Quick Facts About Home Insurance in Spruce Grove
- Spruce Grove home insurance is slightly MORE expensive than the Alberta average.
- The average annual cost of home insurance in Spruce Grove is around $1,334.
Spruce Grove is a perfect blend of small-town feel with big-city conveniences. Located just 30 minutes west of Edmonton, living in Spruce Grove means you can still land work opportunities in a major city without having to deal with the downsides of big city life.
That said, you don’t have to travel to Edmonton for recreation. Spruce Grove offers various shopping options, art galleries, sports arenas, and stunning outdoor spaces. The city also boasts modern healthcare providers and excellent schools, making it a great place to raise a family.
Spruce Grove offers various housing options for professionals, families, and retirees alike. Its average townhome and condo prices are notably below Edmonton’s. Living costs in Spruce Grove are also lower than the provincial average, which makes living in this city more affordable.
What Risk Factors Affect Homeowners in Spruce Grove?
Spruce Grove is often exposed to extreme weather. Here are some common risk factors homeowners in Spruce Grove should watch out for:
Crime
Crime levels vary in each city, but the overall crime rate in Alberta rose 5% between 2022 and 2023. A higher crime rate means you may encounter more theft, vandalism, and other incidents that damage your home.
Fire
Alberta sees an average of 208 wildfires annually from 2018 to 2022. However, that number doubled in 2023 with 416 wildfire incidents as of May. The fire risk in Alberta is high because the natural freeze and thaw cycles create dry grass that can ignite and start wildfires. Moreover, fires can start from human error due to lit cigarettes, candles, and electronic malfunctions. You should be vigilant at all hours, since fires can happen unexpectedly. For example, the fatal duplex fire in May 2023 happened at 3:20 AM, where most people were likely in bed.
Flooding
Due to heavy rain and snow melt, Alberta is prone to flooding. Many of these are flash floods, meaning you may not have enough time to prepare. Since flash floods come with little to no warning, your property damage may be more severe. Floods in Spruce Grove can disrupt many of your activities as well, like the flood that forced the closure of Highway 16 in July 2012.
Hail and storms
Damage from high winds, storms, and hail is very common in Alberta. Adverse weather can damage your roofs, windows, and outdoor furniture if you don’t take steps to mitigate their effects. Hailstones in Spruce Grove can be as big as grapefruits, so you need to be extra careful during storm season.
On-property accidents
Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere, regardless of how safe your home is. People may hold you liable for slips and falls that happened on your property, which is where home insurance comes in. Home insurance policies can cover numerous costs related to a slip and fall lawsuit.
How Much Does Home Insurance in Spruce Grove Usually Cost?
Home insurance in Spruce Grove costs around $1,334 annually. Home insurance premiums are affected by factors like your home’s age, roofing type, proximity to fire hydrants, and more.
Using your home as a place of business may also influence your home insurance rates. Using your home for business means more people coming in and out of your property, increasing your liability and risk of losing belongings.
Housing Data in Spruce Grove
Spruce Grove is a nice place to live, but is it right for you? You can find the answer through research. Here’s a dive into some of Spruce Grove’s essential housing statistics from the 2021 Census of Population:
Type of Occupied Dwelling
63.4% of Spruce Grove’s 14,275 households live in single-detached houses, meaning they’re the city’s most common dwelling type. Low-rise apartments come in second place with 14.8% of households, while semi-detached homes are in third with 12.7% of households.
Owner vs Renter Stats/Condo vs Non-Condo Owner
Around three-quarters (76.3%) of Spruce Grove residents are homeowners, with the remaining quarter (23.6%) being renters. Condominium residents are rare, with just 13.1% of households compared to non-condo residents comprising 86.9% of Spruce Grove’s households.
Private Dwellings by Period of Construction: New or Older Homes?
Based on the 25% sample data taken from the census, there’s a relatively even spread of newer and older homes in Spruce Grove. No decade or five-year period is distinctly more dominant than other periods. However, residents living in built before 1960 are in the minority, with only 1.2% of households.
Major Repairs or Just Maintenance Needed?
Spruce Grove residents keep their homes well-maintained, with 96.6% of its households reporting their homes only needed minor repairs. Households who only needed minor home repairs dwarf the 3.4% that said their homes needed major repairs.
Homeownership Rate by Age in Spruce Grove
Below are homeownership rates in Spruce Grove, categorized by different age groups.
Age Group | Homeownership Rate |
---|---|
15 to 24 | 27.2% |
25 to 39 | 73.3% |
40 to 54 | 78.7% |
55 to 74 | 81.3% |
75 and over | 80.6% |
Spruce Grove Population Growth
Spruce Grove’s population grew by 3.37% in 5 years since 2016.
What Is Not Included in a Typical Home Insurance Policy?
Even if you’ve opted for a highly comprehensive home insurance policy, there are some risks that insurers explicitly don’t include as a covered peril. These are called “exclusions” by home insurers.
Here are the most common home insurance exclusions:
Criminal activities
If your home was damaged due to criminal activity, it won’t be covered by your insurance policy.
Damage from tenants
Generally, home insurance companies require specific coverage for homeowners/landlords who plan to rent out their properties. A standard home insurance policy won’t include coverage if you rent your home out and the tenant causes damage.
Earthquakes
Most policies exclude this risk, but you can cover earthquake losses and damage as an add-on to a standard policy.
Failure to maintain your home
Damage or losses caused by poor home upkeep (e.g., clogged storm drains, broken bannisters) won’t be covered, as your insurer deems it your responsibility to manage wear and tear.
Flood damage
Flooding is typically not covered by a standard policy, but it may be included as an add-on.
Home business activities
Home businesses will need separate home-based business insurance to cover home or equipment damage.
Insect damage
Because this is considered a preventable risk, most insurers don’t cover insect damage.
Mortgage or property taxes
These are separate expenses handled by policy owners as they’re unrelated to your home insurance policy.
Mould
Mould caused by poor home maintenance is typically excluded by home insurance policies. Note that this is separate from mould caused by an insured peril, which will be covered by your policy.
Vacant dwelling risks
Many insurers may void your insurance if you leave your home vacant for a prolonged period.
This is by no means an exclusive list of risks typically excluded from a home insurance policy in Spruce Grove. Talk to your home insurance provider to see what’s covered by your policy in case of loss or damage.
Why Do I Need Home Insurance in Spruce Grove?
Unexpected expenses due to house-related incidents can stretch your finances thin. The good news is that home insurance can help. A home insurance policy can foot your home repair bills if a covered peril damages it. Additionally, it pays for the many costs associated with personal injury lawsuits.
With the many options for home insurance, which one is right for you? There’s no one “best” home insurance policy for everybody, so you need to learn more about home insurance in Spruce Grove to make the right decisions.
You technically don’t need home insurance in Spruce Grove, because it’s not a legal requirement for homeowners. However, you should still get a policy to protect your home as well as its contents. Here are three main reasons why having a home insurance policy is a good idea:
Loss or damage protection
Home insurance protects your property from perils like fire and theft. It does so by providing financial compensation if your property experiences loss or damage due to unforeseen events.
Mortgage requirements
Your mortgage lender may require home insurance as part of their loan conditions. Lenders tell borrowers to get home insurance to protect their investments.
Liability coverage
In addition to protecting your home, insurance provides liability coverage to settle legal fees if somebody gets injured on your property.
How You Can Get Cheap Home Insurance in Spruce Grove
Visit our Alberta page to view the list of tips on how to get cheaper home insurance.