Cheap Burnaby Home Insurance Quotes

Home insurance in Burnaby

Despite being the third largest city in British Columbia by population – after Vancouver and Surrey – Burnaby did not achieve its official city status until 1992. That's probably because its population is at 270,204 – a minuscule number when compared to the other two cities, which have populations of 2,657,000 and 1,223,245, respectively. Even with this difference in population, Burnaby is a relatively large city – that also happens to be very close to Vancouver. This means that its insurance rates are likely to be comparable to those of its neighbour due to the similarities between the two cities.

Unlike car insurance, however, home insurance isn’t mandated by law in British Columbia, nor is it government-owned. So, you can technically forego it, if you want. That said, if you intend to take out a mortgage, then home insurance is unavoidable, as most lenders require it.

Types of home insurance in Burnaby

There are four major types of home insurance policy you can choose from, which differ mainly by the amount of coverage they offer and price. As you might expect, more coverage means higher costs. Though each insurer may have their own names for each coverage type, they are usually described in the following manner:

• Basic: Sometimes referred to as ‘named perils,’ this is the cheapest type of coverage you can purchase, and as such, it’s incredibly limited. It protects your property and its contents only against the perils listed in the policy. So, if fire, for instance, is not listed, then your home is not protected from it.
• Broad: With this, you get comprehensive coverage for your property, which protects it from anything that isn’t named in the policy. In this case, if fire is not listed, then the property is protected from it. Note that when it comes to your possessions, they are only protected from the perils named in the policy, same way as they would be under the basic coverage.
• Comprehensive: Also known as ‘all perils,’ this is your full coverage. It protects both your property and possessions from all perils, other than a few named exclusions. If, for instance, overland flooding is named as an exclusion, then you’re not covered for it. This is the most expensive type of home insurance you can purchase in Burnaby. Even so, it does not include everything.
• No-frills: This coverage is even more stripped-down than the basic one and is meant for special cases only. If your home is old, for example, and extremely likely to suffer damage due to brittle pipes or poor structural integrity, then it may not qualify for regular insurance, such as basic, broad or comprehensive. No-frills coverage exists to provide protection for such homes. It is especially useful when you’re required to purchase insurance for mortgage purposes. It should be a temporary measure, however, until you address all the issues that disqualify your home from proper coverage.

What gets covered

Regardless of whether you go with basic, broad or comprehensive coverage, it must cover these three things:

• Property: This should include all the structures on your property, such as the home itself, garage, guest house and other buildings. The covered perils will depend on your policy – whether it’s basic, broad or comprehensive. Don’t take it for granted that all your structures will be covered, however. Consult with your insurer to make sure that they are to avoid issues down the road.
• Contents: This entails your personal possessions, such as furniture, electronics, clothing and so on. Note that some items may be too expensive to be covered by regular insurance, even if you buy a comprehensive policy. Items like fine art, jewelry and collectibles may require policy add-ons to be fully protected. Evaluate everything you own and consult with your insurer to see if all of your items are covered.
• Additional living expenses: Should you become temporarily displaced due to an insurable event, this will cover your living expenses. For instance, if you’re forced to live in a hotel, your insurer may pay for both your room and groceries for the duration of your displacement (or up to a certain amount).

Liability coverage

Your liability coverage should encompass the following:

• Personal liability: This will protect you if someone gets accidentally injured on your property.
• Medical payments: If you unintentionally injure someone on your property, this will pay for the medical expenses for up to a year – from the date of the injury.
• Property damage: If you (or a minor in your care under 12 years) cause unintentional loss or damage to someone’s property (such as your neighbour’s), then this will cover the costs.

Note that if any of the above are done intentionally (for instance, you intentionally hurt someone), then your liability coverage will become void.

Commonly covered perils

The most commonly covered perils in Burnaby – whether you choose basic, broad or comprehensive coverage – will usually be these:

• Fire: No matter what causes the fire, your insurance company will cover the costs of replacing, rebuilding or repairing your property and recovering your belongings.
• Lightning: Should lightning strike your property, it could damage the wiring in your walls as well as break your appliances and electronics. This will pay for repairing or replacing whatever ends up damaged.
• Theft and vandalism: If your home happens to get robbed, this will pay for the replacement of the stolen items. The same applies if the home gets vandalized.
• Water damage: This pays for the damage to your property and belongings caused by water leakage from indoor plumbing, heating, air conditioning, sprinklers and similar appliances inside or outside your house. The tricky part is knowing what’s excluded. Most coverages usually exclude sewer back-up and overland flooding, so be sure to confirm what is and isn’t covered with your insurer.
• Hail and wind: Should wind or hail damage your property or belongings in any way, this will pay for them. This includes damage from flying debris as well as falling trees and branches (if caused specifically by hail or wind).
• Falling objects: This protects your property and belongings from falling objects, including space debris and space craft. There are exceptions, however, such as objects moved by landslides or snowslides. Confirm with your provider what is and isn’t covered.

