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Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors the same time the clocks are changed as part of Daylight Savings Time.
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Important insurance, safety and security tips.
Before closing on your new home, you should have home insurance to protect your home and personal belongings against unexpected situations. You may have also purchased title insurance to protect against loss or damage due to title or survey defects.
As you settle in, it's important to also consider other ways to protect your new investment—as well as your loved ones and yourself:
Insure against loss of income or health.
No one likes to think about it, but it’s crucial to plan for unexpected events—death, a critical illness or disability could prevent you from fulfilling your financial obligations and jeopardize your assets. As a homeowner, it’s a good idea to do the following:
- Review your life and disability insurance. Know the amount of your life and disability coverage, how long disability benefits are paid, and whether there is a waiting period. Consider whether your insurance can cover any outstanding mortgage balance in the event of your death and provide for your family’s ongoing financial needs.
- Understand your group disability coverage. Most group disability plans cover less than 70% of gross income. Could you cover your financial obligations with 30% less income? Also remember: if you change employers or become self-employed, you and your family may be left without any insurance coverage.
Did you know? |
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RBC Insurance® offers life insurance and several health insurance solutions, including disability income protection, long-term care and critical illness insurance. |
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- Consider creditor insurance. Creditor life and disability insurance can pay off the outstanding insured portion of your mortgage balance in the event of death. If you become disabled, it can maintain your regular mortgage payments for up to a specified period. With creditor insurance covering your mortgage obligations, your personal insurance benefits will be available to meet your family’s other needs.
Did you know? |
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RBC Insurance offers mortgage protection for your
RBC Royal Bank® mortgage. |
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Secure your home, family and valuables.
Being prepared is another kind of insurance. By taking common-sense safety and security actions, you can prevent many unfortunate events from ever happening. For example:
- Use deadbolts on all doors. Make sure windows are well secured from the outside but easy to open from the inside.
- Never hide a key outside. Instead, leave a spare with a trusted neighbour, friend or relative.
- When you travel, have a friend or neighbour pick up mail, newspapers or flyers every day.
- Consider installing a timer for select lights to give the impression you are home even when you aren’t.
- Consider installing motion detectors around the front and back of your home.
- Consider the advantages of a home security system. With many systems, the security company will dispatch emergency personnel if the alarm is activated and you cannot call directly yourself. You may also save on your home insurance.
- If your home has a security system, test it monthly.
- Regularly trim bushes and shrubs near doors and windows. Don’t give a burglar a hiding place!
Think fire safety every day.
- When you move in, change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You should replace them every six months.
- Keep fire extinguishers and flashlights with fresh batteries on every floor. Change flashlight batteries when you change smoke detector batteries.
- Ask your local fire station for their recommendations.
It's also a good idea to make a fire escape plan:
- Know all your home’s possible fire escape routes, including at least two ways out of each room.
- Plan the escape routes with your family. Practice them to make sure they work.
- Choose a safe place for everyone to meet when they get out of the house.
Get more safety and security tips for your home and family at www.safecanada.ca.
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