Home Insurance
Protect your home, belongings and personal liability with coverage built around the property you own and the way you live. Safex helps Canadian homeowners compare options and understand the details before choosing a policy.
What is home insurance?
Home insurance is designed to protect the financial value tied to your residence and to respond to covered property and liability losses. A policy can combine protection for the building, detached structures, belongings, temporary living expenses and personal liability.
The details matter. Limits, deductibles, exclusions, replacement-cost conditions and optional endorsements vary between insurers, so a useful comparison looks beyond the headline premium.
A policy can protect the building, what is inside it and your liability.
Exact wording differs by insurer. Your broker can help review which causes of loss are covered, which are excluded and what limits or deductibles apply.
Dwelling
Coverage for insured physical damage to the home itself, including attached structures, subject to policy terms and the selected form.
Personal Property
Protection for eligible belongings such as furniture, clothing, electronics and household items, with special limits applying to some property.
Detached Structures
Coverage may extend to eligible structures on the premises such as a detached garage, shed or fence, subject to policy limits.
Additional Living Expenses
May help with eligible increased living costs when you cannot live in your home because of a covered insured loss.
Personal Liability
Coverage for certain claims if you are legally responsible for accidental bodily injury or property damage to others.
Voluntary Payments
Some policy forms include limited voluntary medical or property-damage payments in specified situations, without replacing broader liability coverage.
Review the gaps that can matter most to your property.
Many important protections are optional, limited or eligibility-based. Availability depends on the home, location and insurer.
Sewer Backup
Coverage may be available for eligible water damage caused by the backing up or escape of water from a sewer, drain, sump or septic system, as defined by the policy.
Overland Water
Some insurers offer protection for qualifying surface-water or freshwater flooding events. Eligibility, limits and deductibles can depend on the property location.
Earthquake
Optional earthquake coverage may be available in some markets and commonly carries separate terms and deductibles.
Valuable Articles
Jewellery, watches, art, collectibles, bicycles and similar property may need increased limits or scheduled coverage.
Enhanced Rebuilding
Depending on the insurer and policy, enhanced replacement-cost features may provide additional protection when rebuilding costs exceed the basic dwelling limit.
Identity & Cyber Options
Some personal insurance packages offer identity theft, cyber or legal-assistance features. Coverage scope varies and should be reviewed carefully.
Your home’s risk profile is more than its postal code.
Insurers use their own underwriting and rating models, but these are common details that can influence eligibility, pricing and coverage terms.
Have these details ready.
Accurate property information helps a broker compare suitable options and reduces the chance of important details being missed.
Make the policy fit the way you actually live.
Bring these details into the conversation so your broker can identify limits, endorsements or eligibility questions that may apply.
A calmer claims response starts with a clear first step.
The exact process depends on the loss and insurer. In an emergency, protect people first and follow the insurer’s claims instructions as soon as practical.
Questions homeowners ask before choosing coverage.
Use these answers as a starting point. Your actual policy wording, insurer eligibility and provincial requirements determine how coverage applies.
What does home insurance usually cover?+
A typical home insurance policy may include coverage for the dwelling, detached structures, personal belongings, additional living expenses after an insured loss and personal liability. Exact coverage, limits, exclusions and settlement terms depend on the insurer and policy form.
Is home insurance mandatory in Canada?+
Home insurance is generally not required by law, but a mortgage lender will normally require suitable property insurance while it has a financial interest in the home. Even without a mortgage, insurance can protect against major property and liability losses.
How much dwelling coverage do I need?+
Dwelling coverage is usually based on the estimated cost to rebuild the home rather than its market value. Construction type, square footage, finishes, local rebuilding costs and special features can affect the estimate. Your broker and insurer can help review the replacement-cost information.
Are water damage, sewer backup and overland flooding covered?+
Water coverage varies significantly. Some water losses may be included, while sewer backup and overland water protection are often optional or subject to eligibility, limits and deductibles. Ask your broker to explain the water coverages available for your address.
Does home insurance cover earthquakes?+
Earthquake coverage is not automatically included in many standard home policies and may be available as an optional endorsement in eligible locations. Deductibles and terms can be different from other property losses.
Are jewellery, watches, collectibles and other valuables fully covered?+
Standard policies can apply special limits to certain classes of property such as jewellery, watches, fine art, collectibles, bicycles or business property. Higher limits or scheduled-item coverage may be available when additional protection is needed.
Does home insurance cover a home-based business or short-term rental?+
Personal home insurance may provide limited or no coverage for some business, commercial or short-term rental activities. Tell your broker about business use, tenants, room rentals or short-term rentals so the exposure can be properly reviewed.
What affects the cost of home insurance?+
Pricing can be influenced by location, rebuilding cost, age and construction of the home, roof, plumbing, electrical and heating systems, claims history, occupancy, protection devices, coverage limits, deductibles and selected endorsements. Insurers weigh these factors differently.
What should I do after damage to my home?+
Protect people first and contact emergency services when required. Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage when safe, document the loss with photos or video, keep receipts and notify your insurer or broker as soon as practical. Avoid permanent repairs or disposing of damaged property until you understand the insurer’s instructions, unless safety requires immediate action.
What information is useful for a home insurance quote?+
Be ready with the property address, year built, square footage, construction details, roof age, heating, plumbing and electrical information, occupancy, mortgage details, renovations, claims history, security or water-protection devices and the coverage features you want to discuss.
How do I get a quote?+
Start the guided quote and a licensed broker can review your needs.
Can coverage be customized?+
Yes. Final availability and pricing depend on insurer eligibility and underwriting.
Ready to review your home insurance?
Start a guided quote or connect with a Safex broker to compare coverage for your home, belongings, liability and the optional protections that matter to your property.