What a broker will ask, before anyone asks.

What the broker will ask

1. How far is the property from a fire hall, and is there a hydrant or water supply nearby?
2. What buildings are on the land, and what is each one used for?
3. Do you heat with wood, and has the installation been inspected?
4. What animals live on the property, and does any of them earn money?
5. Is any building used for a business, a rental suite or storing someone else's property?
6. What equipment do you own, and is any of it driven on public roads?
7. Is the access road private, and who clears it in winter?
8. When were the well pump and septic system last serviced?

What to gather

• The legal land description or rural address, and the total acreage
• Road distance to the nearest fire hall, whether it is staffed or volunteer, and any hydrant or water source nearby
• Each building on the property, with its size, construction, use and whether it is heated or wired
• Water and sewage: well age and pump details if known, any cistern, and the type and age of the septic system
• Heating sources, including a wood stove, outdoor wood boiler or propane tank, with installation records
• Animals kept, how many, and whether any are sold, bred or boarded for others
• Equipment kept on the property, with year and model for anything larger than a lawn tractor
• Any business or income from the land, including a shop used for work
• Who maintains the access road, and whether it is shared with neighbours

What the broker will ask

1. Is the aluminum on the branch circuits, or only on the main service cable?
2. Has every connection been remediated, and by what method?
3. Who did the work, and was it under a permit with a final inspection?
4. When was the most recent electrical inspection?
5. Have you or a previous owner replaced outlets or switches yourselves?
6. Have you noticed warm cover plates, flickering lights or a burning smell?
7. Is the home owner-occupied, rented, or a condo unit in a larger building?

What to gather

• An electrician's report saying what wire type feeds the branch circuits and how the connections were handled
• Whether every outlet, switch and fixture was remediated, or only some rooms
• The permit and inspection record for the remediation or rewire
• Invoices naming the contractor, the method used and the date
• The home inspection report, if you are buying
• Photos of the panel and, if possible, a remediated outlet with the cover removed by the electrician
• The year the home was built and any later additions
• Any letter from your insurer asking about the wiring

What the broker will ask

1. Do you live in the main part of the home, and how many people live in the suite?
2. Does the suite have its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance?
3. Has the municipality approved or registered the suite, or is that still in progress?
4. Is there a written lease, and what rent does the tenant pay?
5. Do you require the tenant to carry their own insurance, and have you seen proof?
6. Is the suite rented long-term, or ever by the night?
7. Are there interconnected smoke alarms and a second way out of the suite?
8. Is the suite inside the house, or a separate building in the yard?

What to gather

• How the suite is laid out: its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance, and what is shared with your space
• Any development or building permit, final inspection or suite registration from the municipality
• The signed lease, the monthly rent and the tenant's move-in date
• Proof of the tenant's own insurance, if the lease requires it
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the suite, and whether they are interconnected with the main home
• The fire separation between units, such as rated drywall, a self-closing door or sealed ductwork, if known
• Your mortgage lender's details, especially if suite rent was used to qualify for the loan
• For a detached suite: its size, construction, year built and any separate utility connections
• Any claims at the address, particularly for water or fire, with dates

What the broker will ask

1. What does the corporation's master policy cover inside your unit?
2. What is the corporation's deductible and who pays it after a loss?
3. What have you changed or upgraded since taking possession?
4. Is the unit owner-occupied, rented or listed on a short-term platform?
5. Is the building older, and has it had water or fire losses?
6. Do you want higher loss assessment protection than the default?
7. Is there a locker, parking stall or storage cage with your belongings?
8. Do you own anything that needs to be listed separately, such as art or jewellery?

What to gather

• The condominium corporation's name, plan number and its insurance certificate, if the manager can provide it
• The bylaws or declaration sections that say what the corporation insures and who pays the deductible
• The status certificate or equivalent document from your purchase or your manager
• A list of upgrades made to the unit, with approximate dates and any receipts
• The building's age and your floor, since leaks travel and fire response varies
• Whether the unit is owner-occupied, rented out or used as a short-term rental
• Your mortgage lender's details, if any
• Claims you have made in the past several years, with dates
• A rough inventory of belongings, including the locker and parking stall

What the broker will ask

1. When do you take possession of the new place, and when does the old house close?
2. Will anything stay in the old house after you move, such as staging furniture?
3. Is the new home a condo you own, a rental, a life lease or a suite in a retirement residence?
4. What does the residence or landlord ask you to insure yourself?
5. Which valuables are moving with you, and which are going to family?
6. Will you keep the car, and how much will you realistically drive it?
7. Is anyone else driving the car, such as a son or daughter helping with errands?
8. Who, besides you, should the insurer be allowed to speak with about the policy?

What to gather

• The possession date for the new home and the expected closing date for the old one
• Your current home, auto and any valuables policies, with their renewal dates
• The residency agreement, lease or condo bylaws for the new address, especially any insurance clause
• A list of what is moving with you, what is going into storage and what is being sold or given away
• The mover's contract and what it says about damaged or lost items
• Appraisals or receipts for jewellery, art and collectibles, and the names of family members receiving them
• How many kilometres you expect to drive each year after the move, and where the car will be parked
• A copy of any power of attorney, and the names of family members the insurer may speak with
• Who will check the old house while it is empty, and how often

What the broker will ask

1. Is the home in a mapped flood hazard area, and which zone?
2. Has the property ever had water in the basement, and from where?
3. Is there a backwater valve, and is it maintained?
4. Do you have a sump pump, and what happens in a power outage?
5. Is the basement finished, and what is the value of what is down there?
6. Which water options do you have now, and what are their limits?
7. How far is the nearest river, creek or storm pond?
8. Have any flood mitigation upgrades been done since a past claim?

What to gather

• The property address and its location on the provincial or municipal flood hazard map
• Whether the home is in a mapped floodway, flood fringe or neither
• Height of the main floor and basement relative to nearby water, if known from a survey
• Whether there is a backwater valve on the main sewer line, and when it was installed and last serviced
• Sump pit, pump and any battery backup
• Whether the basement is finished, and what is stored there
• Past water claims on the property, with dates, causes and repairs
• Lot grading, downspout extensions and any window well covers
• Your current policy, showing which water options are included and their limits

What the broker will ask

1. How old is the roof, and what is it made of?
2. Have you claimed for hail or wind at this address before, and what was replaced?
3. Is the roof rated for impact resistance, and can you show the product details?
4. Is there a separate deductible for wind and hail on your current policy?
5. Are there detached buildings, a deck or a fence that should be listed?
6. Has anything been patched since a previous storm without being fully replaced?
7. Where are your vehicles parked during summer storms?
8. Has a contractor already inspected the damage or asked you to sign anything?

What to gather

• Roof material, the year it was installed, and the roofer's invoice if you have it
• Any impact rating on the shingles or panels, shown on the product label or the invoice
• Siding type and colour, and the manufacturer or product line if it is known
• Dated photos of the roof, siding and windows taken before storm season
• Photos and video taken after the storm, including hailstones beside a coin or ruler for scale
• The date and time of the storm, and any temporary repairs such as tarps or boarded windows
• Earlier hail or wind claims on the property, with dates and what was replaced
• Your policy wording or renewal notice, showing the deductible that applies to wind and hail
• Any contract or form a contractor has asked you to sign

What the broker will ask

1. Is the home formally designated, or only listed on an inventory?
2. Which original features remain, and which have been replaced over the years?
3. Has anyone estimated the cost to rebuild with matching materials?
4. Would you want the home restored as it was, or is a modern equivalent acceptable?
5. When were the wiring, plumbing, heating and roof last updated, and is there proof?
6. Are there any heritage agreements or grant conditions on title?
7. Is restoration or renovation planned, and has the heritage office been consulted?
8. Is any part of the home rented or used for a business?

What to gather

• The year the house was built, and any heritage designation, inventory listing or bylaw number
• Any heritage agreement, covenant or grant condition registered against the title
• Photos of original features: plaster mouldings, trim, staircases, fireplaces, windows, stained glass, hardware and the exterior masonry
• A recent rebuild cost appraisal, ideally from someone experienced with older homes
• Invoices and permits for updates to wiring, plumbing, heating and the roof, with dates
• Roof material and age, especially for slate, cedar or metal
• The names of restoration specialists or trades who have worked on the home, and what they did
• Your current policy, showing whether the building is settled at replacement cost or functional replacement
• Plans for upcoming restoration or renovation, and whether heritage approval is needed

What the broker will ask

1. When was the home built, and what has been replaced or upgraded since?
2. Who lives there, and is any part of the house rented, shared or used for work?
3. Is the home ever empty for more than a few weeks at a time?
4. Has there been a water, fire or theft claim in the past few years?
5. Is the basement finished, and is there a sump pump or backwater valve?
6. How far is the home from a fire hall and a hydrant?
7. Do you want belongings covered at replacement cost?
8. What deductible would you be comfortable paying, and does it differ for water or wind?
9. Do you own anything that needs to be listed separately, like jewellery or art?

What to gather

• The year the house was built and its approximate finished size, including the basement
• Construction type: wood frame, brick, stucco, or a mix, and the roof material
• Roof age and the year of any major updates to wiring, plumbing and heating
• Heating sources, including a wood stove, fireplace or oil tank
• Safety and protection: monitored alarm, smoke detectors, water shut-off or leak sensors
• Your mortgage lender's name and mortgage number, if there is one
• Claims you have made on any property in the past several years, with dates and causes
• Whether any part of the home is rented, used for a business or left empty for long periods
• A rough inventory of belongings and any single items of unusual value
• Your current policy or renewal notice, if you have one

What the broker will ask

1. What reason did the insurer give, and is it in writing?
2. When exactly does your current cover end?
3. How many claims have there been at this address, and at any previous home, in recent years?
4. For each water claim, what was the source and what was repaired or installed afterwards?
5. Was anything on the last application incomplete or out of date?
6. Have payments been missed on any insurance policy before?
7. Has another insurer declined you since the letter arrived?
8. Is anything about the home changing, such as a renovation, a tenant or a sale?

