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Lethbridge Home Insurance Broker

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Lethbridge Home Insurance Broker

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How to Gain a Solid Home Insurance Policy in Lethbridge 

Lethbridge offers many different housing options in over 40 different neighbourhoods.  

Whether you are a renter, a student in West Lethbridge or someone who owns a single-family dwelling, there is one requirement — home or tenant insurance. 

 

Where Do You Start? 

A free Lethbridge home insurance quote is always fast and there is never any obligation. Our home insurance brokers will guide you in simplifying your insurance policy details. We encourage you to give us a call to ask questions and get free advice. 

We deal with some of the top insurers in Canada, but we’re still independent. We’ll look for the best rates and help you layout a plan that will provide suitable coverage for your living situation.
 

We Love Shopping for Your Best Rate

When you get a free condo or home insurance quote, our Lethbridge home insurance experts will do some comparison shopping for you. You can relax and enjoy your day while we do the work. 

For most people, a home is the most significant investment they’ll ever make. Our team knows that every client has different concerns, and that’s why no two home insurance policies are the same. You’ve worked hard for your home and its contents, so it’s important to make sure your investment is protected. 

Call us today for a home insurance quote from one of our Sharp Insurance brokers.

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Why Sharp Insurance?

Sharp insurance is Calgary-based, and an award-winning and progressive insurance brokerage. Thousands of our clients trust us to do right by them and find them the most fitting coverage. Here are some of the many reasons why you should work with Sharp Insurance.

We’re independent.

We represent many insurance companies, but we work on your behalf.

We’re competitive.

Since we have so many network connections, we can get you competitive quotes easier.

We’re experts.

Our brokers know insurance like the backs of their hands. Trust us as your insurance resource of choice.

We’re digital.

The landscape of insurance is becoming increasingly digital. We’re adaptive and innovative and use tech to make insurance more accessible.

Insurance for Lethbridge Homeowners 

Home Insurance in Lethbridge 

Whether you’re looking for home insurance or condo insurance, we’re happy to find you a policy that protects your biggest investment. 

We know buying insurance can be exhausting, and you might not be sure what you need, but you want the best options and fair prices. Our team of knowledgeable brokers are ready to walk you through your insurance journey.
 

Home Insurance: What to Expect 

While home insurance isn’t mandatory, most lenders and many landlords do require proof of insurance. More importantly, a good insurance policy is genuinely peace-of-mind protection. 

Our home insurance policies are planned for your needs and funds. An insurance policy should consider the home itself, including interior and exterior building materials, electrical, plumbing, water tanks, furnaces and the contents. 

 

Weather Protection — Why Do You Need It? 

Weather across Alberta is continuously changing and has a substantial impact on home insurance premiums. Best known as the windy city, it’s not surprising that wind damage is one of the highest reported claims in Lethbridge. 

Hail damage, sewer backup and flood damage are also significant risks for every homeowner. 

Keep your home safe with the right coverage for you. Not sure what you need? Talk to one of our home insurance specialists today.

Potential Risks to Your Lethbridge Home  

Property insurance works in Lethbridge the same as in other Canadian cities, but there are certain environmental risks that you should be aware of. 

Rainfall 

Lethbridge receives about 275 millimeters of rain per year. Spring and summer storms on the Prairies can dump substantial amounts of rainfall in a brief time, causing basements to flood and drain systems to back up. Your rates are likely to increase the more claims you file. 

Flooding 

Lethbridge lies next to the Oldman River which is prone to flooding. Most policies do not include coverage for overland flooding. You will need to purchase an additional insurance policy for this coverage.  

Snow 

Lethbridge receives an average of over 110 centimeters of snow per year. Your home can be damaged by heavy snowfall, ice damming or freezing temperatures. This damage may not be covered under your policy, and you will need additional insurance.

Lethbridge Home Insurance Coverage

Building Structure

Building coverage pays for repairs or replacement costs if your home is damaged by fire, severe weather and other risks. 

Contents Coverage

Contents insurance protects your belongings, such as furniture, technology and clothes. You may want to consider adding an endorsement if you have valuables that are subject to standard policy limits. 

Liability protection 

This protects you from claims by third parties for bodily injuries and property damage. If someone falls and gets injured on your driveway, then your liability insurance can cover the legal fees, medical expenses and settlement costs. 

Coverage for Additional Living Expenses 

If, due to a covered loss, you must stay somewhere else while your home is getting repaired,your policy may cover additional expenses that you face during this time. Examples include restaurant bills, hotel expenses and storage costs.

Additional Coverage Options 

Did you know we offer a wide variety of additional coverage options for your Lethbridge home insurance? 

If you have expensive jewellery, camera equipment, valuable collections (e.g., art, wine, coins) or any other kind of valuable possessions, talk to your home insurance broker about the best way to protect yourself and the things you love. 

Endorsements, also known as riders, provide coverage over and beyond what’s included in your home insurance policy. 

As a consumer, it’s important to find out what you’re covered for. In most policies, there are limits for personal goods. For example, some policies may include only $1,500 of coverage for computers or stereo equipment.  

So, if you have a high-end laptop, a tablet and a high-quality entertainment system, you’ll quickly exceed this limit.

Insurance for home-based businesses

This insurance covers you from commercial risks, such as stock damage. If you have a home-based business, your stock may be damaged. These claims are not covered by standard policies. 

Umbrella Insurance

A separate umbrella insurance is available but can also be added to your Lethbridge homeowner’s insurance policy to increase the limit on liability.  

