Cabins are great places to enjoy beautiful summer days, but they can also be places where accidents happen. Especially if they’re of the more rustic variety! Beyond carrying the right type of cabin insurance, you should also be proactive about reducing common risks and hazards so you can avoid the number one cause of increased premiums: filing a claim.
The Basicsof Cabin Insurance in Alberta
Cabin insurance comes in three main forms:
- Basic protection that covers the bare-bones necessities for an affordable price
- Comprehensive protection that protects you from every possible hazard, except for those you specifically choose to exclude
- Broad insurance, which is an excellent option for cabins with valuable interior contents
Broad cabin insurance actually offers double protection: one aspect of the policy covers the building, and the other covers its valuable contents. An experienced insurance broker like those at Lane’s can help you understand which option is best for your needs.
Common Cabin Hazards and Perils
Some of the specific perils you should watch out for at your cabin include:
- Recreational vehicle accidents, including those caused by ATVs, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles
- Illnesses caused by exposure to health irritants like toxic mould, poor indoor air quality, inadequate ventilation, or outdated utility infrastructure
- Slip and fall accidents, especially due to poorly maintained building elements
- Hunting accidents, including accidental gunshots
To reduce these risks, make sure to do seasonal maintenance checks when you open the cabin in the spring and close it down in the fall. Also ensure that anyone who’s going to be operating recreational vehicles or equipment on the property has proper training, and be especially careful to maintain decks, stairs, patios and walkways to reduce the chances of a slip and fall accident.
While you want to have a good time at the cabin, it’s also wise to limit your alcohol consumption. Many avoidable accidents are caused by overindulgence and carelessness.
Important Safety Tips
Here are some other cabin safety essentials you should be sure not to overlook:
- Working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
- An evacuation plan in case of fire
- Appliance maintenance, especially for combustion appliances
While you might assume that problems like theft and vandalism lead to the main causes of cabin insurance claims, there’s actually another top culprit: bad weather. Many cabins are located in relatively isolated urban areas, which leaves them subject to different environmental risks.
One of the best ways to prevent weather-related claims is to stay on top of your maintenance tasks. Keep gutters and downspouts free and clear of clogs and debris, inspect your roof carefully at least once per season, and make sure your heating equipment is up to snuff. It’s also a very good idea to keep trees surrounding your cabin trimmed, so that falling branches won’t damage the building.
Cabin Liability Coverage Explained
Liability insurance extends to your cabin insurance policy, just as it does with your home. If visitors to your cabin are injured during their stay, your liability insurance will cover the financial fallout up to a specified limit.
You can learn more about how liability insurance works here. The primary takeaway is this: you are responsible if someone gets hurt on your property as the result of a maintenance or negligence issue.
With the rising popularity of shared ownership structures in the real estate world, a growing number of insurance companies are offering options to meet the needs joint ownership situations. You’ll have to work with a broker to source a policy that meets your particular needs, but as long as everyone pays their premiums on time, you won’t have a problem finding someone to cover a property owned by multiple parties.
Cabin Insurance Alberta:
Lane’s Insurance is a leading Alberta-based brokerage with a deep understanding of the insurance needs of everyday Albertans. In addition to cabin insurance, Lane’s can help you find excellent rates on boat insurance, and every other type of protection you need to safeguard your financial security while making the most of summer.
Lane’s is partnered with the best and most trustworthy carriers in the Alberta insurance industry, so you can rest assured that you’re getting coverage you can count on for a price you can afford.
To learn more, please contact a Lane’s Insurance customer service representative.