What to gather

• The cancellation, non-renewal or decline letter, with its date and the reason given
• The current policy and the exact date cover ends
• Every claim in the past several years: date, cause, amount paid and what was fixed
• Repair invoices and proof of any prevention work, such as a backwater valve or new plumbing
• Payment records if the cancellation followed a missed or returned payment
• The original application or a copy of what the insurer recorded about the home
• Photos of the roof, electrical panel, water heater and basement as they are now
• Any inspection report or contractor letter describing the current condition
• The names of everyone on title and everyone who lives in the home

What the broker will ask

1. What is the possession date, and when does the lender need the confirmation?
2. Did the inspection note anything about the roof, wiring, plumbing or heating?
3. Has the seller mentioned past water, fire or sewer problems at the address?
4. Is the house freehold, or a unit in a condominium corporation?
5. Will anyone rent part of the house, or will it sit empty before you move in?
6. Do you plan renovations soon after taking possession?
7. Have you had a claim, a cancellation or a gap in cover in the past several years?
8. Is there a wood stove, oil tank, pool or other feature insurers ask about?
9. Do you hold a tenant or home policy now that should end on moving day?

What to gather

• The accepted offer, with the address, the possession date and any financing deadline
• Your lender's name and branch, the mortgage number if issued, and any written insurance instructions
• Your lawyer or notary's contact details, since they often collect the proof of insurance
• The full home inspection report, including photos of the electrical panel and roof
• The listing sheet showing year built, finished floor area and basement development
• Any seller disclosure statement, plus receipts the seller has shared for updates
• For a condo, the corporation's insurance certificate and the bylaws on insurance
• Your own claims history on any property you have owned or rented
• Your current tenant or home policy, which may need to end or be moved

What the broker will ask

1. What exactly is being done, and is any of it structural?
2. When does the work start and finish, and will anyone live in the house during it?
3. Who is the general contractor, and do they carry liability insurance and WCB coverage?
4. Are permits in place for the electrical, plumbing, gas and structural work?
5. Will materials or appliances be delivered and stored before they are installed?
6. Are you doing any of the work yourself?
7. Will the renovation add a suite, a home office or another change in how the house is used?
8. What will it cost to rebuild the home once the work is finished?

What to gather

• A written scope of work, with start and finish dates and the rooms affected
• The contractor's name, their liability insurance certificate and their WCB clearance letter
• Building, electrical, plumbing or gas permits, and who pulled each one
• The project budget and the value of materials that will be stored on site before installation
• Whether you will live in the home during the work, and for how long if not
• Any structural changes: removed walls, new foundations, an addition or a raised roof
• Work you plan to do yourself, and which trades are being hired
• Your home policy and the date you told the insurer about the project
• Your mortgage lender's requirements if the renovation is financed

What the broker will ask

1. When was the system installed, and who installed it?
2. Was an electrical permit taken out, and did the installation pass inspection?
3. Is the system on the house roof, on a garage, or on a ground mount in the yard?
4. What did the system cost to install, and is that reflected in the building limit?
5. Do you have a home battery, and where is it located?
6. Is the system owned, financed or leased?
7. How old is the roof under the panels?
8. Do you send power to the grid under a micro-generation or net metering arrangement?

What to gather

• The installation contract or invoice, showing system size, components and total installed cost
• The installer's name, and the electrical permit and inspection record for the system
• Panel make and model, inverter type, and any battery model and where it is in the home
• Manufacturer and workmanship warranty documents, with their start dates and terms
• Roof age and material, and whether the roof was replaced before the panels went on
• Whether the system is owned outright, financed or leased, and the contract if it is leased or financed
• Your interconnection or micro-generation approval from the utility or distribution company
• Photos of the array, the mounting, the inverter, the disconnect switch and any battery
• Your current home policy, showing the building limit and the wind and hail deductible

What the broker will ask

1. What does the business do, in a sentence a customer would recognise?
2. Which rooms or buildings on the property are used for the work?
3. Do clients or customers visit, and what do they do while they are there?
4. What equipment and stock is kept at home, and what would it take to replace it?
5. Do you make, sell or modify products, and where are they sold?
6. Do you give advice or deliver a service someone relies on?
7. Does anyone besides you work in the home, paid or unpaid?
8. Do you hold client information on a laptop, phone or cloud account?
9. Has your home insurer been told about the business?

What to gather

• A plain description of the work, including anything you do only now and then
• Whether clients, customers, students or couriers come to the home, and how often
• A list of business equipment with rough replacement values and purchase dates
• Stock you keep at home: what it is, where it is stored and its total cost
• Annual revenue, actual or estimated, and the number of people who work with you
• Any employees, helpers or contractors who work at the house
• Client contracts, platform terms or professional rules that ask for proof of cover
• Your home or tenant policy wording, especially the sections on business use
• Whether you use a personal vehicle for deliveries, supplies or client visits
• Any municipal home occupation permit or business licence you hold

What the broker will ask

1. What year was the roof put on, and how do you know?
2. Is it the original roof or a replacement, and was the old layer removed first?
3. What material is it, and how many layers are there?
4. Has it leaked, or has anything been repaired in the past few years?
5. Do you have an inspection report or a roofer's written opinion of its condition?
6. Are you planning to replace it, and when?
7. Has hail or wind damaged the roof before, and was it claimed?

What to gather

• The year the roof was installed or last fully replaced, and whether it was a full tear-off or an overlay
• The roofer's invoice or a building permit showing the date and the material
• Roof material, and the number of layers if new shingles went over old ones
• A home inspection report or a roofer's condition letter from the past year or two
• Clear photos of each slope, the flashing around chimneys and vents, and the eaves
• Repairs made since installation, with dates and what was done
• Any leak, ceiling stain or water claim connected to the roof
• A replacement quote or a booked start date, if the work is planned
• The renewal notice or letter that asked about the roof

What the broker will ask

1. What are the items, and when were they last appraised?
2. Where are they kept, and what security protects them?
3. Are they worn or used regularly, or kept in storage?
4. Do any travel, and do they go in hand luggage, a car or a hotel safe?
5. Are they lent, displayed or sent to a restorer or framer?
6. Do you want agreed value, so there is no dispute about worth at claim time?
7. Have you had a loss or theft claim involving valuables?
8. Who else owns an interest, such as family members or a trust?

What to gather

• A written appraisal or valuation for each major item, ideally recent
• Clear photographs from several angles, and photographs of any marks or inscriptions
• Receipts, certificates, provenance records or gemological reports
• A description of each item, including maker, material, dimensions or carat weight where known
• Where each item is kept: home safe, display wall, bank box, studio or storage
• Details of any alarm, safe, display cabinet or climate control
• Whether items travel, are worn daily or lent for exhibitions
• Any past loss, theft or damage claim involving valuables
• Who owns each item and whether it is shared or held in trust

What the broker will ask

1. Is any knob and tube still connected to power, or has it all been disconnected at the panel?
2. Who confirmed that, and do you have it in writing from a licensed electrician?
3. Was the rewiring done under a permit, and did it pass final inspection?
4. What size is the electrical service, and does the panel use fuses or breakers?
5. Is there insulation in the attic or walls where old wiring runs?
6. If some wiring remains, when do you plan to replace it?
7. Is any part of the home rented to tenants?

What to gather

• A letter from a licensed electrician stating whether any knob and tube remains and whether it is energized
• The electrical permit number and final inspection record for any rewiring, from the municipality or permit authority
• Photos of the electrical panel with the door open, showing breakers or fuses and the main rating
• The home inspection report, with the page that mentions the wiring
• Invoices from any electrical contractor, with dates and the rooms or circuits covered
• The year the house was built and the dates of any major renovations
• A note of which floors or rooms still have original wiring, if any
• Your current policy or any letter from the insurer asking about the wiring

What the broker will ask

1. Do you live in the building, or is it entirely rented out?
2. How many units or suites are rented, and to whom?
3. Is the tenancy long-term, short-term or furnished?
4. Does the property sit empty between tenants or during renovations, and for how long?
5. Do you require tenants to carry their own insurance?
6. Who manages the property and handles maintenance?
7. Has there been any previous claim, particularly water damage?
8. Do you also own the home you live in, and should that sit with the same insurer?

What to gather

• The property's address, type, age, size and the year of major updates
• Whether it is a whole house, a suite, or a unit in a condominium corporation
• Who lives in it now and the type of tenancy: long-term, month-to-month, furnished or short-term
• Your lease template and whether you require tenants to carry their own insurance
• How you screen tenants and who manages the property, you or a professional manager
• Dates of any renovations planned and how long the property may sit empty
• Your mortgage lender and loan details, if any
• Claims history on any property you own, with dates
• A list of appliances and furnishings you supply

What the broker will ask

1. What year was the home built, and who made it?
2. Does it carry a CSA certification label, and can you photograph it?
3. Do you own the land, or rent a lot in a community?
4. How is the home supported and anchored, and is it skirted all the way around?
5. Has anything been added since it was placed, such as a porch or extra room?
6. How is it heated, and is there a wood stove or an older furnace?
7. Has the original roof been replaced, or covered with a new pitched roof?
8. Is the home ever left empty for long stretches, or rented to someone else?

What to gather

• The year, maker and model of the home, and its serial number
• The certification label or plate, often found inside a cupboard, near the electrical panel or on an exterior wall
• Whether you own the land or rent a lot, and the community's name and rules if you rent
• The foundation or support system, and how the home is anchored or tied down
• Skirting material and its current condition
• Additions built after the home was placed, with who built them and any permit
• Heating source and furnace age, and any wood stove with its inspection report
• Updates to the roof, plumbing, electrical and windows, with years
• Your current policy, or the lot lease clauses that mention insurance

What the broker will ask

1. What instruments and gear do you own, and what is each one worth today?
2. Do you earn any money from playing, teaching, recording or renting out gear?
3. Is anything rented or borrowed, and what does the contract say about loss?
4. Where is the gear kept overnight, at home and when you are away?
5. Do you leave gear in a vehicle, even for a short stop?
6. Do you fly with instruments, and are they carried on or checked?
7. Is any of the gear owned jointly with band mates?
8. When was each valuable instrument last appraised?

