The Newman Blog
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5 Things You Need To Know About Home-Based Business Insurance
Insurance might not be top of mind when planning a home-based business. Here are the top five things you need to know to protect yourself and your home.

Insurance Tips For Newlyweds
Whether you've lived with your new spouse for years or you've just moved into your first home together, make sure you've checked these to-dos off your list.

What Happens If Your Property Is Underinsured?
To avoid being underinsured is to be certain that you are appropriately covered for your home and your contents.

7 Water Safety Tips For The Summer
Whether you're headed up to the cottage or planning a pool party, knowing some basic water safety tips can help keep you and your fellow swimmers out of trouble.

How To Prevent Fires On Your Property
There's no place like home — so it makes sense to protect yours as best you can. Safeguarding your home against fire is a good place to start, but it's important to do the same for the rest of your property, including your yard.

Tree Maintenance and Care
The trees in your yard can enhance your property, provide shade and offer abundant environmental benefits. However, trees can also pose a safety hazard to your family and your home if they are not properly inspected and maintained.

5 little-known facts about seasonal property insurance
When it comes to seasonal property insurance, it's about more than their physical differences. Take note of these five little-known facts about seasonal property insurance coverage and talk to your broker about what is (and what isn't) covered in your policy.

7 Questions You Should Ask Before Renting An Apartment
Apartment hunting? Beyond basic questions like rental cost and amenities, asking a few important questions will help you choose the right apartment for your situation and lifestyle.

Save the Stress: Hot Water Tanks 101
Hot water tank disasters can sneak up on you if they’re not monitored for signs of wear and tear. It’s important to keep an eye on yours so you can fix any issues before they become too serious.

What’s the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?
“Replacement cost” and “actual cash value” are two of the most common calculations insurers use to determine the amount a customer will receive if they make a home insurance claim or a car insurance claim. What’s the difference between them, and which applies when you make a claim?

Should I buy a condo, home, or tenant insurance policy for my condominium?
If you’re moving into a condominium, there are some scenarios where you may need to purchase a home or tenant insurance policy for your condo instead of a condo policy. Here’s how to quickly determine which type of insurance policy to buy when you’re moving into a condo.

6 Times You Should Call Your Insurance Broker
When you first sign a new home insurance policy, it will reflect the specific needs you have at that time in your life. When that renewal package arrives, it’s a good check point to reflect on the things in your life that may have changed in the past year that could affect your insurance needs.

How are home insurance premiums calculated?
Whether you just bought a new home and you’re shopping for home insurance, or you just received your renewal notice in the mail, you may be wondering how home insurance companies determine the amount you’ll have to pay for coverage. Let us break it down for you.

Watch out for snow accumulation on your roof
As magical as it looks, a thick layer of snow on your roof can have heavy consequences. Here are some tips to help you get through winter without worrying that the sky will fall.

7 Common Sense Snowmobile Safety Tips
No matter what you intend to use them for, snowmobile safety is vital. They are powerful machines, and if you do not take care you could cause serious injury to you or others.

Money saving tips for winter freeze
A few ideas to keep your home warm and comfortable this winter.

How to keep ice off your sidewalks all winter long
It's winter in Ontario and that means icy sidewalks and driveways! Keep them clear to avoid slips and potential liability claims using some of these methods.

7 tips to prevent electrical fires at home
Electrical fires can do some serious damage to your home and put your family’s safety at risk. The good news is electrical fires, like other household fires, are often preventable.

Q&A: Can my credit score affect my insurance rates?
In Canada, different organizations and individuals have the right to view your credit score. Here’s what you need to know about your credit score, including how it’s calculated, how it can affect your insurance premiums.

Set your cottage up for a safe off-season
Cottage memories are fresh in our minds, but with the kids back at sch

Home improvements that could lower the cost of your insurance
If you’re thinking about making some home improvements this year, why not choose projects that could help you save on home insurance?

