Property Insurance
We've taken the mystery out of understanding your insurance policy and the claims process. Please find full explanations below regarding selected property insurance topics, or click here for our Auto Insurance Claims FAQ.
Property Insurance Claims FAQ
- What's covered in a property policy?
- What can I do to be safe and prepared?
- What if I have a loss?
- What if I can't stay in my home?
- Who should I speak to about the loss?
- What can I expect after reporting a claim?
- When can I contact The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company?
- What's a deductible?
- Who should perform my repairs?
- What if my contents are damaged, missing or destroyed?
Please note the information about property claims is meant only as a general guide. The wording of your actual policy will always be the final guide to coverage.
What's covered in a property policy?
Property policies separate losses into various types, each with its own conditions and limitations.
- Personal Property - Most of the normal contents of your home, from your clothes to linens to electronics, are considered Personal Property.
- Real Property - Buildings and land are considered Real Property. A fire in your home can damage both the structure (Real Property) and the contents of the home (Personal Property).
- Liability - Your responsibility to other people when they suffer loss or injury due to your negligence. Liability coverage extends to most everyday life situations but does not include, for example, liability resulting from the use of an automobile.
The amount of coverage available depends on the type of policy, the insurance purchased and the nature of the loss. Please consult your policy or your broker for details.
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What can I do to be safe and prepared?
Check that you have safety equipment installed and in working order. Fire and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, escape plans, deadbolts on doors and locked windows help to protect both your family and your property.
It also helps to know what you have in your home. Make a list of personal belongings in each room. Consider taking photographs or a videotape to keep with the list. If you'd like to assure yourself you have enough insurance coverage, consider totaling the values of all listed items and comparing the result to your “Contents” coverage limit. Feel free to contact your broker if you have any questions or wish to revise your coverages.
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What if I have a loss?
The risks to property are many and varied: theft, fire and water damage, to name a few. Your response depends on the type of loss you face, but here are some hints to get you started:
- Regardless of the type of loss, report it to your broker right away. The sooner they are aware of a claim, the better we can serve you or protect your interests;
- If theft or vandalism occurs, report the loss immediately to the police;
- If your property is damaged, do what you can to protect it from further damage. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed
- Assemble any receipts, warranty documents and other proofs of ownership for lost or damaged property;
- Retain any receipts for expenses or replaced property.
Depending on your claim we may ask you to sign a Proof of Loss form. A blank Proof of Loss form is provided in the download forms section of Claims Assistance.
Remember, your broker is an important part of our claims team. If you have any questions regarding the effect of the claim on your policy or coverage, your broker is there to help. We will address any other claims related issues.
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What if I can't stay in my home?
If your home is unlivable, please contact us immediately. There may be coverage for the difference between costs you would normally have while in your home and costs incurred while you are away from your home. Coverage depends on the circumstances of your loss.
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Who should I speak to about a loss?
We would prefer that you limit your discussions to your broker, our representatives and any authorities involved. In particular, don't discuss responsibility for a loss with anyone else until you've talked to us.
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What can I expect after reporting a claim?
We will assign an adjuster who will call you within 4 business hours of receiving your claim, one of the most ambitious contact guidelines in the industry. You can expect an efficient, knowledgeable and empathetic representative who will keep you informed and lead you through the claims process. We will promptly assess what you are owed and make your claims experience as positive as possible.
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When can I contact The Dominion?
Any time! Our offices are open to serve you from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and in some parts of the country from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. We are also open 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. However, you can report an emergency claim (for example, a fire in your home) at any time by calling our 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-661-5522.
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What's a deductible?
All property policies incorporate a deductible of some description. Insurance is designed to protect people from losses they cannot afford. Adjusting many very small losses would be very expensive and would unnecessarily increase premiums. Therefore, when you buy a policy, you agree to pay the first portion of any loss. This deductible applies only once per occurrence, regardless of how many items are claimed. For example, if your deductible is $500 and your total covered claim is $2,000, we would pay you $1,500.
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Who should perform my repairs?
We know that choosing a contractor you can trust is sometimes difficult, which is why we are happy to put you in touch with carefully screened vendors that we recommend.
Only those vendors using the most advanced estimating and repair technologies, and meeting the highest industry standards are eligible to become one of The Dominion’s recommended vendors. We stand behind our recommended vendors by offering The Dominion Satisfaction Repair Guarantee, which guarantees all claims-related work for two years.
The choice is yours; you authorize who completes your repairs. Once the repairs are complete, make sure they are satisfactory. Review your appraisal and inspect the repairs to ensure they meet your expectations.
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What if my contents are damaged, missing or destroyed?
Together we will prepare a Contents Valuation Report (CVR) of all lost or damaged items and send a draft copy for your review. It is important that you provide as many details as possible about claimed items so that we can accurately evaluate your claim. A blank CVR is provided in the download forms section of Claims Assistance.
Your CVR serves as the basis for this portion of your claim. Each item will be assigned an actual cash value and funds will be dispersed to you for purchase of the items you want to replace.
To claim replacement cost of like, kind and quality item(s), simply send in the original receipt for the replaced item. It helps us if you identify the item(s) on the receipt by referring to the page and item numbers on the CVR. We will pay the difference between any actual cash value already paid to you and the replacement cost including taxes. If an item cannot be replaced because it is no longer manufactured, you can replace it with another item of comparable quality and usefulness. We will return receipts upon request.
Occasionally, replacing specialty items such as electronic equipment requires a specialized supplier. Again, we would be happy to put you in touch with one of our recommended vendors.
All of our recommended vendors that specialize in jewellery are qualified professionals. This ensures a thorough and consistent approach to evaluation and replacement. There are many criteria used to evaluate jewellery, including: identification of natural or synthetic stones, size, colour, cut, weight, clarity, metal, purity, and workmanship. We encourage replacement of lost, damaged or stolen jewellery. Occasionally, when replacement is impossible, we may agree to a cash settlement based on the recommended vendor’s replacement evaluation. We will apply depreciation only if the article would have been subject to wear.
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