What to gather

• A list of each instrument with maker, model, serial number and year where known
• Receipts, appraisals or valuation letters from a luthier, technician or dealer
• Photographs of each instrument, including labels, serial numbers and any distinctive wear
• The rental contract or school program agreement for any rented instrument
• How much of your income comes from playing, teaching or recording, if any
• Where the gear is kept: home, a rehearsal space, a studio or a vehicle
• Your travel plans, including flights, tours or long stays outside Canada
• Who owns shared band gear, such as a PA, a drum kit or other backline
• Your home or tenant policy wording on instruments, business property and special limits

What the broker will ask

1. How old is the tank, and how do you know?
2. Is it inside the house, outside above ground or underground?
3. Is it still in use, or is it abandoned?
4. When was it last inspected, and by whom?
5. Has there ever been a leak, a spill or an oil smell?
6. Is there a private well, a stream or a neighbour's home close to the tank?
7. If a tank was removed, do you have the removal certificate and soil results?
8. Do you plan to convert to another heating source?

What to gather

• The tank's nameplate details: manufacturer, the standard it was built to and the year of manufacture
• Where the tank sits: in the basement, outside above ground, or buried
• Whether it is single-wall steel, double-wall or another material
• The most recent inspection report from a fuel supplier or certified oil technician
• Records of any leak, spill or soil test on the property
• For a removed tank: the removal certificate or closure report and any soil test results
• For a buried tank found at purchase: the sweep or scan report and the seller's disclosure
• The fuel supplier's name and how often the tank is filled
• Whether the home has a private water well nearby

What the broker will ask

1. Which home, auto and recreational policies would the umbrella sit above, and who insures each?
2. What liability limit does each of those policies carry today?
3. How many drivers are in the household, and are any of them young or newly licensed?
4. Do you own or rent out any property besides the home you live in?
5. Is there a pool, hot tub, trampoline, dock or dog at any of your properties?
6. Do you sit on a board, coach, or volunteer in a role that could lead to a claim?
7. Does anyone in the household run a business, even part time?
8. Has anyone been sued or had a liability claim, and how was it resolved?
9. What umbrella limit are you considering, and what led you to that figure?

What to gather

• The declarations page of every home, condo, tenant and rental property policy, showing each liability limit
• Auto policies for every household vehicle, with the liability limit and the listed drivers on each
• Details of any boat, personal watercraft, snowmobile or trailer, and how each one is insured
• A list of household members, with the ages and licence dates of every driver
• Addresses and unit counts for any property you rent to others
• Pool, hot tub, trampoline, dock or dog details at each property
• Volunteer board, coaching or committee roles, and whether each organisation carries its own directors and officers cover
• Any lawsuit, demand letter or liability claim against anyone in the household, with dates
• Whether anyone runs a business or offers professional services from home

What the broker will ask

1. What breed is the animal, and how old is it?
2. Has the animal ever been treated for an illness or injury, and when?
3. Is the pet spayed or neutered, and is it kept indoors or outdoors?
4. Which veterinarian do you use, and can you provide records?
5. Do you want routine care included, or protection for big unexpected costs only?
6. Would you rather have a higher deductible, or a higher share of each bill paid back?
7. Are there other pets to quote with this one?

What to gather

• Your animal's species, breed, date of birth and sex
• Whether the animal is spayed or neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccines
• The name and clinic of your regular veterinarian
• Records of previous visits, treatments and diagnoses, which the insurer may request
• The date you adopted or bought the animal, and any paperwork from a breeder or shelter
• The postal code where the animal lives, since vet costs vary by area
• The kind of cover you want: accident only, accident and illness, or with wellness
• Any other pets in the household that you may want to insure

What the broker will ask

1. Is the pool in-ground or above-ground, and when was it installed?
2. Is the yard fully fenced, and do the gates close and latch on their own?
3. Does the hot tub have a locking cover, and is it used when the tub is closed?
4. Is there a diving board or a slide, and how deep is the water?
5. Who uses the pool or trampoline, and is anyone supervising when children are there?
6. Do neighbours' children or friends use it when you are not home?
7. Is the pool heater gas or electric, and who services the equipment?
8. Has anyone ever been hurt using the pool, spa or trampoline?
9. Would you like to look at a higher liability limit or an umbrella policy?

What to gather

• Type of pool or spa: in-ground, above-ground, portable hot tub or built-in spa
• Year installed, the installer's name and any building or electrical permit
• A description of the fence: height, material and how the gate closes and latches
• Whether the hot tub has a locking cover and where the key or lock is kept
• Any diving board, slide or deep end, with the deepest water depth
• Pump, heater and filter details, including whether the heater is gas or electric
• Trampoline size, whether it has a net and padding, and how it is anchored
• Photos of the backyard showing the pool or trampoline, the fence and the gates
• Your current home policy and any letter from the insurer about the pool

What the broker will ask

1. What do you own, and how is each asset legally held?
2. Which properties are lived in all year, and which are empty for long periods?
3. Which collections, vehicles or boats are significant enough to schedule separately?
4. What liability limits do you hold now, and who sits behind them?
5. Do you employ household staff, drivers or private security?
6. Does anyone in the family have a public profile, or travel to places that need extra planning?
7. Who in your professional circle should receive copies of the policy documents?
8. Is there anything planned, such as a purchase, a renovation or a move abroad?

What to gather

• A list of every property: address, type, approximate value, use and who is named as owner
• How each asset is held: personally, jointly, in a trust, in a holding company or through a family office
• An inventory of art, jewellery, wine, instruments, collector vehicles and boats with appraisals
• Current policies and renewal dates for every property and vehicle
• Liability limits you now carry, and any umbrella or excess policy
• A list of household staff, drivers and regular contractors
• Details of travel patterns and time spent at each property
• Family members who live elsewhere, such as students or adult children
• Your accountant, lawyer or family office contacts, if you want them involved

What the broker will ask

1. Does the current policy include sewer backup, and what limit and deductible apply to it?
2. How much of the basement is finished, and what would it cost to redo?
3. Is there a backwater valve on the main line, and who last serviced it?
4. Where does the sump discharge, and what happens to the pump in a power cut?
5. Has water ever come up through a floor drain, toilet or shower at this address?
6. Have neighbours on the street had backups in the same storms?
7. Is the basement lived in, rented or used mainly for storage?
8. Has the sewer line from the house to the street ever been scoped or repaired?

What to gather

• Your current declarations page, showing whether sewer backup is listed and the limit beside it
• A rough rebuild figure for the finished basement: flooring, walls, ceiling, bathroom, bar or built-ins
• A list of what is stored or kept below grade, including appliances such as a freezer or second fridge
• The plumber's invoice or permit for any backwater valve, with the install date and the last cleaning
• Sump pump age, where the pit is, and whether it has a battery backup or a high-water alarm
• Where the downspouts discharge, and whether any are still connected to the weeping tile
• Dates and causes of any past water in the basement, with claim numbers if a claim was made
• Any camera inspection report of the sewer line, showing roots, sags or cracks
• Whether the basement is rented to a tenant or used for a home business

What the broker will ask

1. How many nights a year is the space rented, and how long does a typical guest stay?
2. Do you live in the home, and are you there while guests are?
3. Is it a separate suite with its own entrance and kitchen, or shared space?
4. Do guests book through one platform, several, or directly with you?
5. Does your city require a licence for short stays, and do you hold one?
6. If it is a condo, do the bylaws allow nightly rentals?
7. What amenities can guests use, and are any of them outdoors or on the water?
8. Has a guest ever caused damage, been injured or made a complaint?

What to gather

• How the space is rented: a room, a suite with its own entrance, or the whole home
• Nights booked over the past year, or a realistic estimate if you are just starting
• Whether you live on the property while guests are there
• Your municipal business licence or registration number, if your city requires one
• Condo bylaws or corporation rules on short stays, if the home is a condo unit
• A list of furnishings and equipment you supply for guests
• Amenities guests can use, such as a hot tub, pool, fire pit, bicycles or a kayak
• Safety features: smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, an extinguisher, lighting on exterior steps, keyless entry
• Your house rules, check-in process and who cleans and inspects between stays
• Your current home policy and the platform terms describing its host protection

What the broker will ask

1. Is the student living in a school residence or in an off-campus rental?
2. How old is the student, and are they enrolled full time?
3. Does the parent's home policy extend to belongings away at school, and up to what limit?
4. Who are the roommates, and is anyone on the lease without their own cover?
5. What does the student own that would be expensive to replace, like a laptop, a bike or an instrument?
6. Will a car be kept at school, and where will it park overnight?
7. Does the lease or the school require proof of liability insurance?
8. For an international student, what health plan does the school provide?

What to gather

• The student's school, program and whether they are enrolled full time
• The residence name and room type, or the address of the shared rental
• The lease, including any clause requiring tenant liability insurance
• Names of roommates and whether any of them already holds a policy
• A list of the student's belongings, with serial numbers for the laptop, phone and bike
• The parent's home policy, open to the section on property away from the premises
• If a car goes along: the vehicle, the parking address at school and the policy it is on
• For international students: the study permit and the school health plan details

What the broker will ask

1. What is the address and what type of building is it?
2. Who lives with you, and are they related to you?
3. What do you own that would be expensive to replace?
4. Does your lease or landlord require a particular liability amount or a named party on the policy?
5. Do you want belongings covered at replacement cost?
6. Do you work or run a business from home?
7. What deductible would you be comfortable paying?
8. Has anyone in the household made an insurance claim in the past few years?

What to gather

• The address, the type of building and the floor you live on
• Your lease, especially any clause about insurance requirements or required liability amounts
• A room-by-room estimate of what you own, including electronics and clothing
• Receipts, serial numbers or photographs for larger items
• Names of everyone living in the unit and whether roommates have their own policies
• Whether you run a business or keep work equipment at home
• Any items of unusual value, such as an instrument, a watch or a bicycle
• Claims on any previous policy, with dates

What the broker will ask

1. On what date did the last person move out, and why?
2. When will someone live there again, or when is it expected to sell?
3. Is the furniture still inside, or has the house been cleared?
4. Who checks the property, and how often can they realistically go?
5. Will the heat stay on, or will the water be shut off and drained?
6. Is anyone doing work in the house while it is empty?
7. For an estate, who is the executor, and has the insurer been told of the death?
8. Is there a mortgage, and does the lender know the home is empty?