How to keep your septic system working properly
If your home or cottage has a septic system instead of a sewer connection, keep these 10 tips in mind to help keep it in good working order and help prevent

Your guide to household fire extinguishers
Fire is one of the leading causes of home insurance claims — but

How to detect a natural gas leak in your home
Natural gas is one of the safest fuels to use in your home, but if you

Why it’s important to update your insurance address if you’re moving
To call Canada's recent real estate market ‘feverish' seems like

Things to remember before you rent out your cottage this season
Renting out your cottage can be a great way to let someone else enjoy

How to get your boat ready for summer
After sitting in storage over the winter, your boat needs to be cleane

How to clean your gutters and downspouts
Your home's gutter system is critical in directing rainwater away from

COVID-19 INSURANCE RELIEF
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, CAA Insurance announced that all customers would receive a rate reduction and have continued this promise into 2021.

Q&A: Does my home or tenant insurance policy cover my partner if they move in with me?
From coordinating moving truck rentals to making extra space in your c

Seven Tips to Avoid Package Theft
It's no secret that package theft is on the rise across the country. W

Beware of On-Line Pandemic Scams
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, since March 2020, over 8,500 Canadians have been duped by pandemic-related scams with an estimated cost of $7 million. Here's how to protect yourself from fraud.

Golden Rule to Protect your Vacant Property
Are you spending this summer at the cottage? Are you selling or rentin

Q&A: Does Home Insurance Cover Mould?
The short answer is no, home insurance typically doesn't cover mould.

When the Power Goes Out
A power outage in your home can happen unexpectedly, and at any time.

How does Building a Skating Rink in your Backyard Affect your Home Insurance?
The backyard skating rink is a beloved tradition for families across t

Tis the Season Not to Gather
In our August issue, we explained how hosting a learning pod in your h

Call Before You Renovate
As house prices continue to rise, more homeowners are deciding to stay in their current homes and updating them to suit their current needs. Here are the top 10 valuable renovations.

How to Prevent your Hose Bib from Freezing
The outdoor faucet where you connect your hose (also known as the hose

How to Get your Home Ready for Fall
Each year, fall seems to come and go in the blink of an eye. It can fe

How to maintain your oil tank and insure your property against oil spills
Depending on where you live, your home may be heated using oil. Leaks

Safety tips for outdoor patio heaters and fire elements
Patio season took on a whole new meaning this year, as people across the country adapted their yards for physically distant visits, playdates, and even outdoor workspaces.

Questions Every Homeowner Should Ask about their Property
Did you know that homeowners are responsible for the maintenance and r

Home insurance coverage for spoiled food
The value of your food can add up quickly, especially if you have a de

Learning Pods Could be a Costly Mistake
According to a recent article in canadianunderwriter.ca, as schools ac

Avoiding insurance seller scams & finding a legitimate broker
With insurance fraud on the rise across the country, we want to arm you with the information you need so you can recognize potential scams and make smart choices, especially when it comes to buying insurance.

10 surprising things that are covered by home insurance
Your home insurance policy is designed to protect you and your property in all kinds of emergencies.

Do You Need Home Insurance to get a Mortgage?
While most people know you're legally required to have car insurance before driving a new vehicle, there's no similar legal requirement for buying a home.

Busting Five Common Home Insurance Myths
Your home insurance policy protects so much more than your property and your stuff. One of the most valuable things included in your policy is third-party liability coverage.

Home maintenance: Spring/Summer edition
The good thing about home maintenance this time of year is that you actually get to do most of it while enjoying the sun!

Six Times you should call your Insurance Broker
Home insurance policies are one-year contracts. At the end of each yea

Keeping a Roof Overhead
We have been experiencing a mixture of weather patterns lately, result

How to Keep your Personal Information Secure when using Smart Home Devices
We use smartphones and tablets for everything, from banking to sharing

Protect Your Home While You Escape the Cold
As the winter season drones on, many Canadians are escaping the cold b

What to Do if your Home Has Been Broken Into
Sometimes, despite your best efforts tokeep your home secure, a break-

Everything you Need to Know About Ice Dams
Those glistening icicles hanging from your roof may give your home tha

Ten Surprising Things that are Covered by Home Insurance
Your home insurance policy is designed to protect you and your propert

Are You the Sharing Type?
Renting out your home on a short-term basis can be a great way to gene

What is Third-Party Liability Insurance?
Third-party liability coverage is the portion of an insurance policy t

Should I Make a Home Insurance Claim?
When the unexpected happens, many people debate whether or not they sh

Safety Tips for Wood Stoves and Pellet Stoves
There's something special about curling up beside a crackling wood sto

What to Look Out for when Shopping for an Older Home
If you're in the market for a new home, you might be considering buyin

What is “Proof of Ownership” When you’re making an Insurance Claim?
If you ever find yourself making a home or tenant insurance claim, you

Does Home Insurance Cover Dog Bites?
If you have a dog, you've likely wondered at one point or another what will happen if your dog bites someone, hurts another dog, or damages someone’s property?

