Product spotlight: Cottages and Cabins

With the cost of cottages/cabins expected to rise an average of 13 per cent across Canada in 2022, your customers probably have a new appreciation for their home away from home. 

While this puts them in a winning market position, it’s important that cottage/cabin owners maintain their nest eggs by paying attention to proper upkeep. 

Here are 5 things to recommend they take care of at this time of year:

• Tree maintenance: Assess the treescape on the property and identify any dead or weak branches or trees that are close to the cottage/cabin. Windstorms can cause even huge trees to topple and damage cottages/cabins. 
  
• The foundation: Take a flashlight to the interior and exterior base of your cottage/cabin with an eye out for cracks. Any cracks larger than a hairline should be seen by a professional.
• Windows: Help ensure drafts and water stay out of the cottage/cabin by inspecting the condition of the windows. Have new caulking applied if the seal isn’t tight and damaged screens replaced.
• Decking: Help preserve wood from rot by applying a zinc-based wood preservative every spring.
• Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. Spring is a great time to replace batteries or swap out old units to help protect your cottage/cabin all year long.

Spring is also an ideal opportunity to remind cottage/cabin owners of their RetreatLife coverage – and everything that comes with it.

Aviva’s specialty claims team

Our specialized experts know cottage/cabin policies inside and out and they have the knowledge and authority to make decisions that ensure your customers get the care and attention they deserve when they have a claim. The Aviva Lifestyle claim promise includes: No more waiting until Monday to start a claim. Your customers have a 24/7 direct line to dedicated Aviva Lifestyle experts who will get things started immediately. One point of contact will guide them from start to finish. 

Aviva’s RetreatLife product offers coverage for:

• Island cottages/cabins
• Cottages/cabins accessed by water
• Log cabins
• Standalone policies
• Out of province or multiple ownership
• Cottages/cabins with wet boathouses or additional waterfront property

Included in all policies

• Guaranteed Replacement Cost
• Single limit coverage (few exceptions apply)
• Docks, hot tubs, bunkies and sheds
• Premises Liability ($1M)
• Rental coverage (30 days), with Fair Rental Value coverage
• Damage caused by bears, raccoons and squirrels
• Collapse – for both building and contents

Optional coverage enhancements

• Up to 180-day endorsement to extend 30-day rental coverage
• Buy-up for Premises Liability up to $5M
• Dwelling Under Construction
• Wet boathouses
• Additional waterfront locations not within the cottage premises

Discounts

• Centrally-monitored burglar alarm
• Bundling home/auto with cottage/cabin
• Claims-free
• Centrally monitored heat sensor
• Mature (50 years old and older)
• Centrally-monitored power outage detection alarm
• Water alarm

Learn more

Visit LifestyleQuote to quote, bind and request changes and endorsements for this product.

Get more details about this product in the Lifestyle Resource Centre on AvivaPartner.