What to gather

• The date the home became empty and the reason: a death, a move, care, travel or a gap between tenants
• When you expect someone to live there again, or the planned listing or sale date
• Who has keys and how often they visit, with a written record of visits if you keep one
• How the home is heated while empty and whether the furnace has been serviced recently
• Whether the water has been shut off and the lines drained, and who did it
• Alarms, cameras, leak sensors or a smart thermostat in place
• For an estate: the death certificate, the will or grant of probate, and the executor's contact details
• The current home policy, and the date the insurer was told the home is empty
• Any plans for renovation, clearing out or staging before a sale

What the broker will ask

1. In which months is the property used, and does it sit empty in winter?
2. How is the property closed up for the cold, and does the water get shut off?
3. Who looks in on it, and how often?
4. How is it heated and what fire protection is nearby?
5. Is the property reached by road, or by boat or ferry?
6. Do you rent it out, and if so, to whom and for how long?
7. What docks, boats or structures need to be included?
8. Who owns the property, and is it held in a trust, a company or by several relatives?

What to gather

• The property's address, how you reach it and how far it is from the nearest fire hall
• Year built, size, construction and how it is heated, including wood stoves and propane
• Whether the water is from a lake, a well or a municipal system, and the sewage setup, such as septic
• Months of the year it is occupied and how it is closed up for winter
• Who checks the property when you are away, and how often
• Details of any dock, boathouse, boat, or other structures and watercraft
• Whether the property is rented, and how often and to whom
• Whether ownership is shared among relatives or held in a trust or company
• Claims history on any property you own

What the broker will ask

1. How far is the property from a staffed fire hall and a hydrant?
2. What is the roof made of, and how old is it?
3. What is within the first few metres of the house: plants, mulch, firewood, a wooden deck?
4. Has any FireSmart or similar mitigation work been done?
5. Is the property lived in year-round, or seasonal?
6. Has the property been evacuated or damaged in a past fire season?
7. Is there more than one road out?
8. Are there outbuildings, docks or equipment to include?

What to gather

• The address or legal land description, and the distance to the nearest fire hall
• Water supply for firefighting: hydrant, lake, pond or none
• Roof material and age, and whether gutters are kept clear
• Siding, deck and fence materials, especially anything wood near the house
• Clearance around the home: what grows or is stored within the first few metres
• Any FireSmart assessment, mitigation work or community program participation
• For a cabin: how often it is used, who checks it and road access in and out
• Photos of the home from each side showing the surrounding trees
• A home inventory, kept somewhere other than the property
• Your current policy, any non-renewal letter and the date cover ends

What the broker will ask

1. Who lives in the household and who will drive the vehicle regularly?
2. Has any driver had a claim, a conviction or a cancellation, and when?
3. How is the vehicle used, and how far is the daily commute?
4. Where is it parked overnight, and is it ever stored for the winter?
5. Has the vehicle been modified, or does it have aftermarket equipment?
6. Do you want a higher liability limit than the minimum?
7. What deductible would you be comfortable paying if you had to claim tomorrow?
8. Is any other insurance, such as home or tenant cover, with the same insurer?

What to gather

• Driver licence numbers and issue dates for every driver in the household
• Years licensed, including time licensed in another country
• Claims and tickets for each driver over the past several years, with dates
• Vehicle details: year, make, model, trim and the vehicle identification number
• How the vehicle is used: commuting, pleasure only, or for work, and the usual one-way distance
• Roughly how many kilometres you drive a year
• Where the vehicle is kept overnight: driveway, garage, street or parkade
• Your current policy or renewal notice, with the coverage limits and deductibles
• Whether the vehicle is financed or leased, which can require particular cover

What the broker will ask

1. What kind of boat is it, how long is it and how much power does it have?
2. Who will operate it, and does each operator have proof of competency?
3. Which lakes or rivers do you use, and do you ever trailer it to another province or the United States?
4. Is it kept at a marina, a private dock, a cabin or on a trailer at home?
5. Who winterises it, and where does it spend the off-season?
6. Do you lend or rent it to anyone, or tow people on tubes or skis behind it?
7. Is there a loan, and does the lender need to be named on the policy?
8. What equipment and electronics are on board that you would want listed?

What to gather

• Boat type, make, model, year, length and hull material
• Engine make, horsepower and serial number, and whether it is outboard, inboard or jet drive
• The hull identification number and the pleasure craft licence number, if the boat has one
• A Pleasure Craft Operator Card or other proof of competency for each person who will operate it
• Purchase price and date, plus receipts for electronics, trolling motors and upgrades
• Trailer make, year and serial number, and the vehicle that tows it
• Where it is used: the named lakes or rivers, and whether it leaves the province
• Where and how it is stored in winter, and who winterises it
• Any loan on the boat and what the lender requires for insurance

What the broker will ask

1. What is the car, what condition is it in, and how do you know what it is worth?
2. Is the value you propose supported by an appraisal, receipts or recent sales?
3. How many kilometres do you expect to drive it in a year, and for what purposes?
4. Where is it stored, who else has access to the building, and what are the locks and alarms?
5. Do you have another vehicle for daily driving, and who insures it?
6. Will the car be trailered, shipped or driven to events away from home?
7. Are any parts or an engine stored separately, and are they also something you want insured?
8. Who will drive it, and do they have any claims or convictions?

What to gather

• Year, make, model, body style and vehicle identification number, with any numbers on the engine or transmission
• Colour photographs from all sides, the interior, the engine bay and the odometer
• A written or independent appraisal, or a recent comparable sale, to support the value you are proposing
• Receipts for the purchase, restoration, parts and professional labour
• Whether the car is original, restored, modified or built from a kit, and what has been changed
• A description of the storage building: construction, lock, heat, alarm and whether it is shared
• Your usual annual distance for the collector car and how it is used, such as shows or weekend drives
• The vehicles you drive every day and the policy that covers them
• Membership in a car club or a registry, if you have one

What the broker will ask

1. How is each vehicle used: service calls, deliveries, sales visits or hauling?
2. How far do the vehicles travel from the garaging address, and do they cross provincial or national borders?
3. Who drives, are they employees or contractors, and how are drivers approved?
4. What do you carry or tow, and is any of it hazardous or high-value?
5. Do employees ever use their own cars or rent vehicles for work?
6. Has the business had any vehicle claims, and what changed afterwards?
7. Do you have written driver standards, telematics or a vehicle check routine?
8. Do you need a higher liability limit because of customer contracts or what is carried?

What to gather

• A schedule of every vehicle: year, make, model, vehicle identification number and the garaging address
• Who owns each vehicle, or whether it is leased, financed or registered to someone personally
• A list of drivers with licence numbers, years of experience and any claims or convictions
• A plain description of how each vehicle is used, the usual radius of travel and a typical day's route
• What is carried or towed, including tools, materials, products or passengers
• Whether employees use personal vehicles for work, and how often
• Loss history for the business's vehicles over the past several years
• Any driver monitoring, telematics, dash cameras or written driver policies
• Your current policy or renewal notice, with limits and deductibles

What the broker will ask

1. What is the bike or scooter, and what did it cost with the battery and accessories?
2. Does it have a throttle, and how fast can it go on motor power alone?
3. Has it been modified to go faster or to remove a speed limiter?
4. Where do you ride: bike lanes, pathways, roads or trails?
5. Where is it stored and charged, and is the charger the one supplied with it?
6. Do you carry passengers or children, or tow a trailer behind it?
7. Do you ever ride it to earn money?
8. Has it ever been stolen or damaged, or have you been in a collision on it?

What to gather

• Make, model and frame serial number for each bike or scooter
• The purchase receipt, with the price of the battery and any accessories shown
• The motor power rating and top assisted speed from the spec sheet or frame label
• Whether it has a throttle, pedal assist only, or both
• Where it is stored and charged at home: garage, hallway, balcony, bike room or inside the unit
• The lock you use and where the bike is left during the day
• Your home, condo or tenant policy wording, including any section on bicycles or motorized vehicles
• Any condo bylaw or lease rule about storing or charging batteries indoors
• How often you ride for work or delivery, and for what kind of service

What the broker will ask

1. Is the car fully electric or a plug-in hybrid, and what trim is it?
2. Is it bought outright, financed or leased, and when does the term end?
3. Do you charge at home, at work, or mostly at public stations?
4. Who installed the home charger, and is it hardwired or plugged into an outlet?
5. Which driver-assist features does the car have, and were any added later?
6. Where is the car parked overnight, and is that space heated in winter?
7. Does anyone use the car for ride-share, delivery or other paid driving?
8. Is the house or condo insured with the same insurer?

What to gather

• Year, make, model, trim and the vehicle identification number
• Battery warranty terms and the date the warranty started
• Lease or loan agreement, including any insurance the lessor or lender requires
• Details of the home charger: who installed it, whether a permit or inspection was done, and where it is mounted
• Your home, condo or tenant policy, so the charger question can be checked against it
• A list of software features or upgrades purchased after delivery
• Where the car is parked overnight and where you charge it most often
• Driving records and licence details for everyone who will drive it

What the broker will ask

1. How many units do you operate, what types are they and how old are they?
2. How are drivers hired, trained, supervised and reviewed, and what does each driver's record show?
3. What do you haul, and are any loads hazardous, refrigerated or of unusually high value?
4. What are your main lanes, and how often do you run into the United States?
5. What does your safety rating or inspection history look like?
6. Do you use owner-operators or subcontractors, and under what agreements?
7. Which contracts set minimum limits or require named additional insureds?
8. What has changed in the fleet or the operation since last renewal?

What to gather

• A unit schedule listing year, make, model, vehicle identification number, value and garaging location for every tractor, truck and trailer
• Driver list with licence class, years of experience, date of hire, and records for each
• Your carrier profile or safety rating where the province or the United States issues one, and any recent inspection results
• Loss runs from current and prior insurers, usually for the last several years
• Operating radius, the main lanes and states or provinces entered, and whether you cross the border
• The commodities you haul, including anything refrigerated, hazardous or high-value
• Written safety, hiring and maintenance policies, and any telematics, cameras or driver scoring in place
• Contracts with shippers or brokers that set insurance requirements
• Details of owner-operators or subcontractors, and the agreements you hold with them

What the broker will ask

1. What convictions are on your abstract, and when did each one happen?
2. How many claims have you had, and which were judged at fault?
3. Has a licence ever been suspended, and has it been fully reinstated?
4. Has any insurer cancelled or declined to renew you, and what reason did it give?
5. Have you gone without insurance at any point, and for how long?
6. Who else will drive the vehicle, and what is on their record?
7. Would you consider a higher deductible or fewer optional extras while the record ages?
8. Could you pay a larger first instalment, or is a monthly plan necessary?

