Insurance for Lions Bay, Furry Creek and Britannia Beach

Small communities, few local options

Lions Bay, Furry Creek and Britannia Beach do not have an insurance office each. Most people here end up dealing with somebody in Vancouver or in Squamish, which means the question is not whether you work with someone out of town, but which out-of-town person actually picks up when you call.

I am up the highway in Squamish and most of what I do can be handled without you driving anywhere.

Property here is not standard suburban property

• Steep and difficult lots. Access affects rebuild cost, and rebuild cost is what your dwelling limit should reflect — not what you paid or what it would sell for
• Ocean exposure. Salt air and coastal weather age a building faster, and roof and exterior condition drive a large part of a home premium
• Distance to a fire hall and a hydrant. Both are rating factors, and both are worth getting recorded accurately rather than estimated pessimistically
• Older homes. Wiring, plumbing and heating age matter more than square footage. If you have updated any of it, your policy should say so

The commute is worth mentioning

Most people here drive the Sea to Sky into Vancouver or up to Squamish. Commute distance is a direct ICBC rating factor, so it is worth having it recorded accurately. And a highway that sees rockfall, weather and wildlife is a genuine reason to talk about comprehensive coverage properly rather than accepting whatever was on the policy last year.

Common questions