Your Home & Auto Insurance Renewal Notice
Thank you for your continued trust in Bryson Insurance. We truly appreciate serving your insurance needs. Your insurance policies are renewing. Your Insurance Company forwards your renewal documents to you directly for your review. Your premium and payment information are attached to your policy. Changes through the year can affect your payment details so we do recommend that you carry overdraft protection on your bank accounts to avoid any returned payments.
Our role as your insurance broker is to provide extraordinary service, knowledge and choice. Our purpose is to also keep you informed of industry changes and useful guidance.
We have taken the liberty to provide an update on both your home policy and your automotive policy.
Please review your individual policy documents for further details.
This notice is separated into two sections:
- Property Insurance policy information
- Auto Insurance policy information
Scroll down to see your property insurance renewal information.
Property Insurance Policy Update
Property Insurance Policy Update The following paragraphs pertain to items requiring your action, coverage considerations, policy update questions, and an opportunity to better insure your outstanding mortgage balance. If changes are required, please contact our office and we would be happy to review with you.
Items Requiring Your Action:
Your dwelling coverage and contents limits on your policy have been increased automatically by your Insurer to keep pace with increases in construction costs and general inflation. Please review your policy limits carefully to ensure that the limits are sufficient.
Your policy does contain statutory conditions, coverage exclusions, and standard terms, all of which could affect a claims settlement. Certain types of loss, damage, or property are not covered by your policy. It is important that you understand these limitations and that you review your policy carefully on a regular basis to ensure the information contained in your policy is accurate and the coverage you have meets your current needs.
Coverage Considerations:
Do you have a monitored burglar alarm protecting your property? If you have recently installed a monitored alarm system at this location, please remit a copy of the certificate which will allow us to file for a potentially applicable discount.
Is your ‘unscheduled items’ coverage aligned with your assets? Your policy has special limits of insurance for your unscheduled items such as sporting equipment, bicycles, or jewellery. Please review your policy limits carefully to ensure that these limits are sufficient to cover these items. If changes are required, please contact our office and we would be happy to review with you.
Is it time to increase Sewer Backup coverage? Due to recent changes in weather patterns, there is an increase in claims due to sewer backup. Many Insurers are changing or limiting the amount of Sewer Backup coverage you have on your policy. There may be options to increase protection. Please contact our office so we can review your options.
Recommend Coverage Additions
The frequency and intensity of sudden accumulation of water from events like heavy rains, spring run-off, melting snow and overflows from lakes is on the rise. The Insurance Bureau of Canada cites what used to be a 1-in-40 year storm is now closer to a 1-6 storm. Adding this protection for a few extra dollars a month can provide protection against significant loss.
An Umbrella policy of $5,000,000 extends increased liability limits to cover your home and automobiles, as well as providing coverage for libel, slander, or defamation of character. An Umbrella policy can be added for at a nominal rate. Contact us today to learn more.er patterns, there is an increase in claims due to sewer backup. Many Insurers are changing or limiting the amount of Sewer Backup coverage you have on your policy. There may be options to increase protection. Please contact our office so we can review your options.
Earthquakes will happen. Predicting the severity, however, is challenging. Contact us to discuss adding Earthquake coverage to your policy.
As homeowners, we are usually not aware that we are responsible for the underground service lines that connect our homes to vital city-provided services. These underground service lines include your water line as well as your sewer or septic lines. The good news is that for only a few dollars a month you can fill this coverage gap. Call us today to discuss adding this coverage to your policy.
This valuable additional coverage offered by some insurers can help to protect your home and your possessions against loss from mechanical failure. These breakdowns can occur in many typical household items such as Air Conditioning systems, Backup generators, or Water pumps. There is a reasonable cost to add this important protection to your policy. Please contact our office to receive a no obligation quotation on adding this coverage to your policy.
- Frozen swimming pools and hot tubs
- Wear and tear, such as worn roof shingles
- Mechanical breakdown of items such as furnaces and AC units
- Farming
- Vacancy – unless notified within 30 days
- Participation in any Home Sharing programs (e.g. Airbnb or Flipkey)
Please advise our office if any of the following changed have happened, including, but not limited to:
- Do you now work out of your home or rent any portion out to other individuals?
- Have you purchased expensive new items of jewellery, fine arts, watercraft, or wine collections?
- Have you completed upgrades or renovations to your home?
- Have you installed a pool, generator, elevator, or home theatre?
- Any changes to heating? (i.e. woodstove)
- Has or will your home become vacant or unoccupied?
Automotive Insurance Policy Update
Auto reform has made major changes to your accident benefits coverage. You can watch a video from the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario outlining the changes here.
This means that your standard Accidents Benefits coverage has been reduced by the Province of Ontario. Click here to view a pamphlet that outlines the reduced standard coverage as well as detailed information on optional increased coverage. We recommend engaging our team to discuss whether your current coverage is adequate to address your needs.
We highly recommend a minimum liability limit of $2,000,000 on all your insurance policies. You can accomplish this by increasing your standard limit, or you can purchase an Umbrella policy which extends the increased liability limit to both your automobile and property policies. If you wish to increase your coverage for a minimal charge, please contact our office for details.
Many insurance companies offer a Claims Protection endorsement, at minimal cost, which would maintain your driving record even after your first at-fault accident. If you have not already taken advantage of this beneficial optional coverage and have a clean driving record with at least 6 years of driving experience, please contact our office to review your eligibility.
There are several ways to reduce your premiums, including increasing your policy deductible or adding on discounts that are newly available. Each insurance company is different. Each offers many discounts including a Winter Tire discount or a Retiree discount. Several markets also offer significant bundled discounts for having multiple policies with the same insurer. Please contact our office to determine your discount eligibility or to receive a free no obligation quotation.
Have you changed how you use your vehicle?
Your policy contains standard terms, conditions, coverage exclusions, and standard terms, all of which could affect a claims settlement. Certain types of loss, damage, or property are not covered by your policy. It is important that you understand these limitations and that you review your policy carefully on a regular basis to ensure the information contained in your policy is accurate and coverage you have meets your current needs.
If you use your automobile for uses other than disclosed to us or your insurer, you may put yourself in a position to have a claim denied. If you are considering using your automobile for different uses or have any other updates to provide to us, please reach out to our office first to discuss the necessary updates to your policy. This will ensure your insurance coverage is not jeopardized.
Please provide any updates to us including, but not limited to, the following:
Is your vehicle now used for Business or Commercial use?
– Are you considering driving for a Ride Sharing company?
– Is there a change in the distance you commute to work or transit?
– Are there any new drivers in your household?
– Is there a change in address or location where your automobile is used or kept?
Again, we would like to thank you for choosing Bryson Insurance to help in protecting your personal, family and business needs. If you have any questions, please reach out to our team of dedicated insurance professionals. You can reach us by emailing your dedicated Account Manager or calling 1-800-661-5196.
Our dedicated Account Managers are ready to serve your insurance needs:
Donna – dmurphy@brysoninsurance.ca
James – jturner@brysoninsurance.ca
Kelly – kvieira@brysoninsurance.ca
Rebecca – rsymes@brysoninsurance.ca
Trudy – tmitchell@brysoninsurance.ca
Wendy – whenderson@brysoninsurance.ca