What to gather

• Your driver abstract from a registry agent, showing convictions and suspensions with dates
• A claims-history letter from each insurer you have had in recent years
• Dates and short descriptions of each at-fault claim, including who was hurt or what was damaged
• Any cancellation or non-renewal letters, with the reason each one gave
• The dates of any gap in cover, and why the earlier policy ended
• Proof of licence reinstatement and of any completed course or interlock requirement
• Vehicle details and how the vehicle will be used day to day
• Every other driver in the household, with their own records

What the broker will ask

1. Where was the vehicle first sold, and has it fully cleared import into Canada yet?
2. Has it passed the provincial inspection, or when is that booked?
3. Is it right-hand drive, and will it be your daily driver or an occasional car?
4. What did you pay, and is there an appraisal or auction grade to support its value?
5. What has been modified since it left the factory?
6. Who will repair it, and how long do parts usually take to arrive?
7. Where is it stored, and is it driven through the winter?
8. Is it financed, and does the lender want particular cover in place?

What to gather

• The vehicle identification number or chassis number, and the original export or deregistration certificate
• Federal import paperwork, including the customs entry form stamped at the border
• Any recall clearance letter or confirmation that open recalls were dealt with before import
• The provincial out-of-province or safety inspection report, or the booked inspection date
• The purchase invoice and the shipping or carrier documents
• A recent appraisal or auction sheet if the model is rare or was never sold here
• A written list of modifications, with receipts where you have them
• The name of a shop that can service the vehicle and source its parts
• Your driving history and current auto policy, if you have one

What the broker will ask

1. What licence stage is the new driver at, and when did they reach it?
2. Which vehicle will they drive, and who drives it most of the time?
3. Have they completed a recognised driver-education course?
4. Will they live at home, or move away for school or work?
5. Are they taking a car to school, and how far away is it?
6. For a newcomer, how many years were you licensed abroad, and can you document them?
7. Do they have any tickets or claims, even from the learner stage?
8. Is the vehicle they drive registered to them or to a parent?

What to gather

• The new driver's licence class, issue date and expected date for the next stage
• A driver-education certificate, if a course was completed
• Which household vehicle the new driver will use, and how often
• The school name and city for a student who will live away from home
• Whether the student is taking a vehicle to school or leaving it behind
• For newcomers: the foreign licence, its first issue date and a translation if needed
• For newcomers: a letter from the previous insurer showing years insured and any claims
• Any tickets or claims the new driver already has

What the broker will ask

1. When did you arrive in Canada, and what is your residency status?
2. Which country issued your licence, and when did you first hold a full licence there?
3. Can you provide a letter from your previous insurer, and is it translated?
4. Have you exchanged your licence for a provincial one yet, or booked the tests?
5. Will the car be bought here, or is it one you brought from abroad?
6. Are you renting or buying, and when do you move in?
7. Who else lives with you, and will any of them drive?
8. Is there a gap before your provincial health coverage starts?

What to gather

• Your foreign driver's licence, with the date it was first issued
• A letter on letterhead from each previous insurer abroad confirming years insured and any claims
• Certified translations of the licence and insurer letters if they are not in English or French
• Your permanent resident card, work permit or study permit, and the date you arrived
• Your new provincial licence, or the date of your licensing appointment or road test
• Your lease or purchase agreement and the address you are moving into
• A list of belongings you brought or bought, with rough values for larger items
• Any home insurance you held abroad, with dates and a claims record if available
• Your provincial health card application or the date it was submitted

What the broker will ask

1. Who rides or drives it, how long have they been licensed for this kind of vehicle, and have they had a claim or a conviction?
2. Is it a daily rider, a weekend machine or something that comes out a few times a year?
3. Is it kept in a locked building during the off-season, and does the building have heat or an alarm?
4. Has it been customised, or does it carry equipment that was not on it when it left the factory?
5. For an RV, is it ever lived in, rented to others or left at a seasonal site?
6. Do you tow anything with it, or is it towed by something else?
7. Do you ride or camp across the border, and for how long at a time?
8. Would you like to suspend cover over the winter, and when do you expect to start riding again?

What to gather

• Year, make, model and vehicle identification number for each bike, RV, trailer or off-road machine
• Motorcycle licence class and the date each rider first held it, plus any rider-training course completed
• Claims and convictions for every rider or driver over the past several years, with dates
• Roughly how many kilometres the vehicle is used in a season, and the months it is on the road
• Where it is stored in the off-season and what protects it: locked garage, storage compound, driveway or cover
• Receipts or a list of upgrades, accessories and custom parts, with photographs
• For an RV, whether it is lived in, rented out, or kept at a seasonal site, and the site address
• Purchase price and date, and any lender or lease that requires named cover
• Your current policy or renewal notice with limits and deductibles

What the broker will ask

1. When did you last own or insure a vehicle, and why did that cover end?
2. Whose cars do you drive now, and on roughly how many days a month?
3. Does anyone you live with own a vehicle?
4. Do you use a car-share membership or rent cars, and how often?
5. Is any of your driving for work, deliveries or ride-hailing?
6. Has your licence ever been suspended, and is it valid now?
7. Are you planning to buy or lease a car in the next year or so?

What to gather

• Your driver licence number, the date you were first licensed and any licence held abroad
• Your driving record for recent years, including claims and convictions with dates
• Your most recent auto policy, even if it has ended, and the date it ended
• Whose vehicles you drive, how often and for what kinds of trips
• Any car-share or rental memberships you use, and what insurance they say they include
• Whether anyone in your household owns a vehicle you could drive
• Whether you plan to buy a car, and roughly when
• Any work or delivery driving you do in vehicles you do not own

What the broker will ask

1. Where will you rent and drive: in your province, elsewhere in Canada, the US or overseas?
2. Does your policy include the endorsement for damage to rented vehicles, and what is its limit?
3. How long is the rental, and what kind of vehicle are you booking?
4. Who will drive besides you?
5. Is the rental for personal use, for work, or to replace your own car during a repair?
6. Which card will pay for the rental, and have you read its rental conditions?
7. Will you rent through an app or a car-sharing service rather than at a counter?
8. Would you like a higher liability limit while you are driving in the US?

What to gather

• Your current auto policy, including the list of endorsements and the liability limit
• The rental agreement or booking confirmation, with the dates, country and vehicle class
• Your credit card's benefit guide, and which card you will pay with
• The names of everyone who might drive the rental
• Whether the rental is for personal travel, work or a stand-in while your own car is repaired
• For work rentals, your employer's travel policy and any corporate rental account
• For car-sharing or app rentals, the platform's insurance terms and deductible

What the broker will ask

1. Which kinds of app work do you do: passengers, food, groceries or parcels?
2. When did you start, and has your current insurer been told?
3. How many hours a week is the app on, and how many of those hours have a passenger or order aboard?
4. Does anyone else drive the car, and do they also use it for app work?
5. Do you run more than one platform at the same time?
6. Is the vehicle financed or leased, and does the lender know it is used for paid driving?
7. Do you take longer trips outside the city, such as airport runs or trips between towns?
8. Is the vehicle registered at, and kept overnight at, the address where you live?

What to gather

• The apps you drive for, and whether you carry passengers, food, groceries or parcels
• Roughly how many hours a week the app is switched on, and on which days
• Your estimate of kilometres driven for app work compared with personal driving
• Any vehicle requirements the platform set, such as vehicle age or an inspection
• The platform's summary of the insurance it provides, from its driver help pages
• Your current auto policy, with any endorsements already listed on it
• Who else in the household drives the same vehicle
• Claims or tickets for every driver, including anything that happened during a shift

What the broker will ask

1. Which machines do you own, and are any of them still financed?
2. Is any riding done off your own land, and if so, where?
3. Who rides, including children, visiting friends and anyone who borrows a machine?
4. Does a passenger ever ride along, and is the machine built to carry one?
5. Do you trailer the machines to other provinces or across the border?
6. Is any machine used for work, such as checking cattle, fencing or plowing for pay?
7. Where are they stored, and are they locked or tethered when nobody is home?
8. Have any of them been modified for more power, more speed or a different track?

What to gather

• Year, make, model, engine size and serial number for each machine
• The provincial registration certificate for each machine, if it is registered
• Names, ages and licence status of everyone who will ride, including children and guests
• Where each machine is ridden: your own land, a neighbour's land, club trails, public land or a track
• Trail permits, club memberships or track passes you hold or plan to buy
• Details of any trailer: type, length, serial number and the vehicle that pulls it
• Where the machines are stored, in season and out, and how they are locked
• Receipts or photos for added equipment such as tracks, plows, winches, racks or exhausts
• Any past claims, crashes or convictions involving an off-highway machine
• Your home or farm policy, to see what it already says about recreational vehicles

What the broker will ask

1. Who is travelling, how old are they and what is their residency or status?
2. Where are you going, for how long and how many separate trips will you take?
3. Has anyone been treated for a medical condition recently, and has anything changed in the months before departure?
4. Is this a visit to Canada, a trip away from Canada or a move between provinces?
5. Do you want only medical cover, or also trip cancellation and interruption?
6. Will you be doing anything adventurous, such as skiing, hiking or driving a rented motorbike?
7. Is any cover available through an employer plan or a credit card, and have you read its wording?
8. Is the traveller already in Canada or abroad, and when does cover need to begin?

