Whether you’re buying a new home or price shopping for an existing property, you’ll need to provide certain information to get a home insurance quote in Alberta. While you may be able to request a quick quote while providing limited information, when you do move forward to insure your home, you’ll have to answer a lot of questions. The more details provided in the initial quote request, the more accurate your home insurance quote will be.
Here’s the information you may need to provide for a home insurance quote in Alberta:
- The home’s address.
- The year the home was built.
- The type of home (single detached, townhouse, et cetera).
- The number of stories.
- The construction material(s) of the home.
- The age and type of roof.
- The type of heating, plumbing and electrical system.
- If any upgrade or renovations have been done and when.
- The square footage of the home.
- If there’s a wood burning fire place, trampoline, pool or other specified risk.
- If there are additional structures such as a deck, shed, or garage.
- If there are risk mitigation devices such as a sump pump, sewer backup valve, water alarm and/or security system.
- If the home or a portion of it will be rented out.
- Who will be living in the home.
- If you have a mortgage and if so, the provider of that loan.
- The home’s purchase price or current market value.
- Estimated rebuilding costs of the home (your broker can help you determine this amount).
- Estimated cost of replacing your belongings.
- Distance from a fire hydrant and fire station.
- The amount of time you’ve lived in the home.
- Date you will require home insurance by.
- Personal information such as your name, age and occupation.
- Your insurance history, including previous claims.
- Your contact information.
Things to Remember About Getting a Home Insurance Quote in Alberta
Some information is optional to provide, such as getting a soft credit check. This can get you a discount but is not required.
Your home insurance quote will also be impacted by which coverages you’d like to have, as well as your choices for your deductible and policy limits.
Every insurer is different and there may be additional questions to determine discount eligibility or home insurance premiums.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Insurance Quotes in Alberta
Why do insurance companies need this information?
Alberta’s home insurance companies use this information to rate their risk – it helps determine your premiums and available insurance options such as coverages, limits and deductible amounts.
Do I have to provide this information to the insurance company?
Yes, you do need to provide all the required information in order to get a home insurance policy. Sometimes a quote can be obtained with less information, but it won’t be as accurate as the insurer won’t have the full risk profile of your home.
Note: Misrepresentation (lying) on a home insurance application can result in an invalid quote, voided policy, or denied claim. It is important to be honest!
What if I don’t know the answer to the questions when getting a home insurance quote?
If you don’t know the answers to some of the questions when applying for home insurance in Alberta, don’t worry. A broker may be able to help you get the answers. In some cases, it may be necessary to get the information through an inspection or appraisal.
How many home insurance quotes should I get?
We recommend getting a minimum of three home insurance quotes in Alberta. If you work with a broker like A-WIN Insurance, this is a lot easier as we can get you quotes from multiple home insurance companies.
How much should my home insurance cost in Alberta?
The average cost of home insurance in Alberta is around $1800 per year or $150 per month in 2020. However, the cost of insuring a home in Calgary trends higher and Edmonton trends lower than the provincial average.
However, the price of your home insurance in Alberta will vary greatly depending on the aforementioned factors you’re asked about when requesting a quote.
Do you have other questions about home insurance in Alberta? Contact your broker or give us a call today.
