Free policy review
Send the policy you already have. Get a plain-language read of what it covers, what it excludes and whether anything is worth changing.
Nikki Tehara, a licensed BC insurance broker with InsureBC, reviews existing home, condo, rental property, business and marine policies for people anywhere in British Columbia, at no charge. You send the documents, Nikki reads them and explains the coverage, exclusions, limits and deductibles in plain language, and tells you whether anything should change.
Why review a policy you already have?
Because most policies are bought once and never read again, and the things that matter at claim time are in the parts nobody reads: the exclusions, the conditions, the sub-limits and the deductibles. A home that has been renovated, a condo in a strata whose deductible has gone up, a business that has grown, a boat that is now used differently: each of those can leave a policy that was right when it was bought quietly wrong today.
A review is the cheapest way to find that out. It costs nothing, and it does not commit you to anything.
What the review looks at
- What is covered, and on what basis: replacement cost, actual cash value, guaranteed replacement, and what each means for you
- What is excluded, with particular attention to the exclusions that are common in BC claims: water, earthquake, short-term rental, vacancy, business use and unreported changes
- Limits and sub-limits: contents, jewellery, bikes, detached structures, sewer backup, loss assessment on a strata unit, and whether they match what you own
- Deductibles, including the strata deductible you could be assessed for on a condo
- Liability: the amount, and whether anything you do falls outside it
- Conditions that can void a claim if not met, such as unoccupancy limits, heat maintenance, alarm requirements or disclosure of a suite or a wood stove
What you get back
A plain answer, by phone or email, whichever you prefer. It covers what is solid, what is thin, what is missing, and what Nikki would change if it were Nikki's policy. If the right answer is to leave it alone, that is what you will hear. If a change is worth making, you can ask for a quote at that point, or not.
What this is not. A review is an opinion from a licensed broker about the documents you send. It is not a guarantee that a claim will be paid, and it does not change your existing policy. Nothing about your current cover changes unless you decide to change it.
How it works
- Tell me what you have. The form asks what kind of policy it is, who it is with and what has changed since you bought it. It takes a couple of minutes.
- Send the documents. Upload them on the form or email them to [email protected]. The declarations page is the most useful single page; the full wording helps if you have it.
- I read it properly. Coverage, exclusions, limits, deductibles and conditions, against what you have told me about the property, business or boat.
- You get a plain answer. By phone or email, with the reasons. What happens next is up to you.
Who it is for
- Owners of high-value homes whose rebuild cost has outrun the policy limit
- Condo and townhome owners who have not checked their loss assessment coverage against the strata's deductible
- Landlords, and anyone who has started renting out part or all of a property since the policy was written
- Business owners whose operations, revenue or premises have changed
- Boat owners whose navigation area or moorage has changed
- Anyone who bought insurance from a bank, a website or a call centre and has never had it explained
Common questions
Is the policy review really free?
Yes. There is no fee and no obligation. Brokers are paid by the insurer when a policy is placed, so reading your current documents and telling you what they say costs you nothing. If the review ends with you keeping exactly what you have, that is a fine outcome.
What documents should I send?
The policy declarations page (the summary showing coverages, limits and deductibles) is the most useful single document, plus the policy wording if you have it. For a strata unit, the strata corporation's insurance summary helps too. For a business, the certificate of insurance and the declarations. Photos of paper documents are fine.
Will you try to sell me a new policy?
Only if the review finds a gap or a better fit, and then it is your call. The review is a read of what you have, not a sales pitch. Nikki will say plainly if the current policy holds up.
How is my information handled?
The documents go to Nikki at InsureBC and are used only for the review and any quote you ask for afterwards. They are not sold or passed to anyone else. The privacy page on this site explains how information from this website is stored and for how long.
Can you review a policy from another broker or a bank?
Yes. Where the policy came from does not change what it says. Reviews of policies bought direct from an insurer, from a bank or credit union, or through another brokerage are all common.
How long does it take?
The questions on the form take a couple of minutes. The review itself depends on the policy and on how much is going on in it, and Nikki will tell you when to expect the answer when confirming receipt.
Related pages
Start your free policy review
A couple of minutes of questions, then send what you have and Nikki takes it from there.
Start the free reviewA policy review is a broker's opinion on the documents provided. It does not alter any existing policy and is not a guarantee that any claim will be paid.