What to gather

• Travel dates and the length of stay, including the dates you leave and return
• Countries to be visited and any region where there are travel warnings
• Date of birth for each traveller, and their residency or immigration status
• Details of your provincial or home-country health coverage and whether it applies while you are away
• A record of the dates of any recent changes to existing medications, which a broker or the insurer may ask about
• Whether the trip is a single return trip, repeated short trips or a long stay
• Planned activities that might need an extension, such as skiing, scuba diving or work abroad
• Names and contact details of an emergency contact and, for visitors, the host in Canada
• Your current policy or any coverage provided through a credit card or employer plan

What the broker will ask

1. When did you make the first payment, and what was booked that day?
2. How much of the trip is non-refundable, and does the supplier offer credits instead?
3. Who is travelling, and for whom else would you cancel if something happened to them?
4. Did you pay with a credit card that includes trip cover, and have you read its certificate?
5. Do you also need travel medical cover, or is that already arranged?
6. Is this a single trip, or do you travel several times a year?
7. Is anything already happening that could affect the trip, such as a family situation or a travel advisory?
8. Would a cancel-for-any-reason option matter to you, given its cost and conditions?

What to gather

• Booking confirmations for every prepaid part of the trip: flights, hotels, tours, cruise and rail
• The date you made the first payment or deposit on the trip
• The supplier's cancellation and refund terms, including any credits offered instead of cash
• The total prepaid cost per traveller and how much of it is non-refundable
• Dates of birth for each traveller, and their home province
• The credit card used to pay, with the card's certificate of insurance or benefit guide
• Any travel medical plan you already hold, through an employer or on your own
• Names of close family members at home whose situation could affect the trip, without any health details

What the broker will ask

1. What would you want a lump sum to pay for if a serious diagnosis interrupted your plans?
2. What critical illness, disability or life cover do you already hold, through work or on your own?
3. Would your income continue if you took several months away from work?
4. How long do you want the cover to last: a set term, to a certain age or for life?
5. Are you interested in a return of premium option, knowing it changes the cost?
6. Would you like your children included, if the insurer offers a child benefit?
7. Would a smaller payment for an early-stage condition matter to you?
8. Is the cover for you personally, or would a business you own pay for it?

What to gather

• Any critical illness benefit you have through work, with the amount shown in the plan booklet
• Your existing disability and life policies, so the advisor can see what each one already does
• A rough list of what a lump sum would pay for: debts, a partner's time off, help at home or travel
• Your monthly household costs and how many months your savings could carry them
• How you earn your income and whether it continues if you step away for treatment
• Whether you want cover for a set number of years, to a certain age or for life
• Whether optional features such as return of premium or cover for children interest you
• The ages of any children you would like included, if the plan offers child cover

What the broker will ask

1. What is your occupation and what does your day-to-day work involve?
2. How do you get paid, and is your income steady or variable?
3. What do you already have through an employer or another policy?
4. How long could you manage without income before benefits start?
5. Do you want protection for a period of years or until a certain age?
6. Do you want only income replacement, or a lump sum on a serious diagnosis too?
7. Who relies on your income, and what are your fixed monthly costs?

What to gather

• Your occupation, your duties and how you earn: salary, self-employment, commission or a mix
• Your income for the past few years and your tax documents if self-employed
• Any disability or critical illness cover you have through work, and its terms
• The savings or sick leave you could draw on while waiting for benefits to begin
• Fixed monthly obligations, such as a mortgage, rent, loan payments and family costs
• Whether you own a business and how it would continue if you could not work
• The kind of protection you are leaning toward: monthly income, a lump sum or both
• The date any existing cover ends, if it is tied to your job

What the broker will ask

1. Who is the policy for, and have they agreed to apply?
2. What should the money pay for: the funeral, outstanding bills or something left for family?
3. Is there already life insurance or a prepaid funeral in place?
4. Who should receive the payout, and is there a second choice?
5. Would a waiting period at the start of the policy be acceptable?
6. How would you prefer to pay, and for how many years?
7. Is the aim to fix today's funeral arrangements, or to provide a flexible sum?

What to gather

• The age and province of residence of the person to be insured
• A rough idea of the funeral, burial or cremation they want, and any plot already owned
• Any existing life insurance, including group cover from a former employer, and its amount
• Any prepaid funeral contract, with the funeral home's name and what it includes
• The name of the person who would arrange the funeral, and who should receive the money
• Whether the premium would be paid monthly, yearly or in a single payment
• Who will pay the premium, if it is not the person insured
• The will and the executor's name, if there is one

What the broker will ask

1. How many employees do you have, and where do they work?
2. Who will be eligible, and after how long on the job?
3. Do you want to cover owners, dependants and retirees?
4. Which benefits matter most: health, dental, disability, life or something else?
5. How is the cost to be shared between the business and employees?
6. Is there an existing plan, and what does it cost and cover?
7. Do you want a fixed-cost approach, like a spending account, or a traditional plan?
8. Is there a legal or contractual obligation, such as a union agreement?

What to gather

• The number of employees and their ages, roles and provinces of work
• Full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract staff, and who would be eligible
• Whether owners and their families are to be included
• The existing plan booklet and summary, if the business has one
• Claims and renewal history, if you have a current plan
• How much of the cost the company wants to pay and how much employees will share
• The waiting period before a new employee becomes eligible
• Any union agreement or contract that sets benefit levels
• The benefits you most want to offer, and the ones you could live without

What the broker will ask

1. Who in the household needs cover, and what are their ages?
2. Is there a group plan ending, and on what date?
3. Did your group plan mention a conversion option, and has the window started?
4. Which matters most: prescriptions, dental, vision or paramedical care?
5. Is anyone covered under another plan, such as a spouse's or a public program?
6. Are you self-employed, and do you keep business books an accountant reviews?
7. Do you travel outside your province often enough to want travel medical included?

What to gather

• Who needs cover: yourself, a partner, children, and their ages
• Your province of residence and whether anyone is moving or recently moved
• The group plan booklet and the date the group cover ends, if you are leaving a job
• Any letter or notice about a conversion option and its deadline
• A list of the services you actually use, like dental cleanings, glasses or physiotherapy
• Whether anyone already has cover through a spouse, a school plan or a public program
• Upcoming dental or vision work you know about, such as orthodontics for a child
• A monthly budget you are comfortable setting aside for premiums

What the broker will ask

1. Who are the people the business would struggle most to replace, and why?
2. What would happen to revenue, clients and staff in the months after losing that person?
3. Is there a shareholder or partnership agreement, and what does it say about a death or disability?
4. How is the business valued, and when was that valuation last updated?
5. Has a lender asked for insurance on any owner, and on what terms?
6. Would the corporation, the individual owners or a holding company own the policies?
7. Have your accountant and lawyer looked at how a payout would flow and be taxed?
8. Does the person to be insured know about the application and agree to it?

What to gather

• The legal structure of the business and a list of shareholders or partners with their ownership shares
• The shareholder or partnership agreement, especially any clauses about death, disability or leaving
• Recent financial statements, which help an insurer see what the key person adds to the business
• The role, salary and responsibilities of each person you are thinking of insuring
• Business loans and lines of credit, including any an owner has signed for personally, with what each lender requires
• A recent valuation of the business, or the formula your agreement uses to set a share price
• Contact details for your accountant and lawyer, who will need to see the proposed structure
• Policies the business or the owners already hold, with who owns each one and who receives it

What the broker will ask

1. Who is on the mortgage, and who depends on the household income?
2. What is the balance, the amortization and the date of the next renewal?
3. Have you already enrolled in the lender's insurance, and when?
4. Do you want the payout to go to the lender or to people you choose?
5. Do you have life insurance through work, and does it end if you leave the job?
6. Are you likely to move the mortgage to another lender or sell the home before it is paid off?
7. Would you want cover for other needs, like income or education, as well as the mortgage?

What to gather

• The mortgage commitment or statement showing the balance, amortization and term
• The lender's insurance offer or brochure, including the certificate if you have already enrolled
• Names of every borrower on the mortgage
• Any life insurance you already have personally or through work, with the amounts
• Other debts such as a line of credit or car loan that would fall on your household
• Who you would want to receive money if you died, and whether any are minors
• Whether you expect to switch lenders, refinance or sell within the next few years
• A note of whether the mortgage carries default insurance because of the down payment

What the broker will ask

1. How many people are coming, and what are their dates of birth?
2. When will they arrive in Canada, and where will they stay?
3. Has the super visa application been submitted, approved or refused before?
4. Will they travel outside Canada during the stay, including trips to the United States?
5. What deductible would the family be comfortable paying on a single claim?
6. Would you like to pay in full or by monthly instalments?
7. Who will be the contact in Canada if a claim has to be made?
8. Is this a first policy or a renewal of an existing super visa plan?

What to gather

• Full names, dates of birth and passport details for each visiting parent or grandparent
• The planned date of entry to Canada and the expected length of stay
• The host's proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence, and their address in Canada
• The super visa application stage: not yet applied, submitted, approved or already in Canada
• A printout of the current requirements from the official super visa page on canada.ca
• Whether both visitors want to be on one plan or on separate plans
• Your preference for paying the full cost up front or in monthly instalments
• Any earlier super visa or visitor policy, with its dates and claim history

What the broker will ask

1. Who depends on your income, and for how many years?
2. What debts, such as a mortgage, would need to be paid off?
3. What do you already have through work or an older policy?
4. Who are the beneficiaries, and are any of them under the age of majority?
5. Do you want cover for a fixed number of years or for life?
6. Do you want to be able to convert or renew the policy later?
7. Is anyone else, like a partner or business associate, relying on you financially?

What to gather

• The names, ages and relationships of the people who depend on your income
• Your mortgage balance, and any other debts that would fall on the household
• Your annual income and roughly how long your household would need it replaced
• Any life insurance you already hold personally or through an employer, and what happens to it if you leave
• The people you would name as beneficiaries, and whether any of them are minors
• Whether you want protection for a fixed need or something that lasts for life
• Whether you have a will, and who is named as guardian or executor
• Whether you own a business or have business partners who would be affected

What the broker will ask

1. Which services do you provide, and has the mix changed in the past year?
2. Do you hold a designation, and does your professional body set insurance rules for your kind of practice?
3. Do you prepare financial statements that lenders or investors rely on?
4. Can you move money out of a client's account, or does client money pass through yours?
5. How are returns reviewed before filing, and who signs off on them?
6. How do clients send you documents, and what protects those files once they arrive?
7. Do you advise on investments, insurance, estates or cross-border tax?
8. Has a client blamed you for a reassessment, a penalty or a missed deadline?

