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The Best Home Insurance Quotes in Whistler

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Written By Katie Rook

Updated

Home insurance in Whistler

Whistler is one of the most popular ski towns in the world with a population that doubles in the winter to almost 30,000.

Homes surrounding the downtown core, which locals refer to as ‘The Village’, are occupied by a combination of year-round residents and tourists.

Though home insurance isn’t mandatory in Canada, homeowners in Whistler can make good use of insurance coverage, protecting properties that in 2021 had an average sale price of more than $1.6 million, according to data from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

For homeowners seeking coverage, there’s a lot to consider. Here, we break down home insurance in Whistler in easy-to-understand terms, including what protection home insurance policies offer, package types, additional coverage and flood protection.

The four key elements of home insurance coverage

Before making any purchase decisions, it’s helpful to understand how home insurance is structured.

Most policies include four key elements:

  • Property coverage – Provides protection for the structure of the home (and nearby buildings such as a garage) against common perils such as fire, hail and wind.
  • Contents coverage – Protects the contents of a home, including belongings that the homeowner may carry outside the home such as a laptop or bicycle, subject to limits.
  • Liability protection – Includes two aspects: the first dealing with protection in the event of bodily injury, the second with property damage. Through the liability coverage in a home insurance policy, the policy holder is covered financially if someone is injured while visiting the home as well as if the policy holder unintentionally causes direct loss or damage to someone’s property.
  • Additional Living Expenses – Covers costs associated with having to live elsewhere if the home is damaged and the homeowner must live elsewhere while it’s being repaired. For example, the homeowner will be compensated for the cost of a hotel stay and groceries while away from home.

Home insurance coverage types

Another decision homeowners must make is around coverage type. While most homeowners decide to purchase packages containing each aspect of the above-mentioned coverage, they also have the freedom to opt for less coverage.

For example, for those willing to go without contents coverage, a basic package is a good option. On the other hand, for those who want as much coverage as possible, a comprehensive policy with add-ons is worth considering.

Basic home insurance

Insurance providers tend to describe package types similarly with ‘basic’ being one of the most common offerings. It provides the least amount of coverage for the house and its contents. Under a basic policy, the home is protected against perils explicitly named in the policy.

As a result, this policy type is sometimes also referred to as a ‘named perils’ policy. In other instances, an insurance provider may describe it as a ‘limited’ policy.

Broad home insurance

A broad home insurance policy provides greater coverage. It protects against all perils to the home and named perils coverage for its contents. Occasionally, insurance providers describe this policy type as ‘standard’.

Comprehensive home insurance

This coverage type offers the greatest amount of protection: all perils coverage to the home and its contents – except for exclusions listed in the policy. Some insurance providers refer to this type as an ‘all perils’ policy.

Additional coverage

Regardless of what type of home insurance coverage a homeowner purchases – whether basic, broad or comprehensive – there are several perils that must be added to a policy in order to be covered.
One of the most important add-ons is water protection. Insurance providers make a distinction between different types: Overland water protection covers one while sewer back-up protection covers another.

Here, we’ve outlined the most common coverage a homeowner can add to any home insurance package:

  • Overland water: Protects the homeowner financially if the home is damaged by water that has overflowed from a nearby river, stream, lake and thawing snow.
  • Sewer back-up: Protects the home if water damages it, having backed up through a drain.
  • Earthquake: Covers losses or damage caused by an earthquake and/or landslide. The latter is defined as earth movement due to instability in the soil or a rock slope caused by water saturation or vibrations. This add-on makes good sense for homes based in areas that have previously been affected by earthquake as well as those in mountainous regions, including Whistler, where landslides are more common.
  • Mass evacuation: If there’s a government-issued evacuation order, this add-on covers the costs associated with having to be away from home.
  • Identity theft: Protects the homeowner whose identity is stolen. This coverage includes covering the cost of replacing important documents, such as a passport and driver’s licence.
  • Lock replacement: This add-on protects the home if the locks need to be replaced – for example, following a break in.

To get started on customizing insurance for a home in Whistler, BC we recommend that homeowners clarify what sort of protection they need for their circumstance and then use RATESDOTCA’s free online tool to gauge which provider can offer the best coverage at the lowest rate. It takes less than three minutes to get 50+ quotes from the most-trusted insurance providers in Canada.