If you have only $1 million in liability insurance, and you are facing a claim for $2 million, then your umbrella policy can cover the other half. This also includes auto liability, lawsuits and claims for general liability, slander and defamation. 

Identity Theft Coverage

This covers several costs incurred when an individual’s identity is stolen such as costs for replacing government issued documents and lost wages due to having to leave work to handle the theft.

Replacement of Locks

This add-on covers the costs associated with rekeying your home’s locks. Most insurance companies require a police report to be submitted if your keys are stolen before they will pay out a claim. 

Massive Evacuation

This add-on covers your expenses if you are forced to leave your home by a government order, such as many Albertans did during the 2016 historic Fort McMurray wildfires which were estimated by the Insurance Bureau of Canada to have been amongst the most expensive in Canadian history. 

Sewer Back-Up

This add-on protects your house when the sewer backs up, causing damage to the main city line. This add-on will often cover the costs of cleaning up sewer water and repairing any damage that it may have caused. 

Home sharing insurance

If you rent your house short-term, you’ll need special insurance to protect you against unique risks. You may be at risk of theft, guest lawsuits and liability.

Flood Insurance in Lethbridge 

Even though Lethbridge is the 11th driest city in Canada, flooding is still a major concern. Over the past five years, a state of emergency has been declared several times due to flooding. 

Spring and summer storms can drop large amounts of rain over short periods, and the drainage systems can become overwhelmed.  

In the winter, rapid snow melts pose a similar threat. As a result, many residents have had first-hand experience with basement flooding. 

As a homeowner, it’s important to understand what your Lethbridge home insurance covers and what it doesn’t.  

Most policies cover water damage coverage (if it’s sudden or accidental) but don’t provide coverage for flood damage.  

Ask your insurer any questions you may have about water coverage. 

It’s also important to know when your home was built. In Lethbridge, the municipality has changed the residential building code requirements several times to mitigate basement flooding.  

Newer structures (post 1995) should be equipped with sump pumps, which can lower your home insurance premiums. 

In the past, flood insurance wasn’t available to many homeowners. Following the devastating Alberta floods in June 2013, the insurance industry answered with a water protection endorsement that’s easy to add to your existing home insurance policy if you qualify for the endorsement. 

The 2013 flood price tag totalled over $7 billion in losses. The event was a wakeup call for many without the right home insurance in place. Weather patterns have been changing for some time.  

So, whether it’s wind and rain, excessive snow, snow melting or rising river levels, flooding is inevitable for many Albertans. 

What is the Cost of Home Insurance in Lethbridge?  

It’s hard to predict the exact price of your Lethbridge home insurance because it depends on many factors. Your insurance rate is determined by the insurance provider you select in Lethbridge. Home insurance costs in Lethbridge can vary based on the type of protection you need and your personal situation.  

You may notice some big differences in insurance rates as insurance companies underwrite risk differently.

Ways to Save Money on Your Home Insurance in Lethbridge 

There are many ways to lower your home insurance rates and decrease your risk. Insurance companies will consider home upgrades (e.g., renovations, new appliances, etc.) and certain installations, including sump pumps, alarm systems and roof replacements.

 

Condo Insurance Makes Life Better 

For condo owners in Lethbridge, home insurance is always mandatory because you’re sharing space with other owners. In addition to insurance for your unit and your contents, you also get: 

  1. Improvements and betterments coverage: If you’ve upgraded any finishings in your unit or if you’ve added things like closet organizers or built-in shelves. 
  2. Loss assessment coverage: If you need your policy to pay your portion of a special assessment caused by any loss to a common property. It’s true that you need insurance to protect your unit, but you also own a portion of the common space in your building.

Snowbirds: What Changes Do I Need to Make to My Policy? 

Should you make changes to your home insurance policy if you spend the winter away? To ensure your policy stays in full effect in your absence, you must: 

  1. Tell your insurance broker that you’re going to be away. 
  2. Have a responsible adult check in on your property every three days. 

Make sure you’re protected. Please give us a call if you need more information or if you’re looking for home insurance quotes in Lethbridge.

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Lethbridge Home Insurance: FAQs

Insurers in Lethbridge won’t cover perils that are uninsurable. Some common risks include floodwater, water damage and negligence which can cause damage because of indoor plumbing that freezes. You can purchase insurance coverage to cover these risks as an add-on to your existing policy. Also make sure your policy includes additional coverage and add-ons to adequately safeguard any assets you own.  

Many Albertans remember the Fort McMurray fires and wonder if their home is covered if such a disaster occurs again. The short answer to this question is that fire is covered by a standard home insurance policy. If you live in a high-risk zone for wildfires (such as Parsons Creek or Beacon Hill) and are applying to purchase insurance for your home, the premiums could increase. 

Do not cancel your home insurance policy if you’re selling your house until the sale is complete. Contact your insurer if you are moving and believe it may remain vacant for more than 30 days. You will be covered up until the property has been claimed by its new owner. This way, you avoid unnecessary risk and can remain insured until the new owner moves in.  

You should have home and mortgage insurance set up for your new home well before the closing date of your current home. Your insurer may want to visit your new house to provide you with a quote.  

You may be classified as a high-risk homeowner if you have a history of claims or if you’ve missed a payment. This coverage is also needed if you have multiple mortgages or a century-old home. Our insurance partners offer high-risk insurance for homes, so we can help you find the best coverage options for your home insurance by using our calculator. We can connect you to a licensed home insurance broker in Lethbridge who will help you obtain your high-risk insurance policy.