What to gather

• A list of services with the share of revenue from each: bookkeeping, personal tax, corporate tax, payroll, assurance or advisory
• Your designation, professional body membership and any public practice licence
• The number of clients, the largest client's share of revenue and the industries you serve
• Engagement letters, especially clauses on scope, client responsibilities and limits of liability
• Whether you hold signing authority or online banking access on any client account
• How client payroll or tax money moves, and whether it ever passes through your own account
• Where client records are kept, how they are shared and how long they are retained
• Staff and contractors, including seasonal preparers, and what files and funds they can reach
• Any client complaint, fee dispute or reassessment you were blamed for, with dates

What the broker will ask

1. What is the highest-value vehicle you would expect to have in the shop?
2. How many customer vehicles stay overnight, and are they inside or in the lot?
3. Who road tests vehicles, and is there a written test-drive route or rule?
4. Do you do any welding, painting or work on fuel systems?
5. How are used oil and solvents stored, and who collects them?
6. Do you store customers' tires or vehicles, with or without a fee?
7. Do you sell used vehicles, lend courtesy cars or tow?
8. Where are customers' keys kept after hours?

What to gather

• A list of services: general repair, collision, paint, tires, alignment, diesel or performance work
• The number of bays and hoists, and the most customer vehicles on site at one time
• How many cars sit on the lot overnight, and how the lot and keys are secured
• A staff list with roles, and who is allowed to road test customer vehicles
• An equipment list with rough replacement values, including technician-owned toolboxes
• How used oil, coolant, solvents and parts washers are stored and collected
• Paint booth details and fire protection records if you do refinishing
• The lease or building details, including age, construction and sprinklers
• Past claims, customer complaints about repairs and any vehicles damaged in your care

What the broker will ask

1. What do you produce, and in roughly what volumes?
2. Does the distillery run at high proof, and where is spirit above drinking strength stored?
3. How is the still room ventilated, and is its electrical equipment rated for flammable vapour?
4. Do you pour on site, and what are the taproom hours, capacity and events?
5. How do you trace a batch, and could you pull it from every store that received it?
6. Where does finished stock sit before it is sold, and who moves it?
7. Do you ship to other provinces or outside Canada?
8. Does anyone else produce on your equipment under a contract or alternating arrangement?

What to gather

• What you make, your yearly production volume, and how sales split between the taproom, retail and distributors
• An equipment list covering the brewhouse, fermenters, stills, packaging lines, chillers and boilers, with ages and replacement values
• Your provincial manufacturer licence, any taproom or lounge endorsement, and any federal excise licence or registration
• A floor plan showing the still room, barrel storage, grain handling and the tasting area
• Fire protection details: sprinklers, ventilation, vapour or gas detection and how electrical fittings near the stills are rated
• Stock values at their highest point in the year, split between ageing, packaged and in transit
• Your recall plan, lot coding system and how you trace a batch to the stores that received it
• The lease, plus distributor and retailer agreements that set insurance requirements
• Claims, contamination incidents, liquor licence issues or inspection findings from the past several years

What the broker will ask

1. What was your net income and what are your continuing expenses in a typical month?
2. How long would it take to be fully operating again after a total loss, including permits and equipment?
3. Is your business seasonal, so that a closure at the wrong time costs more?
4. Which supplier or customer would stop you if they were unable to operate?
5. Do you rely on power, internet or a single piece of equipment to operate?
6. Could you move to temporary premises, and what would that cost?
7. Do you want payroll to be covered through a closure?
8. Have you thought about what you will need to prove after a loss and how you will keep your records?

What to gather

• Financial statements or tax filings for the most recent complete years
• Monthly revenue showing busy and slow periods
• Fixed costs that continue when you are closed, with amounts and due dates
• Payroll details, including which staff you would keep paying
• The longest realistic time to repair or rebuild, including permits and equipment lead times
• Names of critical suppliers and customers and how replaceable they are
• Whether you could operate from another location, and what that would involve
• Your existing property policy, to see how it links to this cover

What the broker will ask

1. Do you clean homes, commercial buildings or both, and which brings in more revenue?
2. How many people clean for you, and are they on payroll or paid as contractors?
3. Do your crews hold client keys or alarm codes, and how are those tracked?
4. Do you run background checks before someone enters a client's home?
5. Do you do floor stripping, carpet extraction, window work at height or post-construction cleanup?
6. Have you had a claim for damage, theft or injury at a client site?
7. What limit and wording do your largest contracts ask for?
8. Who drives to jobs, and whose vehicles are used?

What to gather

• A list of the services you offer, with the rough split between residential and commercial work
• Annual revenue and the number of homes or buildings you clean in a typical month
• Names and roles of everyone who cleans for you, marked as employee or subcontractor
• How client keys, fobs and alarm codes are stored, tagged and returned
• The cleaning products and machines you use, including any strippers, degreasers or disinfectants
• Copies of client contracts or tenders that name insurance requirements
• Your workers' compensation account details, or the reason you do not have an account
• Vehicle details for any van or car used to move crews and equipment
• Any claims, complaints or police reports involving damage or missing items

What the broker will ask

1. Do you own the building, lease it, or both, and who is responsible for the roof and structure?
2. What would it cost to rebuild, not what you paid for it or what it would sell for?
3. Who occupies the building and what do they do there?
4. Are any units empty or likely to be empty for a stretch?
5. Have you had water damage, fire or theft before, and what was fixed afterward?
6. Are there mortgages or lenders who must be named on the policy?
7. Is any part of the building heritage-designated or subject to special rebuild rules?
8. Do you want cover for lost rent or extra expenses after a loss?

What to gather

• Address, year built and the main construction type: wood frame, masonry, steel or a mix
• Square footage by floor, number of storeys and any basement or mezzanine
• Dates of major updates to the roof, wiring, plumbing and heating
• How each unit is used and by whom, including any hazardous processes
• Fire protections: sprinklers, alarms, monitoring and distance to the hydrant and fire hall
• Recent appraisal, replacement cost estimate or purchase documents
• A list of tenants, their trades and the insurance clauses in each lease
• Mortgage or lender requirements, including named mortgagee wording
• Loss history on the property for the past several years, including claims by earlier owners

What the broker will ask

1. When was the last insurance appraisal done, and has construction cost changed since?
2. How many water losses has the building had recently, and what caused them?
3. What do the bylaws say about charging deductibles back to owners?
4. Is there a standard unit description, and where does the corporation's cover stop inside a unit?
5. What plumbing material is in the building, and is there a plan to replace any of it?
6. Who handles the corporation's money, and are two signatures needed for payments?
7. Have owners or residents made complaints or threatened legal action against the board?
8. Is the building fully residential, or are there commercial units or short-term rentals?
9. Does the property manager carry its own errors and omissions and fidelity cover?

What to gather

• The current insurance certificate and full policy, with every deductible listed
• The latest insurance appraisal and its date
• The most recent reserve fund study and the board's plan responding to it
• The registered plan, the bylaws and any standard unit description
• A loss history for the past several years, with causes, amounts and units involved
• Details of building systems: plumbing material, heating, elevators, fire protection and roof age
• Water mitigation work, such as leak detectors, shut-off valves or a plumbing replacement project
• The property management contract and the manager's own insurance certificate
• A list of directors, how funds are handled and who signs cheques or approves payments
• Any open claims, owner disputes or legal actions involving the corporation

What the broker will ask

1. Who is responsible under the contract for arranging builders risk: owner or contractor?
2. What is the full value of the project, and does it include materials supplied by the owner?
3. Is this new construction or work on an existing structure?
4. When does it start, when will it finish, and what happens if it runs late?
5. Which subcontractors work on site, and do they carry their own liability cover?
6. Is there work near water, heat, excavation or demolition that adds risk?
7. How is the site secured outside working hours?
8. Who needs to be named on the policy, and what wording have they asked for?

What to gather

• The construction contract, including the insurance and indemnity clauses
• Project address, type of building and the planned start and completion dates
• Total value of the work, including owner-supplied materials
• Description of the construction method and any work on existing structures
• Where materials are stored, including off-site and in transit
• Names of the general contractor and each major subcontractor, and their insurance certificates
• Lender requirements for named parties and policy wording
• The contractor's own history on similar projects and any past claims
• Site security measures such as fencing, cameras and night checks

What the broker will ask

1. What share of your work is residential, commercial or new construction?
2. Do you ever work at heights, with torches, on gas lines or on structural elements?
3. Do you hire subcontractors, and do you collect their certificates before they start?
4. How do you handle water during plumbing, roofing or demolition work?
5. What is the largest single job you expect to take on this year?
6. Who needs to be named on your certificate, and what limits have they asked for?
7. Where are tools stored overnight, and has anything been stolen before?
8. Do you give design advice, size equipment or sign off on inspections?

What to gather

• A plain list of the trades you perform, including occasional work like small roofing patches or gas line hookups
• Trade certificates, journeyperson or master tickets, and any municipal or provincial licences
• Revenue last year and expected this year, split between residential and commercial work if you can
• Payroll for employees and what you paid subcontractors, with their certificates and WCB clearance letters
• A list of tools and equipment with rough replacement values and where they are kept overnight
• Each work vehicle and trailer, with year, make, model and who drives it
• Sample contracts from general contractors, including insurance limits and additional insured wording
• Any claims, complaints or callbacks in the past several years, even ones you fixed yourself
• Your current policy and certificate, if you have one, and the renewal date

What the broker will ask

1. What kinds of personal or confidential information do you keep, and in what systems?
2. Is multi-factor authentication required for email, remote access and administrator accounts?
3. How are backups made and kept, and has a restore actually been tested?
4. Do you accept card payments directly, or through a processor?
5. Which outside providers could stop your business if they failed, such as a cloud host or a payment platform?
6. Has the business ever been hit by ransomware, a business email compromise or a data breach?
7. How would an employee check a request to change a supplier's bank details?
8. Do any contracts require you to hold cyber cover or to notify a client of an incident?

