While July 1 remains Québec’s peak moving period, people move into new apartments, condos and houses throughout the year. And very often, once they are settled in, another step quickly begins: renovations.

Painting, flooring, bathrooms, kitchens, basements, plumbing, windows, decks or exterior work: many new tenants, condo owners and homeowners take advantage of moving into a new place to improve their space.

But before starting your work, one important question comes up: could these renovations have an impact on your home insurance?

Why moving and renovations can affect your home insurance

When you move, your situation changes completely. Your home insurance is tied to a specific address: it does not automatically cover your new apartment, condo or house. It is therefore essential to contact your insurer when you move in order to update your policy, adjust your coverage to your new address and avoid being underinsured in the event of a loss.

Once that step is completed, renovations can also change your insurance needs. By renovating your home, you may increase the value of certain items that need to be protected, add new risks or need to adjust certain coverage to reflect your new situation.

Some types of work can affect, among other things:

• the reconstruction value of your property;
• the value of improvements made to your condo or apartment;
• water damage risks;
• fire risks related to electrical or heating work;
• your civil liability during the work;
• the total value of your personal belongings;
• the coverage required during a renovation project.

In short, moving is the right time to update your home insurance, and renovations are one more reason to make sure your coverage is still appropriate.

Small renovations or major work: when should you notify your insurer?

Not all renovations have the same impact on your home insurance.

Light work, such as painting a room, installing shelves, changing decorative light fixtures or replacing a few pieces of furniture, generally does not require a full review of your policy.

However, some larger projects deserve special attention. For example:

• finishing or renovating a basement;
• renovating a kitchen or bathroom;
• modifying the plumbing;
• replacing an electrical panel;
• installing a new heating system;
• adding a room, garage, deck or spa;
• replacing the roof;
• changing doors and windows;
• carrying out major structural work.

For major work, it is essential to contact your insurer or broker before or as soon as the project begins. Some work can change the value of your property or constitute an increase in risk. In that case, the insured must promptly inform the insurer of any circumstances that could influence the assessment of the risk, the premium or the decision to maintain the insurance.

This verification can help avoid unpleasant surprises if a loss occurs during or after the work.

Are you a tenant? Renovations can also affect you

When people think about renovations and home insurance, they often think about homeowners. However, tenants can also be affected.

After moving, many tenants invest in their new apartment: paint, light fixtures, blinds, furniture, appliances, custom storage, electronics or home office equipment.

If you purchased several new belongings after moving, it may be worth checking whether the coverage amount for your personal property is still sufficient.

If you pay for certain permanent improvements yourself with your landlord’s approval, such as new flooring, built-in storage or more expensive installations, it may also be worth checking whether these improvements are covered by your insurance.

Your civil liability coverage is also important. For example, if water damage accidentally caused in your apartment damages a neighbour’s unit, you could be held responsible. Your home insurance can then play an essential role.

Are you a condo owner? Pay attention to improvements made to your unit

If you recently bought a condo or moved into a new unit, renovations can also have an impact on your coverage.

Improvements made to a private portion, such as a renovated kitchen, replaced flooring, an upgraded bathroom or custom cabinets, can represent significant value.

In a condominium, it is important to distinguish the standard unit from improvements made to your private portion. The condominium syndicate must keep a description of the private portions that is detailed enough to identify improvements made by co-owners. Anything beyond that description may represent improvements that should be properly insured under your own policy.

It is therefore recommended to check whether these improvements are properly reflected in your condo insurance policy. Otherwise, certain improvements paid for by you may not be covered the way you think.

It may also be useful to review your condominium syndicate’s rules before starting the work. Some projects may require authorization, especially if they involve plumbing, electricity, walls, floors or common areas.

Are you a homeowner? Renovations can change the value to be insured

For a homeowner, renovations can have a direct impact on the reconstruction value of the property.

The market value of a home should not be confused with its reconstruction cost. In home insurance, the goal is generally to make sure that the amount shown in the policy would allow the property to be rebuilt in the event of a major loss, according to the terms of the policy.

If you transform part of your home, add a room, completely renovate a kitchen, upgrade a bathroom or finish a basement, the real value of the elements to be rebuilt may increase.

It would therefore be unfortunate to invest several thousand dollars in your property without checking whether your home insurance still properly reflects this new value.

Water damage: a risk to watch during renovations

Renovations involving plumbing, the bathroom, the kitchen, the laundry room or the basement require extra vigilance.

A moved pipe, an improperly installed connection, an old water heater, seepage or sewer backup can quickly cause significant damage.

Depending on the type of policy, some water damage coverage may be included, while other protections may require additional coverage.

Before starting work, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is my water damage coverage sufficient?
• Is my water heater still accepted by my insurer?
• Is my basement properly protected in case of seepage or sewer backup?
• Could the planned work increase the risk of damage during the project?

Doing the work yourself or hiring a contractor?

After moving, it can be tempting to do everything yourself. For small projects, this can be simple and economical.

But for larger renovations, hiring a qualified contractor can help you avoid many problems. A professional can better assess the feasibility of the work, comply with applicable standards and reduce the risk of costly mistakes.

Before choosing a contractor, take the time to compare several quotes, check references and make sure the contractor has the necessary protections, including civil liability insurance. It is also recommended to verify that the contractor holds a valid RBQ licence when the work requires it.

To help simplify this step, ClicAssure also offers, in partnership with RenoQuotes, a service that lets you obtain quotes for your renovation projects.

Whether you want to renovate a bathroom, modernize a kitchen, finish a basement, carry out exterior work or find a general contractor, you can complete an online request and compare contractors for your project.

Comparing home insurance after moving: a smart reflex

Moving is already a good time to review your home insurance. If you are also planning renovations, it becomes even more relevant.

Your old policy may no longer be adapted to your new address, the value of your belongings, your new type of dwelling or the work you want to carry out.

Comparing home insurance offers can help you:

• check whether your coverage is still appropriate;
• find insurance that better matches your new situation;
• compare prices from several insurers;
• better understand the coverage available;
• avoid automatically keeping insurance that no longer meets your needs.

With ClicAssure, you can quickly compare home insurance quotes from several partners. It is a simple way to shop for insurance, especially after moving or before a renovation period.

Checklist before renovating after moving

Before starting your work, here are a few things to check:

• update your address with your insurer;
• check whether your personal belongings are insured for a sufficient amount;
• verify whether major work needs to be declared to your insurer;
• notify your insurer if the work could change the value of your property or increase the risk;
• confirm your water damage coverage;
• verify your civil liability coverage;
• ask your contractor for proof of insurance;
• verify that your contractor holds a valid RBQ licence when the work requires it;
• keep your invoices, contracts, photos and proof of work;
• review your policy once the renovations are completed;
• compare your home insurance to see whether a better option is available.

In summary

Moving often marks the beginning of a new chapter. A new address, a new neighbourhood, a new routine… and sometimes, a new list of renovations to complete.

Before starting the work, take a few minutes to think about your home insurance. Some renovations can change the value of your property, increase certain risks or require different coverage.

And if you need a contractor, ClicAssure can also help you obtain quotes through its partnership with RenoQuotes.