Northbridge reveals your client’s biggest risk of commercial property water damage
March 10, 2020 by Greg MeckbachImproper installation of pipes and connections is one of the biggest risks your clients face when it comes to water losses, Northbridge Insurance suggests. “Most water damage losses occur as a result of faulty workmanship. If contractors improperly install pipes…
The new trend for handling disputed property claims
June 24, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWhat happens when your client’s property is damaged and the insurer disagrees with the claimant on how much work is needed to restore it? Some of these claims disputes can result in lawsuits, when the claimant brings the insurer to…
Brokerage fined for rebating premium to unhappy client
June 3, 2019 by David GambrillA Manitoba brokerage recently found itself in hot water with the regulator for rebating premium money to a dissatisfied client. Insurance Council of Manitoba ruled that Donbar Agency Limited, which operates as Crossroads Insurance, should not have rebated an unhappy…
Paid IoT Solutions and Claims Reductions
May 17, 2019 Eddy SolutionsAt just after 10 am on an average Thursday morning, a 20-floor apartment building in downtown Toronto experienced a leak in their riser stack between the 5th and 6th floor. The leak was detected by an IoT sensor system, which…
The challenges of assessing seasonal home damage
May 13, 2019 by Adam MalikDespite being told flooding in Ontario’s Cottage Country back in 2013 was one-in-100-years event, area businesses and residents are cleaning up from a second and more widespread flooding incident in less than a decade. Climate is playing a key role…
What’s closed in Victoria after commercial fire
May 9, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA, B.C. – Days after flames tore through a vacant hotel in Victoria, one man is still missing and smoke lingers, forcing the closure of city hall and several other businesses. The fire in the former Victoria Plaza Hotel has…
How kitty litter can impact insured property losses
May 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWhile spring rains and thawing have caused overland flooding of Biblical proportions, drain backups are also the bane of some insurers’ existence. In multi-storey commercial and residential buildings, drain backups are the number one cause of damage, said Adam Bartman,…
‘It’s triage now’: Cottage Country brokers deal with flood fallout
May 6, 2019 by Adam MalikBrokers in Ontario’s Muskoka region are calling the recent flooding event the worst disaster they’ve ever seen. Both Stephen Darling, president at A.W. Shiers Insurance Brokers, and Adam Caswell, owner of Hutcheson Reynolds & Caswell, said damage is greater and…
Best incentives to get homeowners to move out of floodplains
April 29, 2019 by Jason ContantMassive flooding in Quebec has shined the spotlight on suitable incentives that may get homeowners to move out of floodplains. Quebec Premier François Legault said recently that the province will offer a maximum of $100,000 to homeowners dealing with flood…
Condo flooding liability 101
April 18, 2019 by David GambrillYou are the owner of a condo unit. The toilet in the condo unit above you overflows, causing water damage to your ceiling and floor. No, your upstairs neighbour does not have to reimburse you for your $1,000 insurance policy…
How brokers can stop a flooded basement
April 16, 2019 by David GambrillA recent study suggests brokers have a golden opportunity to talk to homeowners one-on-one about how to protect homes from basement floods. With the right information and often for less than $500, homeowners can protect themselves from the increasing risks…
Two winter storms, one $70-million claims bill for insurers
April 9, 2019 by David GambrillThe busy catastrophe season in Canada thus far is continuing with no signs of slowing down. Two severe weather storms in Ontario this year, one in February and one in March, cost insurers more than $70 million in insured damage,…