Some homes are hard to place with standard insurers: properties in high-risk flood or wildfire areas, homes with knob-and-tube or older aluminium wiring, old oil tanks or older roofs, several recent claims, or homes that are vacant or under major renovation.
Specialty insurers and non-standard markets write many of these risks, often with higher deductibles or conditions. Upgrades such as rewiring, replacing an oil tank or adding backwater valves can bring you back to standard coverage. Canada's national flood insurance program has been delayed, so high-risk flood homes still rely on what private insurers offer.
