

• Renting all or part of your property to long- or short-term guests (specialized coverage is available).
• Injuries or damage caused either intentionally or by illegal activity.
• Damage due to basic measures of protection and maintenance not being taken.
• Liability for clients or customers visiting a home-based business.
• Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and landslides.
• Certain kinds of water damage, such as sewer back-up and flooding from overland water.
• Certain weather issues in winter, such as damage to the outside of your home caused by freezing and water damage (due to frozen or burst pipes).
• Damage from insects and rodents.

How to get cheap home insurance in Brantford  

Home insurance in Brantford aligns with Ontario's average home insurance rate. Current average rates for Brantford are $1,435, whereas the Ontario average is $1,487 per year. But homeowners always have options to find even more savings from their providers.

Here are a few examples of where you can save on Brantford home insurance:

• Compare Brantford home insurance quotes. You can comparison shop other Brantford home insurance rates on sites like RATESDOTCA. Just enter some information regarding your Brantford home, and we'll do the rest.
• Bundle multiple home insurance policies. Bundling multiple policies earns you a discount in the neighbourhood of 15%. Brantford home insurance providers pass the savings to you as thanks for your business.
• Go with a higher deductible. Agreeing to pay for more out-of-pocket expenses by having a higher deductible decreases your risk factor by Brantford home insurance providers. That reduces your risk and allows for a cheaper home insurance premium.
• Leverage discounts. Some Brantford home insurance providers will give discounts to people who belong to certain associations or alumni groups. Ask your provider if they have such discounts for you to take advantage of.
• Reduce security risks. Reducing risks associated with insurance claims will result in savings for you. That's why installing a good security system can help reduce your Brantford home insurance premiums.
• Look for claims forgiveness. Brantford home insurance providers look at your claims history as a risk factor. The more claims you make, the higher your premiums will be. But some insurance companies will forgive your first claim, which can earn you substantial savings. Claims forgiveness costs extra.
• Pay for premiums annually. When you pay for Branford home insurance in one lump sum, you reduce administrative burdens and costs for your insurance provider. Those savings are passed down to you.
• Agree to a credit check. A good credit score generally means a lower risk and can lead to lower Brantford home insurance premiums. Allow a credit check to see if you qualify.
• Understand your neighbourhood. Look at your neighbourhood's crime rates. If fewer break-ins happen in your area, premiums will likely be lower. You can see how your postal code compares with others using the RATESDOTCA Home Insuramap.
• Assess your insurance needs. Before you take out insurance, understand how much you will need. Over-insuring your home is possible. Talk to your provider about your needs and where savings can occur.
• Do you need add-ons? While standard insurance covers much of what you need, it may leave important gaps in your coverage. At the same time, buying additional coverage will raise your premium. Get a second opinion from an insurance professional about what type of additional coverage you need.