Protect Your Home: Tips for Break-and-Enter Prevention in Ontario

With the rise in home break-ins in Ontario, it has become crucial for residents to take proactive steps to protect their homes. Understanding the importance of break-and-enter prevention is the first step toward ensuring your family's safety and safeguarding your property. We will explore valuable insights and tips from the Toronto Police Service to help Ontario residents enhance their home security measures.

Protect Yourself and Your Business from Malicious Search Engine Scams

In today's digital landscape, cybercriminals are finding new ways to exploit unsuspecting individuals. A new tactic that has emerged is malicious search engine results scams. These scams involve cybercriminals manipulating results in search engines like Google or Bing to trick users into visiting malicious websites or downloading harmful software. Whether you own a business or simply browse the internet, it's critical to understand how these scams work to protect yourself and your employees from falling victim to these malicious schemes.

Vehicle Tracking System: You May be Eligible for Free Installation

Auto theft is a growing problem in Canada, with more than a 300% increase over the past five years. As a result, insurance companies estimate $1 billion in losses to car thieves, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). To combat rising theft rates, insurance companies are looking for innovative solutions to reduce the number of stolen vehicles and improve the chances of recovering them. One solution is to install anti-theft tracking devices in cars.

The Ultimate Guide to Safely Cleaning Your Dryer Vent

Did you know that household dryers are responsible for 15,000 house fires* every year? It's a startling statistic that should serve as a reminder for all of us to check and clean our dryer vents regularly. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of safely cleaning your dryer vent to prevent fires and ensure your appliance runs efficiently. So, before you throw that last load in, take a moment to tend to your dryer vent and prioritize the safety of your home and loved ones.

Equité Association’s Annual Stolen Vehicle Report: Is Your Car on a Thief’s Shopping List?

Auto theft is a growing concern in Canada, and car owners must stay informed and take preventive measures to protect their vehicles. Équité Association, a not-for-profit organization working to combat insurance crime in Canada, has released its annual Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in Canada.

The Hidden Dangers of Re-Vinning: Know Before You Buy Your Next Vehicle

If you discovered that you own a re-vinned vehicle, chances are, you found out after the fact. As auto theft continues to rise in Canada, thieves are finding crafty ways to disguise their criminal activity. Before you purchase your next vehicle, learn more about re-vinning, the legal ramifications, and the effects a re-vinned car has on your insurance.

Carbon Monoxide Hazards: How to Keep Your Home Safe

Carbon monoxide is a serious and potentially deadly risk in your home year-round. However, it is perhaps even more dangerous during the cold Canadian winter when homeowners depend on appliances like furnaces and fireplaces to heat their homes.

2023 Holiday Safety Tips

The holidays are a great time to enjoy your home with friends and family. Avoid filing a homeowners insurance claim this holiday season by following these holiday safety tips. By using safety best practices and common sense throughout your decorating, home heating, and holiday cooking, you’ll be able to enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.

5 Common Winter Home Insurance Claims

Winter, with its icy winds and freezing temperatures, can be a harsh season for homeowners. From frozen pipes to roof damage, the cold weather brings a set of challenges that can lead to home insurance claims. But what are the most common winter home insurance claims? And how can you prevent them? Let's dive in and find out.

Financial Literacy Month: How to Plan for a Brighter Future

The dreaded financial talk. But what if it didn't have to be? November is Financial Literacy Month in Canada, a time for individuals to assess their current financial position and make improvements for a brighter financial future.

Gifford Carr Expands Presence in Sudbury with Acquisition of W.W. Dopson Limited

Gifford Carr Insurance Group's recent acquisition of W.W. Dopson Limited in Sudbury solidifies its status as the city's largest independent brokerage, promising the same exceptional service with added resources. This strategic move underscores their commitment to the community and Northern Ontario's residents.

Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: Fall Edition

Source: Intact Insurance Reminder: it's time to review your fall home maintenance checklist.

School Zone Safety: Driving Tips

Summer adventures are coming to an end and kids across the country are getting ready for the new school year ahead — and so are all the bus drivers and child chauffeurs (a.k.a. parents). When you hit the road on the first day of school (and all the days after that), keep these tips in mind for a safe ride:

Understanding Host Liquor Liability Insurance

If you are hosting an event and plan to serve alcohol it is important to understand your insurance coverage. Before you send a message to the group chat, learn more about liquor liability insurance in the blog below.

Tree Maintenance for your Home

There's nothing like sitting on your property under the shade of beautiful trees. 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, property, and home if you do not inspect or maintain them regularly.

Cottage Season: 10 Tips for Opening Weekend

Cottage season is here, Ontario! If you own a cottage, the time has come to start preparing to open it for the season. Cue all the starry nights, beach days, and campfires with friends and family to come.

Ontario, renew your license plates

It's no April fool's joke. License plate renewals are free in Ontario. But, you do still need to process your renewal. So set your annual (or bi-annual) reminders to go online and renew, even if you won't be receiving plate stickers or paying a fee.

Flood Damage Prevention

Spring is just around the corner, which means the snow is starting to thaw and the ice starting to melt - it also means increased risks of flooding. To help prevent damage check out these tips for before, during, and after the flood to minimize the impact on your property.

10 tips to prevent water damage in your home

Water can cause a significant amount of damage in your home — but many homeowners don't think about preventing water damage until it's too late. Check out 10 steps from our friends at Economical to help prevent water damage in your home. We've also included definitions of different types of water coverage, to help you better understand the protection that is (or isn't) included in your property insurance policy.

Ask The Expert | Realty Insights Part 01

Have you heard, it's a weird real estate market at the moment? We've been so used to these fast-flying listings, competitive offers, and scheduled offer dates. As we start 2023 we're noticing a shift. As we start 2023 we're noticing a shift. To help us understand how to approach real estate this year we sat down with local experts on The Wright Team to provide pointers that'll help. Not only are they #1 in Ottawa, Ontario with Royal Lepage Team Realty - the team is in the top 1% in Canada with Royal Lepage. So it's safe to say when it comes to real estate they really know their stuff.

How to Jump Start a Car Safely

Truth: a dead car battery can really put a (socket) wrench in your day. There's no worse feeling than turning the ignition only to hear your vehicle's ignition not turn over. But as a car owner, a refresher on how to correctly, and safely, jump your vehicle is useful to have up-to-date in your tool kit. So save this blog to your favourites, just in case.

Hybrid Vehicle Types and Their (Business) Benefits

EVs (electric vehicles) have been in high demand across the Canadian market. And, rightfully so! Before you bring home that shiny new EV, get to know the different types of hybrids and how they may impact your commute.

Holiday Safety Tips to Make the Most of the Season

Keep the holiday spirit strong with a few festive reminders to keep you and your loved ones safe and cheerful.

Slip and Fall Liability

Winter is officially here, and with it the likelihood of slips or falls increases. Read a few tips to help prevent an incident this (frosty) season!

How to Protect Yourself Against Car Theft

Car theft in Ontario continues to rise. With Toronto continuing to lead the country in number of vehicles stolen each year according to Équité Association, its central location and high traffic make it a thief's paradise.

Stay Safe on the Roads During the Holidays

The holidays are also a stressful time for many households. Last-minute shopping or visiting several holiday parties on the same day can add to the confusion. Expect some distracted drivers on the roads. Expect some fatigued drivers as well. It’s a busy time for all of us. Let's make it a safe holiday with a few winter driving reminders.

Protect Your Home From Winter Weather

We get it, Canadian all endure winter. How can you protect your home from the severe cold this season? Discover a few tips and resources to help make sure your home doesn't get frostbite (brr!).

Hurricane Survival Guide: Before, During, and After the Storm

As seasonal hurricanes approach, the key to reducing risk and damage to your property is preparedness. Review this survival guide to protect you, your loved ones, and your property from damage caused by hurricanes.

The Pros and Cons of Company-Monitored and Self-Monitored Security Systems

Both company-monitored and self-monitored systems can enhance your home security and help deter or catch unwelcome guests, so take a moment to understand the pros and cons of each before you sound the alarms.

Does Home Insurance Cover Landscaping?

Generally, home insurance policies can help pay to replace certain types of landscaping, such as trees, shrubs, and plants. But coverage depends on the way the damage occurred. Read more about home insurance and landscaping coverage here.

Buying or Leasing a Vehicle and Insurance

Like many Canadians, you may be looking to hit the open road in a new vehicle. If so, you may be weighing the pros and cons of buying vs. leasing a new vehicle. Fortunately, leasing or buying truly comes down to your individual priorities. Curious if leasing or buying a vehicle is right for you and how this may impact your insurance policy? The article below will identify the differences between leasing, financing, and owning a vehicle, and instances where it may be more beneficial to lease or buy. Additionally, we sat down with one of Gifford Carr's personal lines experts, Jessica Elliott, who provided her insight on insurance implications.

