Proper home insurance coverage is essential for all homeowners—so much so that it’s mandatory for mortgage lenders. There are many risks facing homeowners and their homes, including floods, earthquakes, and fires. When it comes to fire danger, this consists of both fires that start from within the house and from external fires like the many wildfires we see across western Canada.
Not only are unpredictable wildfires a considerable risk to homes, but they can also pose a risk to securing or renewing proper home insurance coverage. Read on to learn more about our tips to ensure home insurance coverage during wildfire season and some advice on keeping you and your home safe during active wildfires.
Why Getting Home Insurance Coverage During Wildfire Season May Be Difficult
Insurance is all about mitigating risks, which goes not only for homeowners and their homes but also for insurance providers. If there is an active wildfire (or many) near your home when you want to renew or bind new home insurance coverage, this may be too risky for insurance providers to accept. Carriers can’t or won’t insure something that is having (or possibly about to incur) a loss.
When it comes to wildfires, home insurance providers typically won’t allow the binding of a coverage policy if there’s an active wildfire within a 50-kilometre radius of the property. Depending on the insurance provider, the binding restriction area could also be 25 kilometres or 100 kilometres. This means that homeowners looking to renew or secure new home insurance during an active wildfire season may find it difficult to secure a policy or face significant premium increases.
Tips On How To Secure Home Insurance Coverage During Wildfire Season
Find yourself buying a home during the wildfire season or attempting to renew your home insurance policy during the wildfire season (or worse, when there’s an active wildfire nearby). The tips below may help you secure coverage.
Be Aware Of Active Wildfires Nearby
The first thing to do if you live—or are planning to live—in an area known for seasonal wildfires is to be aware of any active wildfires nearby. You can check the BC government’s current wildfire activity page frequently.
Get a Quote and Secure Coverage Early
Regardless of an active wildfire nearby, shopping around for home insurance quotes and securing coverage as early as possible is always a good idea. If needed, this will give you time to speak with multiple providers in case some insurers won’t offer quotes due to nearby wildfires.
Ensure Extension Clauses Due To Wildfire In Purchase Contracts
If you want to purchase a new home during wildfire season, ensuring or adding an extension clause to the purchase offer contract may be a good idea. This will allow you to extend the completion date if you run into any issues or delays in securing proper home insurance coverage for the home because of a nearby wildfire.
Understand Whether The Policy Is Binding, Or Not
A home insurance quote is precisely that; a quote. Insurance quotes may not be binding, and some providers may not bind a policy quote if a new wildfire pops up near the home between when the quote was given and when the home purchase completes. Speaking to potential insurers about this possibility is essential, as some providers may still bind the policy, but others may not.
Change Providers or The Policy’s Renewal Date
If you have to deal with issues renewing your home’s insurance policy due to the proximity to the wildfire season, it may be a good idea to look into changing the renewal date with your provider or changing providers completely.
Keeping You and Your Home Safe During An Active Wildfire
If disaster strikes, here are some tips to stay safe and get prepared during a wildfire:
- Stay informed of possible wildfires nearby via radio or TV news
- Keep windows and doors closed in the home
- Remove flammable items such as curtains, drapes, awnings, or other window coverings
- Keep lights on in the home in case any smoke gets into the house
- Wet the roof and any other waterproof valuables, if there’s sufficient water available
- Be prepared to evacuate
Here are some tips on how to stay safe and get prepared before a wildfire ➔
Get Quick & Free Home Insurance Quotes Now!
Contact our team at Harbord – The Home Insurance People – if you have any questions about securing or renewing a home insurance policy during wildfire season. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with quick, no-obligation FREE home insurance quotes!
Contact us at 1.844.544.4663 and see what makes us Harbord – The Home Insurance People™!
