Oshawa Home Insurance Broker

Sewer Backup Insurance:

Normal home insurance policies do not protect your home from water damage. Adding sewer backup coverage onto your Oshawa home insurance policy will grant you protection against any damage resulting from burst pipes or an overflowing sewage system. Water can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage in seconds, which is why we always recommend this additional coverage to our clients.

By-Law Protection Insurance:

Oshawa is a rapidly expanding city with new subdivisions going up seemingly every day. However, with all the new and modern homes being built, there are still many old-fashioned homes within the Oshawa city limits. The materials used to build such homes may no longer be allowed according to municipal by-laws as they could pose a threat to the structural integrity of the home. If your home needs to be rebuilt with different materials and you are missing this coverage, the cost will come out of your pocket! Since there are still many older homes in the Oshawa area, we always recommend this coverage to our clients that own older homes. Recommending the above coverage options is just one of the many ways that McDougall Insurance can unlock value for our clients.

Home value

The total value of your home and what it would cost to replace it will be reflected in your rates. The higher the value of your home, the higher the cost to rebuild or restore. Home value may not be the same as market value.

Postal code

Your premium may also depend on where you live in Oshawa. Your insurance prices may be influenced by the crime rates in your neighbourhood, or if you are located near a large body of water or in an area that is exposed to a lot of severe weather.

Belongings

The items you own and their total value may affect the price of your home insurance coverage. The number of belongings you want to protect as well as their value will reflect on your premiums.

Insurance history and past claims

Sometimes, your past claims can signal to your insurer how likely you are to make a claim again in the future. Also, having past cancellations – especially due to non-payment – can affect your rates as it indicates high risk in the eyes of insurers.

Bundle multiple policies

Do you already have an auto insurance policy? Consider moving your auto insurance policy over to the same provider as your home insurance, or vice versa. If you bundle your automobile and home insurance, you can experience savings of up to 15%.

Do some renovations

Update your Oshawa home with more modern features to eliminate the risks associated with older building standards. Old wiring and oil tanks pose a significant fire threat to your home, and by replacing them, you will drastically reduce your chance of fire, thus rendering your home less risky to insurers.

Select a higher deductible

Since a deductible is essentially your percentage of the risk assumed, choosing to raise your “assumed risk” can qualify you for lower premiums. For example, raising your $500 deductible to $1,000 or a higher amount that you’re confident of your ability to pay if something happened can go a long way in reducing your premiums.

Be a good homeowner

A lot of issues that can happen in and around your home can be traced back to poor homeownership. By looking after your home, you prevent any need for filing small claims and you may improve your relationship with your insurer by being claims-free. They will see you as a more responsible homeowner and thus charge you less.

Install a security alarm

Adding an alarm system to your house is another easy and simple way of saving money. The system prevents theft and therefore reduces your chances of loss, which may result in lower premiums.