46098 Yale Road Chilliwack, BC V2P 2L7
Directions46098 Yale Road Chilliwack, BC V2P 2L7
DirectionsWhether you own a vacation home, a cabin in the woods, or a cottage by the lake, it is crucial to ensure that you have the right insurance coverage. Also known as second home insurance, seasonal home insurance is a crucial investment for everyone who owns a vacation property. This is especially true if the property is occasionally rented out, as these policies can be combined with short-term rental policies to ensure that everything is sufficiently covered. Get in touch with the team at Wheeler-Homemakers Insurance today to learn more about our seasonal home insurance policies and other home insurance solutions in Chilliwack!
Request QuoteSeasonal home insurance offers protection in the following situations:
If your second home and the belongings within it are damaged or destroyed by a fire, your policy will cover the cost of replacement for these items.
You are covered if a pipe bursts under your sink or if water leaks from your washing machine and destroys your flooring.
If your vacation is interrupted due to a claim and you cannot reside in the property until repairs are complete, your additional living expenses (hotel costs, etc.) will be covered.
An unexpected storm can cause significant damage to your vacation home. Seasonal home insurance typically covers damage from wind storms while some policies may offer flood protection at an additional cost.
Seasonal home insurance provides coverage for legal fees that result from accidental damage or injury to tenants/guests at your vacation home, making it crucial for properties that are rented out through the majority of the year.
Additional coverage options include:
Theft can occur at any time, especially when your property is not in use. This type of additional coverage helps to protect your belongings in the event of a break-in and theft.
BC experiences hundreds of earthquakes per year. This type of optional coverage ensures that your property and the belongings within it are covered should they become damaged by an earthquake.
Seasonal homes are at a higher risk of vandalism since they are unoccupied throughout much of the year. This type of coverage helps to provide you with peace of mind by protecting your home and belongings against various types of vandalism.
Also known as cottage insurance and secondary home insurance, seasonal home insurance is a type of policy that covers a property that is not your primary residence. In BC, the most common vacation properties include cabins in the woods and lakeside cabins, though structures like ski chalets also qualify.
Seasonal home insurance policies are similar to conventional home insurance policies in the sense that they cover many of the same elements. Most seasonal home insurance policies cover the following elements:
While there is typically no set number of times that you are required to check on your property throughout the year, you should ensure that your property is sufficiently safe and secure as often as possible. If your insurance policy does require you to check in on your property a set number of times per year, this will be outlined in the agreement.
Most lenders require vacation home insurance in BC. It is important to note that, in some cases, your insurance provider may also require you to insure your primary residence with them. This means that you will need to have insurance coverage for your primary residence and all secondary properties with the same provider.
There is no fixed rate for seasonal home insurance as every policy is uniquely tailored to the property and how it will be used. For example, if you will be renting out your property most of the year, your pricing will vary compared to a property that is vacant most of the year and only used by you and your family. Additional factors to consider when discussing the price of coverage include the size of your vacation home, the age of the building, and the proximity of the home to fire protection (fire hydrants, fire stations, etc.).
Since seasonal homes are not typically occupied throughout the year, they are at a much higher risk of theft, burglary, and vandalism. This increased risk means that seasonal home insurance typically costs more than a typical home insurance policy.
While seasonal home insurance covers many different elements, there are some exceptions. Some common exclusions include:
