Blog

Buying a house in Vancouver is a big milestone. Between house hunting, mortgage approvals, inspections, and closing costs, there is already plenty to think about. But there’s one important question that often gets overlooked: what happens to your new home if an earthquake occurs? Living in British Columbia means living in an earthquake-prone region. Whether […]

Filing an insurance claim is probably the last thing you want to deal with after a flooded basement, car accident, break-in, or unexpected property damage. You’ve already got enough on your plate, and the last thing you need is a confusing claims process. Unfortunately, insurance claims don’t always go as smoothly as expected. Some take […]

Moving to Vancouver is exciting. There are mountains, beaches, neighbourhood coffee shops, seawall walks, ski days, rainy days, and yes, a lot of conversations about housing. But once the boxes are packed and the moving truck is booked, there is one practical thing many new residents forget to review: insurance. If you are moving to […]

Renovating your home can be exciting. Maybe you are updating an older Vancouver house, finishing a basement suite, replacing a kitchen, adding a bathroom, or finally turning that unused space into something useful. But before the dust starts flying, there is one thing many homeowners forget to check: their home insurance. Renovations can change the […]

Business insurance is one of the key types of policies offered by Habitat Insurance Agencies.  We receive calls on a daily basis from established business owners and people who are just starting new businesses requesting quotes and information about insurance coverage.  Below are some of the most frequently asked questions (along with our answers) from […]

With the advent of websites such as Airbnb and VRBO for short-term rentals, many property owners are taking the opportunity to generate extra income by renting out their homes to visitors. Sounds like a great idea. Unless you are like the unfortunate Calgary couple whose home suffered approximately $150,000 damage last week during a “drug-fueled […]

Significant increases in insurance rates have been a common scenario that many strata councils and apartment building owners in British Columbia have had to contend with since 2012.  There are two primary reasons for the substantial upswing in insurance rates:  Rising claim costs:  insurance rates for strata are not keeping up with rising claim costs, […]

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, automobile theft costs Canadians every year close to $1-billion, including $542-million for insurers to fix or replace stolen cars, $250 million-in police, health-care and court-system costs and millions more for correctional services. Tips to help stop car theft: Always roll up your car windows, lock the doors and […]

With interest rates continuing to hold steady at record lows in Canada, many prospective buyers remain confident in purchasing homes and condos. Today’s guest blogger, mortgage broker Marci Deane, provides some insight into determining an affordable mortgage for you. While most of us have a basic knowledge of our monthly expenditures, others need to explore […]

Explaining increases in insurance rates and premiums is one of the most common requests from clients to insurance brokers.  There are various factors that influence insurance rates and premiums, some of which can be controlled by the insured person or business, and others that are determined by external factors. Factors that may be controlled by […]