Saturday, 28 June 2014

How to Avoid Road Rage

In an older article by Canadian Under Writer, nearly 80% of Canadians admitted to road rage behaviour. If this statistic does not frighten you, then we don't know what does. If you are a driver currently on the lookout for Fort McMurray car insurance coverage, then we can assume that you have your safety and that of other drivers at heart. If you have been following us for a while, you probably already know that we care for that as well. This is why today we would like to educate you on road rage and how to avoid it.

For many people, road rage is often linked to a lack of sleep. While it is not yet possible to prove that a driver is driving without proper sleep, Transport Canada has estimated that about 20% of fatal collisions involve driver fatigue. If you have ever felt truly fatigued, then this probably does not come as much of a surprise for you. So how can you avoid it? The answer is so simple it's almost laughable: Don't hit the road without enough sleep, period.

The next thing that you will have to consider is proper planning. Road rages often occur when a person is late or when he or she really needs to make it somewhere. With proper planning, road rage can often be prevented altogether. If you forgot to turn on your alarm and you know that the highway will be jammed with cars, don't risk it. Better call your boss and to suffer his wrath than to cause a possibly mortal accident.

Once you have understood that sometimes you just can't help a situation, you also have to understand that it's not always personal... so don't take it personally. If another driver does something dangerous or illegal to entice a reaction out of you, leave them be: They probably are having a bad day anyway. Remember that in most cases, violence does not solve the issue... nor does anger. Breathe deeply and calm down when a situation arises and remember that letting go is often the best and most sensible solution.

Monday, 23 June 2014

Buying an Used Motorcycle

Okay, motorcycles can be expensive. You probably know that already. You probably also know that Calgary motorcycle insurance policies can be quite pricey as well... but that's beyond the point. (Unless you are also looking for insurance coverage, in which case this free insurance quote might be of interest to you:

For many people, motorcycles are simply too expensive. Or at least new ones are. What do they do, then, when they really want to buy a motorcycle? They decide to buy an used one.

Sure, it might not be the most optimal solution, but it is the cheapest at least. For people who are not used to motorcycles, it might just be ideal for them. Unfortunately, many things can go wrong along the way. If you are new to the world of motorcycles, knowing what to avoid and what to expect is absolutely crucial.

When shopping for an used motorcycle, we always recommend that you steer clear of private sellers. Yes, they tend to be less expensive than dealerships, but if something goes wrong with your "new" bike, then you are left on your own. Dealerships, on the other hand, often offer some type of warranty. Whether you are a new or experienced rider, peace of mind is always priceless. If you live in the Calgary area, this website might prove to be useful.

With that being said, we also recommend that you spend some time learning about motorcycles... especially if you are planning on buying one for the first time. This will allow you to understand in more details the condition of a prospective bike. The more informed you are, the less likely to be "cheated" you will be. Also keep in mind that the test drive is always important and that service history should always be made available by the seller.

Saturday, 21 June 2014

Do Home-Based Businesses Need Commercial General Liability Insurance Coverage?

If you own a business, the fact that it is home-based does not automatically make you immune to being sued. In such a litigious world, being adequately insured should be every business owner's priority... including home-based businesses owners. 

A question that tends to pop up a lot among such owners is whether or not they need general liability insurance coverage ( If you are unsure of what this type of coverage entails, here's what you need to know: According to IBC, the proper definition of CGL is as follows:

A standard form of liability insurance developed for use in the business sector. It is usually contained in a broader mercantile policy also covering property loss and business interruption.

Without this policy, you constantly put yourself at risk of being sued for property damage or injuries that may have been incurred by a third party, either on your premise or somewhere else. As an example, it is not uncommon for a prospective client on their way to meeting you to trip and injure themselves on your premise. Similarly, several cases of people accidentally injuring another person during business meetings away from home have been reported. Those cases often tend to end up in the court.

In those type of situations, proving your innocence can prove to be quite difficult... and costly. The common misconception that only "large companies" need a general liability insurance policy is false and very dangerous. Without this type of coverage, a person puts themselves at risk of being sued on an almost daily basis. If there is one type of policy that should never be overlooked by home-based business owners, it's definitely that one.

Still unsure of whether or not you need it? Talk to your insurance broker and come back to request your free insurance quote!

Monday, 16 June 2014

What Does Builder's Risk Course of Construction Protect You from?

In the construction world, not being protected adequately under insurance policies can be your biggest downfall. With so many insurance policies available to you, including the builder's risk course of construction policy, how do you know exactly what constitutes "proper coverage"?

While discussing this with your insurance broker is always advisable, doing a bit of research on your own is also a good idea. If you work in the construction field, then it is very likely that your broker will recommend purchasing a builder's risk course of construction policy. If you are unfamiliar with this policy, here is what you have to know: This policy is a type of property insurance that covers a building in construction for a certain period of time. Generally, the policy can be purchased to cover a building over the course of several months up to a year.

So what exactly does this policy protect your building from? Quite simply, it protects the actual building and any insured materials within its vicinity from disasters such as fire and vandalism. Should the structure or the items sustain damage from a covered cause, then the insured can count on the insurance company to cover the damage incurred.

For many people, this policy is absolutely mandatory... especially if they are working on a big project. Whether or not you actually are in need of it depends on a few factors, among them the size of the project you are working on and whether or not it is already covered. Once again, we recommend spending some time discussing this policy with your insurance broker before making any final decision.

Friday, 13 June 2014

Insurance Terms 101: What is a Deductible?

If you are new to the world of insurance policies, a term that you will often see being used by people and companies is "deductible".

Quite simply, the deductible is the amount of money that you agreed to pay after making a claim. As you probably know already, an insurance policy does not protect you fully from financial loss. As an insured, it is your responsibility to cushion some of the fees associated with the claim.

The deductible, as we already mentioned, is something that you have the power to change at any given time. While the minimum amount tends to vary from policy to policy, the importance of choosing an adequate amount is something that should never be underestimated. For many people, choosing a higher deductible has the potential to help reduce the costs of their insurance premiums by up to 10%. While it can be a good idea, we only recommend doing this as a last resort.

Deductibles vary from policy to policy. This is not surprising. The truth, however, is that many other factors are also part of the picture. As an example, a doctor who applies for a professional liability insurance policy will expect to pay higher premiums and a higher deductible than a teacher who applies for the same policy. This is mostly due to the higher risks associated with the medical profession.

With that being said, we always recommend that you spend some time consulting with your insurance broker before choosing a deductible. He or she is there to guide you along the way and to help you make decisions that could potentially affect your insurance coverage for the better or for the worse.

Monday, 9 June 2014

Dangerous Driving Habits That Hurt Your Insurance Premiums

Driving takes a while to master. After all, there is a reason why an age limit exists in Canada. Not only does it require concentration... it also requires a certain level of maturity. If you are a Canadian driver, being labelled as a high risk driver probably does not figure very high on your list of priorities. We don't blame you: finding adequate and cost-effective insurance coverage when you are a high risk driver is a challenge in itself... and when you are able to find one, you often end up having to pay higher premiums than "regular" people.

So how do you exactly go about being labelled as a high risk driver, and what driving habits hurt your insurance premiums the most? If you have been following us for a while, you probably know that we briefly talked about the topic of high risk driving before. (You can click here if you wish to know more on the topic of tailgating.) Dangerous driving is something that we take very seriously and we hope that you do as well. After all, the safety of many people is at risk when you are out driving.

Aside from tailgating, what harms your insurance premiums the most? Generally speaking, the accumulation of traffic violations does the trick quite well. Such traffic violations can include DUI or simply speeding tickets. In fact, rolling stops and running red lights are some of the most common traffic violations. Remember that the more traffic violations you accumulate, the more likely to be labelled as a high risk driver you will be.

A few other driving habits can also hurt your insurance premiums. Driving while distracted, for one, can prove to be very dangerous and damaging. We encourage you to spend a few moments learning more about the distracted driving laws in Canada. Remember that driving is not a game, and should never be treated as such. 

Thursday, 5 June 2014

Should You Build or Buy a House?

Buying vs. building a house has been an ongoing debate for many, many years. While both of these options come with advantages, they also come with their fair share of disadvantages. What exactly those disadvantages entail tend to depend on a few factors, among them whether or not you are financially able to take on the burden of building a house.

If both of these ideas sound enticing to you but you still fail to make up your mind, we hope that this article will help make the decision slightly easier for you. Regardless of which way you choose to go, we would also like to remind that you that a Red Deer home insurance policy is always a must.

So with that being said, what exactly are the pros and cons of buying a house? For one, the entire process of buying a house can't be compared to the process of building a house from scratch at all. The former is simpler, easier, and of course less expensive. It is also good to note that the process of buying a house is far quicker. Generally, you can expect to move in your new home within a month of purchase, or less.

However, it is not to say that buying a house comes with no disadvantages. Because buying a house does not allow for much freedom, many people decide to spend both time and money on renovations. With time, the latter can prove to be very costly. Building a house from scratch, on the other hand, allows you to customize everything. From the neighbourhood you choose to live in to the kitchen cabinets, you have a say in everything.

The process of building a house can, however, be very painful, long, and complicated. Consider the meetings, the costs and of course the trust that must exist between your family and your builders. Building a home is a huge burden, both financially and emotionally, but it has the potential to be incredibly rewarding down the road. But then again, so does buying a house.

So which path will you take?

Sunday, 1 June 2014

When Are You Too Old to Drive?

Are you a new driver looking for affordable and reliable insurance coverage? Sharp INSURANCE can help. We cover new drivers from coast to coast. What prevents you from being among them? Request your free quote today.

When it comes to driving, there is a question that always endures: When is someone too old to drive? We all know that in Canada, the minimum age for driving varies from province to province. But is there an actual age limit that prevents someone who is sick and elderly from driving? This question has been around for as long as cars have existed. Today, more and more elderly drivers find themselves on the roads. While becoming older does not necessarily turn a person into a bad driver, it is important to know that age changes the body in many different ways. Those changes—such as poor eyesight, poor reflexes and a shorter attention span—can affect the quality of a person’s driving dramatically.

In Canada, however, it is not illegal for people aged 80 to remain on the roads. Of course, those people have to go through several rigorous tests to ensure that they are still able to meet the driving requirements. To go back to the original question, the answer is subjective and varies from person to person (and probably country to country). Legally, a person can never be too old to drive—simply unable to do so.

If you are an elderly driver, click here for more information.