Your home insurance policy is there to protect you when you need it most — but you may find yourself wondering what could happen to your premium after you make a claim. As your HMS insurance broker we will provide helpful insight on how your claim will impact your policy, and provide the right course of action to get your home back in the same position it was before. There are a few things to consider before a claim is submitted (...)
Your home is your sanctuary, and the place where you should feel the safest. That’s why house fires can have such an emotional impact. They put the health and safety of the people you love at risk, and can destroy a lifetime of memories in mere moments. Preventing fires is easier than you might think, and taking simple precautions can safeguard you and your family. Check out these 7 easy tips to get started (...)
They say the best way to predict the future is to create it. When it comes to home insurance claims, there is a lot that you can do to stop damage from happening in the first place. Although it may not be possible to avoid damage in every situation, you can certainly play a big role in keeping it to a minimum. Let’s walk through some tips to help you steer clear of costly and inconvenient insurance claims (...)
Many Canadians operate businesses out of their homes. What they may not know is that there are exposures that go along with these businesses, no matter how small. These exposures may not be covered by their homeowner's or renter's policy. Your homeowner's or renter's policy is intended to protect your personal interests only. Therefore, any exposure relating to a business is not intended to be covered by the policy (...)
Energy costs in Ontario are rising, that should come of no surprise, so we need to utilize our energy consumption more effectively. A good place to start is sealing cracks and drafts around your doors and windows to make your home more energy efficient. But have you considered the financial impact of heat loss through your ceilings? While drafts around doors and windows will cost a few more dollars in heating bills, heat loss through your roof (...)
Autumn is quickly approaching, and with it the temperatures start to drop. Although temperatures during the day are quite comfortable still, nights are starting to get rather cold. In order to save money, many people opt to use a space heater to heat one room rather than heat the entire structure. Regardless of your plan, it is important to be cautious (...)
Water leaks that arise while you are away will increase your water bill significantly, and could also cause massive damage. Turning off the water at the main shut-off water valve is the best way to protect your home from such leaks and large bills, as most insurance companies won't cover your home for water losses if you are not home for more than 4 days. See our other post on that.
Condominium purchases in Canada are on the rise. According to the Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) the new construction of multi unit housing developments (condos) rose by 3.7 per cent in 2015, and why wouldn't it? Condo ownership provides a care-free lifestyle that most often eliminates the need for any lawn mowing, gardening, or snow removal. It's also an attractive option for both first time home buyers (...)
Consider this very common scenario: You've been living in a home for five years, but have decided to upgrade to a bigger, nicer home across town. Your old home hasn't sold yet and is still listed on the market. Since you've already taken possession of your new home and have excitedly moved all your contents in, your old home is now left vacant temporarily (...)