Ontario Staycation Tax Credit Go-To Guide

Ontarians are in on a hidden secret: the province really is yours to discover. Catchy tagline aside, Ontario boasts over 1-million square kilometers of discoverable landscape. Amid the pandemic, locals took to staycations as a way to venture out of their homes and redefine what it meant to "vacation." And, it so seems that staycations are here to stay.

Hiring A Contractor? Here’s your Pre-Reno Checklist

'Tis the season for home renovations. As spring quickly approaches, it's time to start planning any fair-weather projects if you haven't already! Here are some things to check off your list as you get ready to hire a contractor:

What’s the Difference Between An Insurance Agent and Broker?

When you’re in the market for insurance, knowing who to turn to for advice is an important step in the journey. If you’re unsure about the difference between a broker and an agent, check out the details here before you choose the one that best suits your needs.

Seasonal Property Insurance: What You May Not Know

A quick question for all the cottagers out there: what’s the difference between a bear and a skunk? When it comes to seasonal property insurance, it’s about more than their physical differences — damage done to your cottage by bears is probably covered, while the damage done by skunks probably isn’t.

Boating time approaches: Preparing clients

Spring is around the corner and Canadians are patiently waiting for boating season to arrive. For brokers, now is the perfect opportunity to check in with clients about boating insurance coverage and provide some advice on what owners should consider before they set sail.

Spring Home Maintenance Tips

After a long winter, it is a good idea to spend time on preventive measures to help maintain your home and property throughout the year. Tasks such as cleaning out your gutters, checking for dead trees and branches, and cleaning and inspecting home mechanical and plumbing systems, such as heating and air conditioning equipment, can help make spring a season of safety.

Are you ready for winter?

Are you feeling the frost across Ontario this week? Winter is at our doorstep, and you’ve pulled out your cold-weather armour—warm coat, waterproof boots, tuque, scarf, and mittens. You’ve got everything you need to face the frigid temperatures ahead, but what about your home and car? Here are a few tips to help you get through the cold season without any nasty surprises.

Smart homes, smarter hackers

When we think of cyber, often the focus is around ransomware attacks on large corporations, but what about individuals and families? In an age where technology can turn the lights on and off in our homes, the industry should prepare for a shift in cyber liability coverage on the personal lines side.

Online shopping safety tips

Make your online shopping more secure – hit checkout safely with six tips from Canada Post to help protect you against fraud:

Halloween Safety Tips

The Halloween spirit has spread to the inside and outside of the home, with homeowners setting up spooktacular displays. When planning and setting up your Halloween decorations, it is a good idea to consider any potential risks involved. Taking steps to prepare your property and to protect any visitors can help spare you from a truly frightening night.

10 of the most scenic fall drives you can take in Ontario

With the leaves colours on full display, Fall is a beautiful season for a road trip in Ontario. So put on your favourite playlist and hit the road! Check out the top 10 most scenic drives across the province.

RV Winter Maintenance

It’s hard to believe that the summer is starting to wind down. As the delicious aroma of pumpkin spice starts to waft in the air, the RV fans starts to think about preventative winter maintenance. As we prepare to tuck our seasonal homes on wheels into winter hibernation, there are four key areas to focus on: Roofs, Frames, Seals, and Protection.

A step-by-step guide to closing your cottage for the winter

Summer days at the dock have come and gone, and if you haven’t taken measures to winterize your cottage, it’s almost time to close it up and say goodbye until next spring. Check these 10 tasks off your list as you prepare to leave your home-away-from-home for the winter months:

Fireworks Safety

Fireworks are beautiful and are enjoyed as a celebration for holidays and events. But they are dangerous explosive devices that need to be handled with care and caution. The improper use of fireworks can result in serious injury and damage to nearby properties. If you do decide to light your own, take the proper safety precautions by following these tips:

5 things You Should Know About Motorcycle Insurance in Canada

Whether you're a novice in search of your first policy or a seasoned motorcyclist looking for different insurance options, here are some educational basics—a sort of “Motorcycle Insurance 101”—as well a few tips to help you keep premiums down.

A beginner’s guide to home insurance coverage

You did it. You finally did it. You’ve bought a house for your family, a place to call your own. Memories will be made there, and you will have something to leave behind to your children. So, I guess that’s it then, right? Not so fast. Before you can carve out new memories and start a new chapter under your new roof, you need to think about the intangibles. You need house insurance.