Before, During, and After a Windstorm
Strong, gusty winds can do some serious damage to your property and make for unsafe driving conditions. While most home and car insurance policies do include coverage for damage caused by windstorms, there are some things you can do before, during, and after a windstorm to stay safe and avoid damage to your property and your car.

How to Safeguard your Home against Fire
Your home is your sanctuary, and it's the place where you should feel

Is Tenant Insurance Really Necessary?
John and Nancy are saving to purchase their first home and believe the

Is your Sump Pump in Game Shape?
If groundhog Wiarton Willie's prediction of an early spring is correct

Return to a Safe, Sound and Dry Home
If you're planning to head out of town for a vacation or trip, the las

Ten Essential Safety Tips for Snowmobilers
If you snowmobile, that dusting of fresh powder outside may be calling

Ready to Deck the Halls?
The holiday season is upon us. Your favourite café has broken o

Five Things you should know About Cannabis Legalization and your Insurance
Since recreational cannabis use was legalized this past October, a lot

Top Tips for a Safe and Spook-tacular Halloween
Yes, it's that time of year again — when little goblins, ghosts,

Know Your Limits
Although your property policy offers a wide range of coverage to prote

How to Safely Use Your Wood Burning Fireplace This Winter
If you're using a wood or pellet stove, you'll want to do some additio

Careful Planning Is the Foundation to a Successful Build
More often in new custom home construction, we are seeing homeowners assuming the role of the general contractor and using the savings towards upgrades on their homes.

That Extra Drink You Serve Can Be Costly
It's summertime and the sun is shining; it's the perfect conditions fo

Mortgages, Loans and Your Insurance
When you arrange a mortgage or loan, the financial institution's name

Why did my insurance company cancel my policy?
Insurance policies can be cancelled for a variety of reasons, either by the customer or their insurer, depending on the circumstances. If you're wondering why your policy may have been cancelled or how

Plugging Into Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sounds like a great way to make some extra money and

What is “Additional Living Expenses” coverage?
Your home insurance policy can protect you from so much more than physical damage to your property and liability claims. Additional Living Expenses coverage is included in most home insurance, condo insurance, and tenant insurance policies.

Insurance to Value is a Must
Your home will likely be your largest financial investment and you wan

Water Damage – Are You Covered?
Communities across Canada are experiencing more extreme weather condit

Getting Your Cottage Ready for a Season of Fun
Despite the fact that cool wintry temperatures are holding on tight, m

Vacant Dwellings: How to Secure Your Home and Maintain Your Insurance Coverage
Whether you're on vacation, in the process of selling a home you've mo

Vacant Dwellings: Does Your Home Insurance Have You Covered?
Your home is probably your single largest investment and, as such, is

Does Airbnb Insurance Cover Everything?
Airbnb offers a revenue stream for those with an extra room to spare or their entire house if they plan to be away for periods of time. While the financial potential may seem intriguing, many people are unaware of the potential insurance risks.

Should College Students Buy Tenant's Insurance?
It's Back to School Time again which means that many college and unive

Renovating or Building a Home? Put Insurance in Your Tool Kit!
Protect yourself and your property during renovations Renovating or re

10 Home Cleaning Tips To Get Ready for Spring
Spring is a great time to refresh your home. With longer, warmer days comes the chance to open windows and enjoy more outdoor living.

Does Your Home Policy Include Flood Insurance?
Most Canadians assume that their homeowners insurance covers all types of water damage including flood. When a pipe bursts or a toilet overflows, in just a matter of minutes the damage can be extensive and costly to repair.

Home Fire Safety
Each week about 7 people die from home fires in Canada. To protect you

It's Flood Season
10 ways to prevent and minimize damage to your basement and personal i

The Lowdown on Insurance Deductibles
Have you ever looked through your insurance policy and felt like you were reading another language? Understanding insurance terminology might seem intimidating, but we're working on changing that. Let