Protecting your home and car with snowbird insurance coverage

0
539
home insurance

Winters are very cold throughout Canada. While January and February are the coldest months, sometimes it gets awfully cold even in November when winter sets in early, and leaves late.  

Alberta too experiences severe cold and temperatures here can fall as low as -22 to -40°F.  Snowfalls happen throughout winter and annual precipitation is usually between 12-24 inches. 

Who is a Snowbird and what is snowbird insurance coverage?

Due to this severity of the Canadian winter, many people decide to spend their winter in warmer regions of the world. While some like the Sun Belt and Hawaii in the US, others prefer the US as well as Mexico and the Caribbean. These people are known as Snowbirds. 

Since these people will be away from their homes for a very long period of times, even months together, it becomes important for them to consider protecting their homes & belongings and their car while they are away. 

It is here that Snowbird insurance coverage comes into play and serves as a big savior to these people. Since there are a large number of Snowbirds throughout Canada and their numbers are increasing each year, home insurance Calgary companies have come up with Snowbird insurance coverage that covers their home against risks and damages while they are away during winter.

Buying Snowbird home insurance coverage 

Most home insurance Calgary policies have a list of exclusions. You need to carefully browse these exclusions and check for the “vacant”, or “unoccupied”, or “vacant, unoccupied, or uninhabited” exclusion. 

If such an exclusion exists, then your insurance Calgary company can deny your claim for damage by saying that the damaged property was vacant or unoccupied when the event happened. 

For this you need to buy a vacancy endorsement from your home insurance Calgary broker. With this endorsement, your property will have coverage even when it is vacant or unoccupied.

Snowbird home insurance coverage:

If you are Snowbird living in Calgary, then Snowbird home insurance coverage will help you in typical situations. For instance, in case your house is left vacant for more than 30 days, then your home insurance Calgary coverage will lapse. Also, if you have not shut off your water and have not arranged for someone to check in on your home every 48-72 hours, then also you will have limited coverage.

In such situations, Snowbird home insurance coverage helps. For this:

You need to simply call your insurance company and inform them about your Snowbird plans. They will guide you on the steps you need to take as specified by your insurer. 

Make arrangements so that someone can check in on your home every 48-72 hours. If this is not feasible, then you will need to do the following steps: 

  • Turn off your home’s water supply and drain out all pipes and containers.
  • Ensure that all doors and windows are closed and securely locked.
  • Hold your post, or have it picked up regularly by a family member or a friend.
  • Have a person check in on your home at regular intervals. 
  • Order for snow removal and maintenance of your home’s exteriors. 
  • Install security systems such as a monitored alarm, or a camera or other security devices.
  • Connect your plumbing and heating system to a monitored alarm that functions 24×7.
  • Choose a utilities provider who can accept digital payments so that you can pay, even if you are away from home.

The above steps become essential because empty homes are most susceptible to damage as there is no one available to detect a problem early on. Maximum damage happens from water and this occurs when pipes burst during winter months.

Snowbird car insurance coverage:

Snowbird coverage applies to cars also. Always remember that you should retain your first time car insurance coverage even though you are away from home during winter. That is because even though your car is in your garage, it is still exposed to risks and dangers – for example: 

The risk of a parking brake failing and a car rolling down driveway and getting damaged, or hitting another vehicle.

The risk of damage caused by a storm. 

Secondly, your car insurance premiums would be higher if you cancel your insurance in winter and you would also miss out on rewards and discounts that are offered by the insurance company.

Therefore, it makes sense to ask your home insurance Calgary broker where you could park your car for winter and they would guide you with necessary steps. You would also end up paying a lower insurance premium, than you would in normal circumstances and you would enjoy the same coverage. 

Conclusion:

Snowbird insurance coverage is a vital ‘must have’ to protect your home and your car during winter while you are away. 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here