How RATESDOTCA finds the best home insurance in Whistler

Hundreds of dollars in savings are available to Whistler homeowners who use RATESDOTCA’s free online tool get quotes from dozens of the most-trusted providers in the country. It takes less than three minutes to fill out the form and find the cheapest home insurance in Whistler.

Which companies offer home insurance quotes in Whistler?

Insurance Companies Company Type Phone Address
Co-operators - David Livesey & Associates Inc Insurance agency (604) 938-6100 7015 Nesters Rd. #212, Whistler, BC V8E 0X1
Insurance Hotline Quotes comparison 1 (855) 821-7312 225 King St W, Suite 1000, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M2
LowestRates.ca Quotes comparison 1 (855) 487-6911 1910 Yonge St. Suite 401, Toronto, ON M4S 3B2
RATESDOTCA Quotes comparison 1 (844) 726-0907 225 King St W, Suite 1000, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M2
Scoop Insurance Insurance brokers 1 (866) 456-6620 300 Lincoln St. Unit 22, Welland, ON L3B 4N4
The Whistler Insurance Shoppe Insurance agent (604) 932-3888 4369 Main St. #109, Whistler, BC V8E 1B7
Westland Insurance Insurance agent (604) 932-5814 4370 Lorimer Rd. #232, Whistler, BC V8E 1A6

How to get the cheapest home insurance in Whistler

There’s are many ways that homeowners in Whistler can lower their overall insurance costs.

We recommend that homeowners consider each of the following tactics:

  • Bundling: One of the easiest ways to save on overall insurance costs is for homeowners to take out a home insurance policy with the same provider that wrote their car insurance policy. Providers are often willing to offer a discount to customers they’re already doing business with.
  • Comparison shop: We recommend that homeowners compare available rates every year when their policy is up for renewal, shopping around to see which provider will offer the best coverage at the lowest rate.
  • Customize your policy: Homeowners can also save by customizing their policy, making sure they’re only paying for the coverage they need, nothing more. For example, those not concerned with being protected financially if their belongings are damaged, lost or stolen may be comfortable forgoing a policy that includes contents coverage.
  • Increase the deductible: If a homeowner is likely to have the cash available, they’ll be able to reduce their overall home insurance premium by increasing their deductible.
  • Improve safety: When a homeowner takes steps to secure their home by installing security and smoke alarms as well as carbon monoxide detectors, an insurance provider may respond by offering a lower premium. This is because they consider the threat of a claim being filed to be reduced by the safety measures in place.
  • Pay up front: When a homeowner can cover the full annual cost of their policy at the beginning of the policy term, they may be eligible for a discount.

How to get Whistler home insurance quotes on RATESDOTCA

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What risks do homeowners face in Whistler?

Those who live and vacation in Whistler are drawn there for the region’s natural beauty and to the easy access to a wide range of outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking and rafting. Given the mountainous terrain, considerable precipitation and often cold temperatures, there are several perils unique to the region.

  • Flooding: As in other parts of Canada, the danger of flood is ever present and, in some places, increasing. Homeowners in every part of the country, including Whistler, should consider adding overland water protection and sewer back-up protection to their home insurance policies so that they’re protected if water damages the home – having overflowed from a nearby waterway or backed up through a drain.
  • Landslide: Anyone travelling to and from Whistler will notice many rockfaces covered in wire to prevent landslides. Any Whistler homeowner who adds earthquake coverage to their policy will also be protected against damage from a landslide.
  • Liability protection: A minimum coverage amount of $200,000 is required for liability protection within a home insurance policy. It protects the homeowner if someone is injured while visiting the home. We recommend that homeowners increase their liability coverage limit from $200,000 to at least $1 million. Costs associated with covering medical treatment of someone injured at the home and any ensuing legal action can quickly add up. For example, if a third party successfully sues the Whistler homeowner who has a liability coverage limit of $200,000, the homeowner will have to pay out of pocket for any amount over $200,000.
  • Pets: Exotic or illegal pets can increase the cost of home insurance coverage. An insurance provider may deny any claim for damage caused by a pet if they were unaware of the pet being in the home.
  • Smoking: Homeowners who smoke may pay more for their home insurance coverage because insurance providers consider the likelihood of a fire in the home to be greater.
  • Wildfire: Forest fires are increasingly common throughout British Columbia. Most home insurance policies include protection against fire, including wildfire.
  • Wood burning stove: Any home that includes a wood burning stove may be subject to higher home insurance premiums.

