The short answer
Home insurance protects the house itself, the things inside it, your legal responsibility if someone is hurt or their property is damaged, and the cost of living elsewhere while repairs happen. Insurers price it from the age and construction of the home, its location and your claims history. A licensed broker compares insurers and explains the wording. Preparing the home's details first makes that conversation quick and accurate.
- First-time buyers whose lender needs proof of insurance before closing
- Owners renewing who want to understand what the policy really covers
- Anyone who has renovated, finished a basement or changed how the home is used
- Owners of older houses with original wiring, plumbing or heating
- People whose insurer has raised conditions or declined to renew
4 licensed brokers in the network handle this. In Alberta, Canada, a request for home insurance can be offered to up to three of them, chosen because they are licensed for this line and place. They are test brokers while we are in demo.
See the brokers → Outside Alberta, Canada you can prepare and save a request today; sending opens place by place. Brokers answer with their own quotes. Broker.insure does not quote, advise or take commission.
01 / What it covers
The parts worth understanding
The building
The structure and fixed parts of the house, usually insured for what it would cost to rebuild, not for what it would sell for. The two numbers can be far apart, and only the first one matters to a claim.
Personal belongings
Furniture, clothing, electronics and other contents, either at replacement cost or at depreciated value depending on the policy. Jewellery, art and collections often have small built-in limits.
Liability
Your legal responsibility if a visitor is injured at your home, or if you or a household member damages someone else's property. It usually follows you off the property too.
Extra living costs
Hotel, restaurant and similar costs while a covered loss makes the home unlivable. Look at both the time limit and the dollar limit in the wording.
Which causes are covered
Some policies list the causes they cover, others cover everything except what they exclude. Fire and theft are almost always in. Water, wind and ground movement are where policies differ most.
Water and sewer backup
Water that comes up through a drain or a sump is frequently a separate option rather than part of the base policy. Availability can depend on where the house sits and what it has installed.
Optional extras
Add-ons for equipment breakdown, identity theft, a home office, a secondary suite or higher limits on valuables. Each one has its own conditions.
02 / Get ready
Bring this, and expect these questions
Gather
- The year the house was built and its approximate finished size, including the basement
- Construction type: wood frame, brick, stucco, or a mix, and the roof material
- Roof age and the year of any major updates to wiring, plumbing and heating
- Heating sources, including a wood stove, fireplace or oil tank
- Safety and protection: monitored alarm, smoke detectors, water shut-off or leak sensors
- Your mortgage lender's name and mortgage number, if there is one
- Claims you have made on any property in the past several years, with dates and causes
- Whether any part of the home is rented, used for a business or left empty for long periods
- A rough inventory of belongings and any single items of unusual value
- Your current policy or renewal notice, if you have one
A broker will ask
- When was the home built, and what has been replaced or upgraded since?
- Who lives there, and is any part of the house rented, shared or used for work?
- Is the home ever empty for more than a few weeks at a time?
- Has there been a water, fire or theft claim in the past few years?
- Is the basement finished, and is there a sump pump or backwater valve?
- How far is the home from a fire hall and a hydrant?
- Do you want belongings covered at replacement cost?
- What deductible would you be comfortable paying, and does it differ for water or wind?
- Do you own anything that needs to be listed separately, like jewellery or art?
Not sure of an answer? Leave it. "Not known yet" is a fine answer, and a broker will help you fill it in.
03 / Build your request
Answer a few questions. Get your own list.
Pick what fits. Your answers shape the list beside them, and they are saved to your request as plain facts a broker can read. "Not sure yet" is always a fine answer.
04 / Three situations
See which one sounds like yours
First-time buyers closing in three weeks
A couple has an accepted offer on a 1990s detached house and their lender has asked for proof of insurance before the keys change hands. Neither has ever held a home policy, and the move date is fixed.
First steps. Send the broker the address, the year built and the lender's details as soon as the conditions come off. Ask how rebuild cost is estimated, whether water backup is included, and what date the policy starts so it begins on the possession day rather than after it.
