Wildfire Preparation As warmer weather approaches, so does the risk of wildfires. Preparing for wildfire season begins with making some adjustments to your landscaping, and performing regular maintenance. Most wildfires are spread by embers or sparks igniting materials on or near your home. Changes made to the area closest to your home, and your home itself, have the greatest impact in reducing your risk of wildfire damage. Home & Yard Maintenance: Do not store propane or gas tanks or firewood piles under your deck or close to your home Regularly remove debris from your gutters Plant lo ..read more

Your Essential Fall Maintenance Checklist Ready or not, winter is and cooler temperatures are just around the corner. It's time to prepare your home with this easy to follow checklist! Clean your Gutters Cleaning your gutters is essential in maintaining your home's safety and integrity from the top down. Give your gutters the TLC they need to look and function their best by clearing out leaves and debris. Inspect your Roof Roof maintenance can help prevent further damage and costly repairs down the line. Inspect your roof and make sure it can withstand the winter season. Seal Air Leaks or ..read more

Everything you need to know about Car Rentals Are you renting a vehicle, or renting out your vehicle? Here is the lowdown on insurance for all of your car rental scenarios. I'm travelling and will be renting a car If you're planning to travel and rent a vehicle within Canada or the Continental US, your policy may be able to offer an extension of collision and comprehensive coverage through "SEF 27 Liability for Non-Owned Automobiles".  In order to qualify you must carry these collision and comprehensive coverage on your vehicle, and the rental car contract must be in your name. This cov ..read more

We are here for you. If you have been impacted by the wildfires in Nova Scotia, we are here for you. We are standing by to help those who have been displaced, or those who have lost their homes, businesses, or vehicles. What's Covered Fires are devastating - but insurance is here to help. Standard homeowner, tenant, and business insurance policies cover damage resulting from fire - wildfires included. If you have been displaced from your home due to an evacuation order from civic authority, you are eligible to claim expenses such as hotel or meals under the mass evacuation coverage, offered ..read more

Are you prepared for an emergency? The first step of emergency preparedness is to identify areas of risk. Risks may include wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, water contamination, etc... Based on your location, one risk could be more probable than another - or perhaps there is an additional risk, such as a manufacturing plant or other man-made risk.  Emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime, so it's important to prepare ahead of time. Here are 5 easy steps for emergency preparedness: Identify Risks & Form a Plan. Forming a plan ahead of time will enhance your ability to respond. Cons ..read more

What you need to know before renting your home... If you're thinking about renting your home and becoming a landlord, we have a few ideas to help your process and preparation. Complete property repairs and upgrades When you rent your home, your access will become more limited. Consider completing repairs and maintenance prior to any change in occupancy. Ensure that all of your major systems are up to date including your electrical, plumbing and heating. Tenants are typically not responsible for the upkeep or maintenance of a home so you’ll want to have your home in great shape prior to new o ..read more

Should I file this Claim? Disclaimer: If there is any chance that someone may have suffered because of an accident or incident, then you must file a claim report with your insurance company. If you choose not to file a claim, you won't have the insurance policy to protect you from a lawsuit.  When we talk about small claims, we do not want to diminish the financial impact of the cost of repairs; we simply want to differentiate losses which are all consuming (i.e a house fire) against those losses where there may be an option to absorb the cost of repair without an adverse or long-term i ..read more

What to do after a Car Accident Accidents happen - and whether it is a minor fender bender, or a serious collision, a rush of adrenaline can make it difficult to be calm and think clearly.  Here is a quick checklist of what to do following a car accident: Determine if anyone is hurt.  Make sure everyone in your vehicle and any other involved vehicle is responsive and okay. Even if you feel okay, be cautious when you're getting out of your vehicle Call Emergency Services if needed.  Depending on your location, police may not attend minor accidents where there are no injuries ..read more

Imagine you're on your way home when a deer jumps out in front of you. You veer off the road out of instinct to miss it, but instead, end up hitting a tree - this is how quickly and unexpectedly a collision accident can happen and this is why there is value in collision insurance. What is Collision Insurance? Collision insurance will offer repair to your vehicle if you collide with another vehicle, an object (i.e tree), or, if your vehicle/motorcycle tips over. Collision insurance would also provide coverage in the event you hit a pothole or lose control and your vehicle is damaged upon impa ..read more

Insuring Santa Clause Being Santa Claus' Insurance Broker provides many unique challenges, but here at Huestis Insurance Group, we believe that insuring the magic of Christmas is worth the work.  Santa runs a 24/7 business operation including a factory, warehouse, elves, and reindeer.  We ensure Santa is well protected for his journey around the world with a comprehensive insurance package including, but not limited to, some of the following coverage: Workshop Insurance Santa's Workshop spans over several acres and requires significant coverage for repair or replacement. C ommercia ..read more