BCAA Home Insurance
BCAA serves one in three British Columbia households, with industry-leading products including home, auto, and travel insurance, roadside assistance, Evo Car Share, and full auto maintenance and repair at their service centers. In 2019, BCAA was recognized as the Most Trusted Brand, alongside Alberta Motor Association and the national Canadian Automobile Association.
If you’re a first-time homeowner or an existing homeowner that wants to make sure you are doing the right thing for your home and your family, then you are likely trying to understand better the concept of home insurance, and why it is essential. Many considerations go into home insurance, and it is critical that homeowners understand why insurance is necessary, and what to look for when shopping around.
What Impacts Your Insurance Policy?
First, let’s look at the variables that impact home insurance. At BCAA, they understand that every home and neighbourhood is different, and the uniqueness of each home situation is taken into account when home insurance is purchased. For example:
Home Uniqueness
The unique features of your home such as its age, the type of structure, the electrical wiring and plumbing, the condition and style of the roof, the size of the garage, etc. The exterior build of your home is considered too, such as whether or not your home is made of brick, stone, has aluminum siding, etc. Also, older homes usually cost more to insure. Impact-resistant roofing reduces the chance of damage from hail, storms, or high winds that can stir up debris that can cause damage.
Location of Home
The location of your home will also impact your policy. Distance to or from a fire station, and geographical tendencies for hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc., can have a considerable impact on your insurance, as can whether or not you live in a high-crime or low-crime area.
Home Security
If your home has a protective system or systems installed, this can help to lower your premium. Security systems, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, presence of fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and even deadbolt locks are taken into consideration.
How can homeowners lessen their insurance premium?
In addition to these above factors, the right insurance partner will also get to know you more personally so that you can take advantage of some of the common discounts that are made available to homeowners. We have listed a few common discounts below:
Multiple policies
Of course, any insurance company appreciates the opportunity to serve its customers across various business lines. This is great for an insurance company’s bottom line, and so most (including BCAA) pass along discounts when their customers purchase bundled policies, such as insuring their home, multiple cars, jewelry, etc.
Loyalty
Just like a retailer, or any service business, loyalty is usually rewarded.
Claims-Free
Insurance is intended to protect you and your home in the event of some unforeseen or catastrophic event. Therefore, when you can prevent claims from being made against your policy, your insurance company will often reciprocate by lessening your premium over time.
Home Improvements
If you have recently renovated your home and added improvements that make your home safer and updated to current building codes and standards, this can pay off for you not only in the improved value of your home but in your home insurance too. While your policy could go up to protect the additional value, you may be eligible for additional discounts that can offset the increase, if not lower your insurance altogether.
Things To Consider When Choosing To Go With BCAA
In most cases and for most people, your home will be the largest investment that you ever make. And therefore, it is crucial that homeowners look for a company that can serve both their near-term and long-term needs. So, when shopping for insurance, be sure to look for the following:
Shop around and assess coverages, limits, and deductibles. Avoid the temptation to go with the least amount of coverage that you can. If your home is indeed impacted by a catastrophic event, you will reduce your stress and worry by knowing that your home has the coverage necessary for repair or rebuilding. It is always recommended to get three quotes before making a final decision on insurance. Every company has its own nuances, and you will want to explore the right provider for you and your needs.
Look for insurance ratings. You can conduct a quick search of any insurance company that you are exploring and will receive a letter grading which is reflective of a plethora of data points that they put into their rating algorithm.
Make sure you know the actual cost of your home so that you provide the right information when trying to obtain a quote. You will want to ensure your home is insured for its replacement cost. Market value only indicates what a prospective buyer would pay for the home, and that value is not necessarily the same as the replacement cost. Understand as well that inflation will change your replacement cost over time, as well as the cost of fuel and other environmental factors which can impact a contractor’s ability to get supplies and equipment to your home site.
Know Your Home & Responsibilities
If you purchased a pre-existing home, make sure that you receive a claims history from the previous owner or real-estate agent. If you are still looking for homes and plan to purchase a pre-existing home, make sure this information is a requirement for the sale. You will want visibility to any water damage or other repairs that the previous homeowners have undertaken (or avoided). Be sure you understand the age of the home, and the state of the electrical wiring, plumbing, and any other key construction components that could make your home more (or less) expensive to insure. If you do not feel confident in your ability to accurately assess your home on your own, your insurance company can often recommend (or provide) an assessor who can come to your home to look at all of the hidden variables.
Be open and transparent when providing information for quotes. Just like you will want your insurance company to be honest with you, make sure that you are not setting the both of you up for stress or catastrophe by not being upfront and forthcoming with information about the home.
Understand your coverage and deductible responsibilities. Insurance policies can be confusing and are often very detailed. Take the time to review your policy and quote in detail. A well-rated insurance company won’t rush you and will appreciate it when you take the time to ask questions and seek clarity for anything you don’t understand.
Why Consider BCAA As Your Home Insurance Provider
At Mychoice.ca, we want to ensure policy owners are protected and BCAA provides that protection. The key features of their policies include protection and inclusions for water damage, fire and smoke, bad weather, crime and vandalism, personal liability, specialty items, additional living expenses, and extra bylaws.
Mychoice.ca is a mission-driven member services organization. We strive to maximize member value rather than simply create financial value. We also add value to our team members, our communities, and our planet. Our vision is to be the most trusted organization in British Columbia, absolutely famous for doing the right thing. We will bring you the peace-of-mind that you need so that you can enjoy life more. Our amazing service will create uniquely memorable experiences and ignite unparalleled loyalty.