Home insurance probs
 

Hi folks,

My home insurance company just got new underwriters this year and so I had to change my policy. However, they found after much calling around that NOONE will insure a home if there is a web design business being run out of it (I'm in Vancouver, Canada). I did find one carrier, but the premiums start at 2000$ and go up from there. I was paying 500$ before for my entire house. gr. Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Apparently web design is in the same high risk category as accountants and whatnot, but we can't figure out why since there is obviously not a lot of on-site clients or assets to steal. I have asked them to insure the house without insuring the web design business, but they said that's impossible as long as I am doing web design in the house. I would have to get an office to do that, at which point I need to pay the 2000$ premium for th eoffice PLUS the house's insurance.

Anyone else out there like me? Please?

move to the US.

THat's fucked man! I would just say that you do something else . Fuck em. If they can't tell you why it's so expensive why should you be honest with them. that's totally Fucked!

Did they explain what is risky about doing web design from home? Do you have clients coming to see you or something?

Ok, so dont tell them you run a web design business in the house? Good plan?

Lying is all very well and good, but if I do have a claim for whatever reason and they find out I was doing web design in the house, it null and voids my insurance. So I would also have to change my work description for Revenue Canada taxation, etc etc.

Your taxes state that you do web design at home? Hell you can be doing it in your car outside a Starbucks for all they care.

True...

I live in the US and I'm the same boat. I can't insure a house in Pennsylvania because my brother lives in it, and I'm in Puerto Rico. About 3,000 miles away.

You can't lie to them, because if they find out when you need to claim, the premiums are lost and you get dicked. :feels-hot

Elli, sounds like a bullshit excuse to me. I used to work in the insurance industry (in Ontario), and we had specific product for "at home businesses". That's how we insure our home office right now; as an extension of our home policy.

I think the insurance companies concern revolves around the third-party liability issues. They are concerned that one of your clients will file suit against you for poor work (eg. you make an error or omission), and that they will be dragged into it (even though they don't intent to insure you for this).

I'd escalate this to the insurance companies management, and ask for an explanation in writing. And, ask them what would make the risk acceptable to them.