An owner of a 1960s house with old wiring
A retired teacher owns a 1960s bungalow with a roof replaced years ago, an updated furnace and a panel she believes is original. Her insurer has sent a letter asking for details about the electrical system.
First steps. Find receipts or inspection reports for any wiring, plumbing and heating work, and photograph the panel. Ask the broker how different insurers treat older systems and whether a documented update changes the options available.
A family who just had a basement flood
After a heavy rain, sewage backed up through a basement floor drain and damaged flooring and stored boxes. The claim is being handled, and the renewal notice arrives next month.
First steps. Keep every claim document, the cause report and the repair invoices. Before renewal, ask the broker what water coverage the policy had, what was paid, and what an insurer will want to see, such as a backwater valve, before offering water protection again.
05 / Words you will hear
The jargon, in plain words
- Replacement cost
- What it takes to repair or rebuild with comparable materials, with nothing taken off for age. Some policies pay this, while others pay a reduced, depreciated figure.
- Sublimit
- A smaller cap inside the policy for one category, such as jewellery or water damage. It applies even when the overall limit is much higher.
- Water backup
- Cover for water that comes up through a drain or sump instead of arriving from a burst pipe. It is often an optional add-on, so check whether you have it.
- Named perils
- A style of policy that pays only for the causes it lists, such as fire or theft. A cause that is not on the list is not covered.
- Deductible
- The portion of each home claim you carry before the insurer starts paying. Choosing a higher one changes how much a small repair costs you out of pocket.
06 / Common mistakes
What trips people up
- Insuring the home for its market value rather than what it would cost to rebuild.
- Assuming sewer backup and overland water are included without reading the endorsements.
- Finishing a basement or adding a deck and not telling the insurer.
- Renting out a room or running a business from home without it being on the policy.
- Leaving a home empty for a long stretch without checking what the policy requires.
- Focusing on the premium and ignoring a deductible that is much higher for water or wind.
Ready when you are
Turn this into one clear request.
Save it, add what you know, and choose when to send it. A licensed broker who handles home insurance takes it from there.
07 / Questions people ask
Straight answers
How do I get home insurance?
Gather the home's age, construction, updates and your claims history, then talk to a licensed broker who can compare insurers. Your mortgage lender will usually want to see the policy before closing, so start as soon as your purchase conditions are met. You can also approach an insurer directly, though you will see only that insurer's offer.
Is home insurance mandatory in Canada?
No law requires a homeowner to carry it. In practice, a mortgage lender will almost always require it for as long as the loan exists, and going without leaves you personally exposed to a fire, a lawsuit or a major repair bill. If you own the home outright, the choice is yours, though many owners keep cover.
How much coverage do I need on my house?
The number that matters is the cost to rebuild the home to its current standard with today's labour and materials, which is different from its market value. Land is not rebuilt, so it is left out. A broker or insurer can use the home's details to estimate this, and it should be revisited after renovations.
Replacement cost or actual cash value on a home policy: what is the difference?
Replacement cost pays what it takes to buy a new equivalent item or rebuild the damaged part. Actual cash value pays that amount minus an allowance for age and wear. A ten-year-old sofa would be paid very differently under the two. Ask which one applies to the building and which to your belongings.
Does home insurance cover water damage?
It depends on where the water came from. Sudden damage from a burst pipe is commonly covered. Water coming up from a drain, a sump or the ground is often separate and may be optional. Gradual leaks and lack of maintenance are frequently excluded. Read the wording on water carefully, and ask the broker to explain each type.
Can I get home insurance if I have had a claim?
Often, yes. A claim history affects which insurers will offer cover and on what terms, but a broker can approach several. Bring the dates, causes and outcomes of past claims, and proof of any repairs or upgrades since. Water claims in particular tend to prompt questions about prevention.
General information, not insurance advice. Broker.insure is a directory and request service: it is not an insurer and does not quote, bind or advise. Policy terms, availability and what is required where you live depend on your situation and on licensed professionals. Updated 2026-10-31.