Insurance 101 for Marina Operators & Watercraft Owners

If you’re in the marina business, or simply all about the boat life and in the business of having fun on the water, don’t skip on insurance. It’s there to help you stay afloat when things get rocky. If you’re a marina operator, dock your boat at a marina, or tow and launch your own boat, it’s a good time to re-assess your insurance needs before diving into lake life.

How to prevent collisions with animals — and what to do when it’s too late

Learn how to prevent a collision with an animal before it happens, how to minimize injuries and damage to your vehicle if you can’t avoid a collision, and what to do if you’ve hit an animal.

How to get your boat ready for summer

After sitting in storage over the winter, your boat needs to be cleaned and prepped before it spends another summer in the water. While summer boat maintenance is a lengthy process, be sure to check these seven steps off your to-do list before leaving the dock:

How to pet-proof your home in 8 simple steps

Whether you're planning to surprise your family with a cuddly kitten or adopt a full-grown dog from your local animal shelter, take these steps to prepare your space before bringing your new furry family member home.

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, from fires and floods to theft and vandalism — but you might be surprised to learn that these 10 things are covered in most standard home insurance policies!

Top 5 Cottage Insurance Claims – and how to avoid them!

Daydreaming of dockside days? Considering finally purchasing your lakefront retreat? When it comes to seasonal properties there are maintenance projects that can help maintain peace of mind. Let’s run through the top five cottage property claims - and how you can prepare yourself to avoid them, so you can rest on lake time.

Fact or Fiction: Top Cottage Insurance Myths Debunked

As insurance brokers we’re here to ensure that if the what if happens, you are covered. Since a seasonal property is not your primary residence it requires you to review a different set of considerations in policy coverage to calm your stressors. Let's play a game of Fact or Fiction debunking the top eight insurance myths about seasonal properties. After all, lake time is for s’more good times and tan lines, right?!

7 tips to avoid package theft

With the rise in online orders, we've seen a rise in package theft across the country. Whether you’ve seen a viral video of a thief getting caught or you’ve had a package stolen yourself, here are several steps you can take to prevent a pesky package thief from taking off with your goods. Discover insights from our partners at Economical Insurance.

5 Tips for Cottage Shopping in the Winter

Our friends at RE/MAX Boardwalk share the inside scoop from local lakeside real estate expert, Peter Bastedo. He’s shared the top 5 questions you need to consider while cottage shopping in the off season.

Fact or Fiction: Top Five Car Insurance Myths Debunked

It's Car Insurance Day! To celebrate, we're debunking five myths about car insurance. Learn what's fact and what's fiction.

Delivered: How Ridesharing and Food Delivery Impacts Your Car Insurance

Thinking of delivering local pizza for Skip the Dishes or providing a “Lyft” in your car in your spare time? Before starting your delivery business, let's chat.

Winter Driving 101: 7 Tips To Stay Safe On The Roads This Winter

Whether you’re a first-time winter driver, or have many years’ experience under your belt, we’ve got some driving tips to help you get through the True North winter with 'snow problems'.

Home Policies And Pandemic Pods

Many parents have set-up so called ‘Pandemic Pods’ to homeschool small groups of children, friends and families are hosting small gatherings, and homeowners continue to rely on services such as housecleaning. Unfortunately, these activities could be opening you up to liability with regard to your home insurance.

Why you need tenant insurance in ottawa

A look at the many reasons why having tenant insurance in Ottawa is worth it

What you need to know about car insurance

There comes a time in every driver’s life when they have to shop for car insurance. Maybe you’re still a young driver, finally moving off your parents’ insurance plan when you get your starter vehicle. Whatever the case, insurance is mandatory in Ontario, and indeed Canada, if you’re going to be driving on the road!

How a classic insurance company can help you protect your investment

If you’ve found that perfect antique car and invested in restoring and maintaining it, you’ll want to protect that investment with insurance.

6 must-know tips for homeowners renting out their property

An unused basement, with a bit of TLC, makes a perfect income suite or rental option on your home. What’s more, with the explosion of Airbnb and their innovative business model, many homeowners have begun renting out their homes when they’re away in the hopes of increasing their cash flow. Renting out your home, when done properly, can introduce considerable additional finances into your household. This money can ultimately pay for your mortgage and often, even produce a profit.

What does a new car warranty cover?

Before you head to your local dealership to purchase a new car, it is a good idea to understand what will be included and when you might get stuck with an exorbitant repair bill when something goes wrong. At Gifford Carr Insurance Group we not only are a reputable car insurance broker Ottawa has available, but are also ready to help you make the best possible decision with your money and new ride. Let’s learn about car warranties together.

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