Home Insurance
Protecting your home and what’s inside.
We know how important your home and personal belongings are to you and your family. So it’s comforting to know that if the unexpected happens, Acera Insurance will be there for you to help set things right.
Your guide to home insurance.
Every home is different. Fortunately, home insurance is very customizable to your needs. Your Acera Insurance advisor will guide you through the coverage and create a custom solution that suits your budget, location and home.
Here are some things to consider when purchasing your policy:
- The cost to rebuild your house and replace your belongings
- Other valuables that need to be insured (ie. jewellery, boat)
- Safety features installed in your home such as a security system
- Heightened risks where you live like flooding or earthquakes
- Ways to manage your risks at home
Covering homes across Canada.
Get your home insurance by phone or in person at your nearest branch.
Foundational coverage for homeowners.
Home insurance can help you cover expenses related to rebuilding your home, replacing your valuables and even lawsuits. This is typically provided in three types of coverage.
Physical Damage
This covers physical damage to your home and other structures such as decks, fences, garages and sheds. It also includes protection for your personal belongings and furniture.
Liability Coverage
This helps cover your legal expenses in the event you or a member of your household are sued for injuring another person or damaging someone else’s property.
Additional Living Expenses
If you’re forced from your home due an insured loss, including mandatory evacuations, this helps cover the additional living expenses including accommodation, transportation and food.
You’ve got options
There are add-ons (known as endorsements) that can extend your home insurance coverage. This includes things like:
Water Protection
This covers things like sewer backup, heavy rain, spring run-off and overflow from lakes or rivers.
Special Valuables
This coverage protects valuables like jewellery, fine art, collectibles and more.
Home-sharing
This is coverage for if you rent your home through home-sharing networks like Airbnb and VRBO.
Earthquake Coverage
This protects your home from damage in the event of an earthquake or associated shocks (landslides, avalanches).
Cyber Coverage
This offers protection if you or a member of your household are a victim of a data breach, online fraud, cyberbullying and another cybercrime.
Identity Theft
This coverage can help you or a member of your household recover your identity and restore your credit.
Why choose Acera Insurance for home coverage?
Your home is where you go to feel safe and secure. We think that’s how you should feel about your home insurance policy, and your advisor too. We’ll work with you to find the right coverage and make sure you’re only paying for what you truly need.
Unbiased Expert Guidance
Our highly experienced home insurance brokers will take the guesswork out of your home insurance policy so you can focus on enjoying your home.
Ultimate Choice
As Canada’s largest independent brokerages, we work with a large number of home insurance companies, giving you plenty of choices for your coverage.
Claims Support
Our in-house claims team is here to help you every step of the way and advocate on your behalf to expedite your claim as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Helpful tips from our advisors.
Our advisors are homeowners too. We understand the expense of purchasing a home and all the time, money and effort you invest into upkeep. That’s why it makes sense to seriously consider the type of insurance you get to protect your most valuable possession.
Answering your most common questions.
Why do I need home insurance?
Unless you can afford to rebuild your home, replace your belongings, or cover the expenses of a lawsuit, home insurance can help you recover after a catastrophe. It helps ensure your long-term financial security.
For example, if your home burns down in a fire, the cost of rebuilding and replacing your possessions could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars – or even more. Home insurance lessens the financial burden by helping you cover additional living costs, rebuilding or repairing your home, and replacing damaged belongings.
Home insurance is required if you have a mortgage, and you’ll often need to provide proof of home insurance before the lender will approve you for a mortgage.
Does home insurance cover lawsuits?
Your home insurance can help cover legal expenses if someone is injured on your property and decides to sue. Let’s say someone was in your home and tripped going down the stairs. They end up breaking an ankle and decide to sue you. Your home insurance could help cover your defence costs, as well as settlements and awards.
What affects the cost of home insurance?
Your home insurance premiums are affected by the following factors:
- Your home’s location. This determines how far you are from fire services and risks such as bodies of water. It also considers the crime rate, and the severity and frequency of bad weather and natural disasters.
- Your coverage options. You choose your policy limits, add-on coverage, and deductible. These all contribute to your final home insurance costs.
- Your home itself. Factors such as the home’s systems, age, type, and construction can determine how likely it is that your home will be damaged.
- Damage prevention or detection systems. This can include backup valves, sump pumps, water alarms, burglar alarms, security cameras and lightings, and other systems which can help you prevent or detect damage. They can get you discounts on your home insurance.
- Your insurance history. How long you’ve been insured and your claims history impacts your homeowner insurance costs.
Do different companies have different rates?
Every home insurance company may calculate home insurance rates differently. Your home insurance broker at Acera Insurance will be able to help you understand your premiums and give advice on how to reduce them.
What type of damage does home insurance cover?
Your homeowner’s insurance covers physical damage to your home and other structures such as decks, fences, garages, and sheds. It also includes protection for your personal belongings and furniture. Here are just some of the causes of physical damage often covered by home insurance:
- Fire (including wildfire)
- Explosion
- Lightning
- Hail
- Wind and tornadoes
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Burst pipes
Exactly what’s covered varies by policy and home insurance company. That’s why it’s important to talk to a knowledgeable home insurance broker.
What about severe weather and flooding?
You may also want to consider purchasing add-ons (called endorsements) to
extend the coverage of your existing policy to provide protection from severe weather or unexpected events like:
- Earthquakes
- Overland water
- Sewer backup
- Ground water
How can I lower the cost of my home insurance?
One of our expert brokers can help determine how much coverage you need, find you competitive rates and discuss your eligibility for any discounts or bundling savings. For example, you may qualify for a discount if you purchase your home and auto insurance through the same provider.
Other ways that you can manage your home insurance rates include:
- Installing safety features in your home, like security and smoke alarms.
- Fixing small repairs by yourself rather than making a claim. The more claims you make, the higher your rates will be to reflect this.
- Increasing your deductible by a reasonable amount.
- Practicing proper home maintenance.
What other coverage options are available to me?
Home insurance is incredibly customizable to reflect the individual requirements of every home and family. Certain add-ons (called endorsements) may be available to extend your homeowner insurance to include high-value items, such as boats or other watercrafts, or increased policy limits.
What can I expect if I choose Acera for my home insurance?
An Acera Insurance home insurance broker will help you with the following:
- Determine your home insurance needs
- Deliver competitive homeowners insurance quotes
- Advise and act as your personal home insurance resource
- Advocate on your behalf if you have a claim
- Aid in risk management for your home
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