The Best Home Insurance Quotes in Calgary

The average lowest home insurance quote RATESDOTCA provides from Calgary residents is $1,470 per year. This is slightly higher than the provincial average of $1,425.

These averages, however, are not representative of what a single home in Calgary or Alberta may cost to insure. The cost of a house insurance policy is determined primarily by the home itself, as well as the homeowner. For example, the insurable value of the home and the claims history of the homeowner matter far more when it comes to determining cost than the mere fact that the home is located within the city limits of Calgary.

To make sure you’re getting the best price on a Calgary home insurance policy, get quotes and shop around. Each company uses a proprietary formula to calculate risk, so that which was cheapest for your friend may not be cheapest for you.

The average home insurance in Calgary is 2.9% higher than the rest of the province.

One reason for the higher insurance average could be that Calgary is the largest city in Alberta. The median cost of houses in Calgary sits just above Edmonton, the second largest city in the province. While the market value of homes doesn’t directly impact home insurance premiums, the replacement value does.

There’s no one company that offers the best home insurance rate; each rate is dependent on your needs and the particulars of your property, and different insurers weigh factors differently. This means that five Calgary residents could get a home insurance quote from every insurance provider in the city and each person’s best quote could come from a different company.

The best way to find the cheapest home insurance is to comparison shop with Calgary home insurance providers.

Home insurance is largely the same for homeowners across Canada, but many cities have some unique factors that contribute to increasing the cost of a policy. In Calgary, these factors include:

Freezing temperatures: Cold winters, with temperatures reaching -30C, means the potential for burst and frozen pipes.

Snow and water damage: Heavy snowfall in Calgary can test the constitution of homes and external structures, like fences and garages, during the winter. Then when the snow melts in springtime, the resulting thaw can be equally threatening to homes, especially those with a basement.

Sewage pipe backup: Your homes drain pipes or main sewer line can become clogged, which can cause water damage to your home.

Typical home insurance in Calgary 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.

Certain perils are also covered by standard insurance policies, including:

• 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 earthquake, land slide or snow slide)

There are certain perils that standard Calgary home insurance policies won’t cover. In these cases, add-on protection may be available for additional charge. Whether getting additional coverage is worthwhile depends on how relevant any of the uncovered perils are for your home in particular. Examples of non-standard coverage include:

• Renting all or part of your property to long- or short-term guests.
• Injuries or damage caused either intentionally or by illegal activity.
• Damage caused because basic measures of protection and maintenance have not been taken.
• Liability for clients or customers visiting a home-based business.
• Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and landslides.
• Certain water damage, such as sewer backup 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 caused by frozen or burst pipes.
• Damage from insects and rodents.

Because Calgary home insurance is a bit pricier than what’s typical in Alberta, it’s important to take savings wherever you can find them. Though much of what determines the cost of a policy is beyond your control, there are some things you can do as a homeowner to get the best possible rate. This includes:

• Getting your home insurance from the same insurance provider that covers your vehicle. Bundling multiple policies usually earns you a discount in the neighbourhood of 15%.
• Go with a higher deductible. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium. But be forewarned – when it comes time to make a claim, a higher deductible means you’ll pay more out of pocket.
• See if you’re a member of a group that earns a discount from a specific provider. Lots of Calgary house insurance companies have arrangements with unions and college or university alumni.
• Reduce the likelihood of robbery. Some insurance providers in Calgary give discounts for certain types of security installations, like alarm systems.
• Look for claims forgiveness if you have a past claim. Generally speaking, the more claims you’ve made in the past, the higher your premium will be. But some insurance companies overlook one past claim, which can earn you substantial savings.