Frequently asked questions about home insurance in Whistler

Here's everything you need to know about home insurance in Whistler.

How much does house insurance cost in Whistler?

Home insurance premiums are determined by a range of factors making it hard to zero-in on the exact cost of home insurance for any given area. When applying for coverage, some of the most important factors that insurance providers consider include claims history, coverage, coverage limits and location.

In general, homeowners will pay more for more coverage. There are many perils that homeowners in Whistler should consider getting protection against including add-ons for flood protection and earthquake. Going without such protection could end up being very costly in the event of an extreme weather event or landslide.

Which company offers the cheapest Whistler home insurance?

No company offers the cheapest home insurance in Whistler. Instead, we recommend that a Whistler homeowner focus on how to find the best coverage at the lowest available rate. Comparison shopping is the crucial first step to securing a cheap home insurance rate in Whistler. Cost will be influenced by several factors including the amount of coverage sought, the location of the home as well as the homeowner’s claims history.

What is not covered by most Whistler home insurance policies?

Most home insurance policies exclude water protection. This means that homeowners must add overland water protection and sewer back-up to their policies.

They should also consider adding earthquake protection to be protected against damage from landslides which are more common in mountainous areas.

We also recommend that homeowners in Whistler increase the coverage limit of the liability protection in their home insurance policy from the required minimum of $200,000 to at least $1,000,000.

Fortunately, fire is a peril included in most home insurance policies in Canada and it includes protection against wildfire. While wildfires are not common in Whistler, they’re increasingly common throughout many parts of Canada, including British Columbia.

How do I save on Whistler home insurance?

There are a range of tactics for reducing insurance coverage costs. They include, but aren’t limited to bundling, improving the safety of the property to signal to the provider that risks such as fire are reduced. Increasing the deductible or paying up front for the full annual cost of the policy will also help reduce a home insurance premium.

How much insurance coverage do I need for my home in Whistler?

The amount of coverage depends on the homeowner’s risk tolerance and circumstance. For example, if a lower home insurance premium month-over-month is preferable to being financially protected in the event of a claim, a basic policy with minimal or no contents protection may be a great option. However, for any homeowner that would be disappointed to be without protection in the event of a claim, a comprehensive policy with coverage added on is well worth considering.

What is a loss settlement option?

A loss settlement is a part of a home insurance policy that outlines how a settlement will be paid. When settling on the details of a home insurance policy, the policy holder will have made a decision between an actual cost value policy or a replacement cost policy. The former means that in the event of a claim the homeowner will be compensated for the value of the item at the time it was damaged – with its depreciation of value factored in. The latter means that compensation will be determined by the cost of replacing the item at its original value.

For example, if a homeowner who has opted for replacement cost files a claim citing a damaged five-year old laptop, they will receive compensation for the cost of a new laptop that’s the same make and model of the original. On the other hand, if they’ve opted for actual cash value, they’ll be compensated for the value of a five-year-old laptop.

Is fire covered under my Whistler home insurance policy?

Yes, fire is a peril named in almost all home insurance policies, including those written for homeowners in Whistler.

*Shoppers who obtained a home insurance quote on RATESDOTCA from January to December 2023 saved an average amount of $417. The average savings amount represents the difference between the shoppers’ average lowest quoted premium and the average of the second and third lowest quoted premiums generated by RATESDOTCA. Excludes tenant and condo insurance.

Katie Rook
Katie Rook

Content Manager

Katie Rook was a content manager at RATESDOTCA, specializing in home insurance. She has been a full-time reporter at CTV, National Post, and The Globe and Mail. Her work has also appeared in Dow Jones’ MarketWatch, Toronto Star, Toronto Life, Saint John Telegraph-Journal and VICE. Katie is a graduate of Ryerson and Dalhousie universities.

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