Calgary’s municipal authorities perform their annual property assessments in summer, determining the value of privately owned real estate for tax purposes. Citizens receive their documents early in the new year. One thing to keep in mind when going through your assessment is that there’s a difference between the assessment value (or market value) of your…
Thousands of people from Calgary lock up their houses and head on extended vacations without knowing their home insurance may offer only limited protection while away. According to a recent survey conducted by TD Insurance, only 12 per cent of Canadians who spend their winters in warmer climes double-check to make sure that their home…
Calgary home insurance policies must be renewed annually. Most people simply opt to carry over their existing coverage for another year without giving it much thought. However, this is a mistake you want to avoid, as it could cost you a great deal of money. Not only might you be paying too much for coverage…
One of the best ways to keep your Calgary home insurance low is to take every possible step to avoid filing a damage claim. As was proven this past spring, southern Alberta is prone to flooding, and as a homeowner, it is your responsibility to protect your property to the best of your ability. Fortunately,…
The flood of last week has been confirmed to be the worst in southern Alberta’s history, and 26 communities remain under a state of emergency. BMO analystsBMO analysts have estimated damages could end up between $3-billion and $5-billion, and losses after insurance could reach $3.75-billion. At Lane’s Insurance our Calgary office was, fortunately, unaffected. We…
Last year’s heavy storms set a new record in home and auto insurance claims all over Canada. Unfortunately, here in Alberta the situation is quite extreme. Home insurance claims have exceeded premiums collected for the last five years, and with weather experts anticipating a continued pattern of severe storms for the near future, it seems…
There’s an old saying in Calgary…if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. The adage ends there, but the implication is obvious. In five minutes it could be nicer out. But it could also be far worse. Calgary and Alberta have always had severe climates, but we tend to shrug off the bad days and…
March means a lot of melting and re-freezing here in Calgary, so there even though spring is nigh there continues to be the danger of icy and wet sidewalks, porches and steps around your home. No one likes to think about an accident occurring on your property, but it is important to know the risks and…
Choosing a home security system can be a challenging task, but when you take the time to do the research to find the right system to meet your needs, you can protect your loved ones and save money on your Alberta house insurance at the same time. Carefully consider your needs, talk to your friends…
Your roof and siding are the two outermost layers that protect your home. These layers not only keep your home warm and dry, they also protect its structural integrity and other components. Hail, wind, heavy snow and rainstorms often result in flying debris that damage roofs and siding. When damage is minor, it often goes undetected. Failure to detect minor damage and/or…