Add-ons to home insurance coverage in Burnaby

You can enhance your standard Burnaby home insurance with ‘add-ons’ or ‘endorsements.’ This is useful when you find out that certain items or perils are not included in your policy – even if you go for comprehensive coverage. Here’s what typically gets covered in the form of add-ons:

• Overland flooding: If your home gets flooded due to overflowing water from a river, stream, lake, thawing snow or another body of water, this add-on will protect you. In Burnaby, homes around the Still Creek are especially vulnerable to flooding. If you’re concerned about overland flooding, talk to your insurer. Do note that this add-on isn’t always offered.
• Sewer back-up: This type of flooding occurs due to backed up sewage pipes, toilets, drains or showers. Such back-ups happen when too much rainwater or melted snow enters the sewer system at once. Sewage waste is known to cause illnesses and even death, so if sewer back-ups are a concern in your area, be sure to talk to your insurer about them.
• Earthquake: Like most of British Columbia, Burnaby is in the earthquake risk zone. If you’re worried about earthquakes or other ‘earth-based’ perils, such as landslides, snowslides or volcanic eruptions, talk to your insurer to buy yourself extra coverage.
• Windstorm: A windstorm can wreck your home’s structure, possessions and windows and shower everything you own in debris. Depending on your insurer and policy, you may have this covered from the get-go, but it’s worth inquiring your provider about the coverage just in case.
• Mass evacuations: Should a major peril like flooding or wildfires lead to mass evacuations, this will cover your accommodations and food, while you’re away from home.
• Valuable possessions: If you own expensive things like jewelry, collectibles and artwork, then you may need extra coverage for them. Do an inventory of all your possessions and assign monetary value to them. Then talk to your provider to find out if you need extra coverage.

What is not covered under your Burnaby home insurance

Unfortunately, your home insurance in Burnaby can’t protect you from everything. Certain perils are always excluded, no matter what. Here’s what they are:

• Mold: Since mold occurs slowly due to pre-existing conditions, such as extreme humidity, there is usually enough time for you to prevent it. Home insurance isn’t meant for maintenance – it's here to address major perils only.
• Pest infestations: Like mold, pest infestations, including mice, bedbugs, cockroaches and termites, are also a maintenance concern. So, if they cause any damage, it’s highly unlikely that your home insurance will cover it. That’s why, as soon as you notice an infestation, you should contact the appropriate service to help you resolve the issue (this service shouldn’t be your insurer!).
• Deliberate damage or injuries: If you deliberately damage your own property or its contents, your insurance company will not cover the costs. In fact, if you attempt to claim money for damaging your own property, you may be accused of insurance fraud, which is illegal. If you purposely hurt someone on your property, your insurance will not cover the associated liability costs either, so don’t do it.

What types of risks do homeowners face in Burnaby?

Burnaby faces many of the same risks as other cities in British Columbia. Here are some that you should watch out for as a homeowner:

• Water damage from floods: It rains often in British Columbia, which is why many areas in the province are prone to overland flooding. Repeated rains can also cause sewer back-up, flooding homes through clogged up sewage pipes, toilets, drains and/or showers. Still Creek in Burnaby is notorious for overland flooding.
• Earthquakes: While Burnaby isn’t as endangered by earthquakes as cities such as Delta and Richmond, it’s still at risk. Like many cities in British Columbia, Burnaby is close to the fault line between the North American Plate and the Juan de Fuca, which is what causes most of the earthquakes in the province.
• Landslides: The mountainous terrain in Burnaby makes the city vulnerable to landslides in certain areas. Luckily, protection from earthquakes usually also includes protection from landslides, so consider getting this coverage if you think your home is at risk.

How to get cheap home insurance in Burnaby

There are several ways to get cheap insurance in Burnaby, most of which will involve addressing the factors listed above. In addition to that, there are a few hacks you can apply as soon as you’re done reading this. Here’s what they are:

• Increase your deductible: The higher the deductible, the less you have to pay for your insurance. That’s because you’ll be paying more out of pocket if something happens to your home. Given that this can be a risky proposition, consider the prospect of increasing your deductible carefully.
• Install various alarm systems: If you live in a high-crime area with lots of break-ins and vandalism, consider installing a burglar alarm system, which will reduce the risk of both – and lower your premiums. Having good fire detectors would do the same, especially if your home is far away from any fire stations or hydrants, as mentioned above.
• Upgrade your electrical and plumbing systems: If your home is on the older side, then it may have outdated plumbing and electrical systems, which increase the risks of flooding and fire, respectively. Consider upgrading them if you have the money. Doing so will not only lower your premiums but improve your safety.
• Protect your home from severe weather and floods: Adding sump pumps, reinforcing your basement walls as well as renovating your roof can reduce the risk of weather-related damage, especially water damage. This will lower your premiums and make your home more reliable.
• Ask for a loyalty discount: If you’ve been with the same insurer for a long time, then you may be entitled to a loyalty discount. When you’re about to renew your policy, ask your insurer about discounts.
• Avoid monthly payments: Processing monthly payments results in higher administrative costs for insurers. By paying your premiums annually, you allow your provider to save on those costs, and thus, lower your premiums.
• Don’t over-insure your home: Having all the coverage in the world may make you feel secure, sure, but it will also cost you a lot of money. And the reality is that most of this coverage will never be of any use to you. For instance, if you don’t have any overly expensive items, you may not require the ‘valuable possessions’ add-on. Evaluate your needs carefully and purchase only the coverage that meets them.
• Bundle up: Bundle multiple insurance policies under the same provider, as it will not only net you a good discount but simplify your payments.
• Comparison shop: Check out RATESDOTCA to compare quotes from over 50 home insurance providers in your area and secure the cheapest premium available. It’s quick, and it’s free.