What to gather

• The kinds of data you hold, such as names, health details, payment cards or identity numbers, and roughly how many people they relate to
• How customers pay you: card terminals, an online checkout, a processor, or cash and cheque
• Whether multi-factor authentication is switched on for email, remote access and administrator accounts
• How backups work, how often they run, where copies are stored and when a restore was last tested
• The software and cloud services your business depends on to operate
• Who has administrator access, and how a former employee's accounts are closed
• Any past incidents, near-misses or fraudulent payments, with dates and what was done
• How payment changes are verified, such as a call to a known number before updating bank details
• Customer or lender contracts that mention cyber cover or data protection

What the broker will ask

1. Is the program licensed, approved through an agency or operating privately?
2. How many children attend, and what are their ages?
3. What screening do staff, volunteers and household members go through?
4. How do you make sure no adult is alone with a child out of sight of others?
5. Do children leave the premises for outings, and how do they travel?
6. Is there a pool, trampoline, pet or water feature on site?
7. Has there ever been an allegation, complaint or licensing finding against the program?
8. Do you own, lease or share the space, and with whom?
9. For a day home, has your home insurer been told about the child care?

What to gather

• Your licence, agency approval or the provincial category you operate under
• Licensed capacity and actual enrolment, with the age range of the children
• A staff and volunteer list with roles, hours and the dates of their criminal record and vulnerable sector checks
• Written policies on supervision, washroom and diapering routines, and child pickup
• Details of outings and how children are transported, including who drives
• A description of the building, the yard and the play equipment
• Incident and injury reports from the past several years
• Any existing policy, including the home policy for a day home
• Agency, funding or lease agreements that list insurance requirements

What the broker will ask

1. What does the organization do, how is it governed and who sits on the board?
2. Has it faced a lawsuit, a regulatory inquiry or a significant dispute?
3. How are decisions made and recorded, and are there conflicts of interest policies?
4. Does the organization raise money from investors, members or the public?
5. Are any directors serving as volunteers, and do they have outside roles that matter?
6. Is any restructuring, sale or insolvency risk on the horizon?
7. Do the bylaws or an agreement promise to indemnify directors, and to what extent?
8. Do you need employment practices, fiduciary or crime cover with it?

What to gather

• The legal name, structure and incorporation details of the organization and any subsidiaries
• A list of directors and officers with their roles and how long they have served
• The latest financial statements, and a plain description of revenue sources and any outside funding
• Number of employees, volunteers and, where relevant, members or shareholders
• Any lawsuits, regulatory notices, audits or complaints involving the organization in recent years
• Planned changes such as raising money, selling the business, a merger or a wind-down
• Governance documents, including bylaws, shareholder agreements and conflict-of-interest policies
• Existing policies: general liability, professional liability, employment practices and any current management liability
• Details of any indemnity agreements between the organization and its directors

What the broker will ask

1. How many training vehicles do you run, and are all of them fitted with dual controls?
2. Who installed the dual controls, and how often are they checked?
3. How do you confirm a student holds a valid learner's licence before a lesson?
4. Do students take road tests in your cars, and where is the instructor during the test?
5. Do any instructors teach in their own vehicles?
6. Which courses do you teach, and do you issue certificates that insurers or the province rely on?
7. Do you train commercial, motorcycle or other licence classes?
8. Have any of your cars been in a collision during a lesson or a test?

What to gather

• The school's provincial licence and each instructor's licence or permit, with expiry dates
• A vehicle list with identification numbers, ownership, dual-control equipment and the instructors who use each car
• Instructor details: licence class, years licensed, driving records and teaching experience
• Lesson volume: roughly how many in-car hours a week and how many students a year
• Whether students use school cars for road tests, and how often
• Any instructors using personal vehicles, with their current auto policies
• The classroom or office address, and whether courses are also delivered online
• Course types: beginner, defensive driving, commercial licence classes or motorcycle
• Past collisions during lessons or road tests, with dates and outcomes

What the broker will ask

1. How many people work for you, in which provinces, and in what roles?
2. Do you have written employment contracts, a handbook and a harassment policy, and are they used in practice?
3. Who makes termination decisions, and is legal or HR advice sought before one is made?
4. Has the business had any complaint, human rights filing or demand letter about how an employee was treated?
5. Are there layoffs, a restructuring or a sale in prospect?
6. Do you use contractors or agency staff, and who manages them day to day?
7. Is anyone in the business covered by a collective agreement?
8. Does a customer contract or an investor ask you to carry this cover?

What to gather

• The number of employees, contractors and part-time workers, and the provinces where they work
• Whether any are unionized or covered by a collective agreement
• Copies of the employee handbook, written policies on harassment and discrimination, and a sample employment contract
• How hiring, performance review and termination decisions are made and documented
• The number of terminations or resignations over the past few years, and whether any led to a complaint or claim
• Any pending complaints, demand letters, tribunal filings or lawyer correspondence
• Training provided to managers on respectful workplaces and on handling complaints
• Whether you use staffing agencies or independent contractors in roles that look like employees
• Any existing cover, such as a directors and officers or small business policy, that mentions employment claims

What the broker will ask

1. Which disciplines do you practise, and which project types bring in most of your fees?
2. Do you seal drawings, and does your regulator issue a permit to practise to the firm?
3. Do you design multi-unit residential buildings or building envelopes?
4. Do you act as prime consultant, and how do you choose and contract subconsultants?
5. Do any contracts ask for a project policy, a warranty or a fitness-for-purpose promise?
6. How often do staff visit construction sites, and what do they do there?
7. Have you had claims, complaints or regulator inquiries, and how were they resolved?
8. What is your retroactive date, and has cover been continuous since you began practising?

What to gather

• Disciplines practised and the share of fees from each, such as structural, civil, building envelope or interiors
• Project types by fee: houses, multi-unit residential, commercial, institutional, industrial or infrastructure
• Your registration and any permit to practise your regulator issues to the firm
• Annual fees, the largest single project fee, and the number of staff and registered professionals
• Your standard client agreement and any client contract with unusual indemnity or warranty wording
• A list of the subconsultants you use and the cover each one holds
• The current policy, its retroactive date and any claims or circumstances reported
• Work outside your home province or in the United States
• Quality control steps: peer review, drawing checks and how field reviews are documented
• Projects with features insurers look at closely, such as condominiums, envelopes, geotechnical work or demolition

What the broker will ask

1. Do you only coordinate, or do you also design, supply decor or put up structures such as tents and stages?
2. Do clients pay vendors directly, or does money pass through your business?
3. Who serves alcohol at your events, and is it ever sold rather than provided by the host?
4. What do your contracts say about refunds if a vendor fails or an event is cancelled?
5. What is the largest guest count you handle, and do any events involve fireworks, open flame or water?
6. Do you plan events outside your home province or abroad?
7. Do you use assistants or other planners, and are they employees or contractors?
8. Has a client ever demanded a refund or threatened to sue?

What to gather

• A description of the events you plan: weddings, corporate meetings, galas, festivals or destination trips
• The number of events a year, typical guest counts and the largest event you have run
• Your client agreement, especially refund, cancellation, force majeure and liability clauses
• Venue contracts or house rules that set insurance requirements for planners and vendors
• How you handle client money: whether deposits pass through your account or go straight to vendors
• Your preferred vendor list and whether you collect their certificates of insurance
• Whether alcohol is served at your events, who serves it and who holds any permit
• An inventory of decor, rentals and equipment you own, with rough replacement values
• Any events planned outside your province or outside Canada
• Complaints, refund demands or claims from past clients

What the broker will ask

1. What certifications do you hold, and are they current?
2. Which activities do you teach, and do any involve heights, heat, water or contact?
3. Do you use hands-on adjustments or assisted stretching?
4. Where do your sessions take place, and do any happen outdoors or in client homes?
5. Do you teach online, and where are your online clients located?
6. Do you work with children, older adults or competitive athletes?
7. Do you give nutrition plans or other advice beyond exercise instruction?
8. What do the studios or gyms you work with require you to carry?

What to gather

• Your certifications, with the issuing organisation and expiry dates
• A list of what you teach, from one-on-one training to group classes and workshops
• Where you teach: gyms, rented studios, parks, client homes or online
• How many clients or class participants you see in a typical week
• Annual income from instruction, and whether you are employed, contracted or self-employed
• Copies of studio rental or gym contractor agreements that mention insurance
• Your waiver, consent and client intake forms
• A list of equipment you own and where it is stored
• Any client complaints or injuries reported during your sessions

What the broker will ask

1. Is it a self-driven truck or a trailer towed behind another vehicle?
2. What does the kitchen cook with, and is there a fryer on board?
3. How is the propane system installed, inspected and secured while driving?
4. Do you run a generator, and where does it sit while you serve?
5. How many events do you plan this season, and do they include large festivals?
6. Where is the truck kept overnight, and is it ever left at an event site?
7. Do you serve alcohol or set up beside a licensed beer garden?
8. Which allergens are on your menu, and how are they labelled at the window?

What to gather

• The truck or trailer registration, vehicle identification number and the cost of the custom build
• A list of kitchen equipment, including fryers, griddles, refrigeration and the generator
• The most recent propane system inspection and the service record for any suppression system
• Your menu and where ingredients come from, including anything prepared ahead at a commissary
• This season's event calendar, with each organiser's insurance requirements where you have them
• The commissary agreement and where the truck is parked overnight
• Food handling permits and municipal vending or business licences you hold or have applied for
• Who drives the truck and who works the window, with driver licence details
• Any past claims, complaints about the food or inspection orders

What the broker will ask

1. What exactly does your business do, and are there services or activities you do not do?
2. Do customers come to your premises, or do you go to theirs?
3. Do you make, import or just sell products, and do you ship across provinces or abroad?
4. Do you hire subcontractors, and do you collect proof of their insurance?
5. Has there been any injury, damage claim or complaint, and how was it resolved?
6. What limits do your contracts or landlord require, and who needs to be named as additional insured?
7. Do you run events, demonstrations or work at heights that might change the risk?
8. Is the business seasonal, new or growing quickly?

What to gather

• A description of what the business does and how it earns revenue, including anything you subcontract
• Annual revenue and payroll, since policies are often rated on one or both
• Your premises: lease or ownership, size, and whether the public visits
• Contracts or leases that set insurance requirements, limits or additional insured wording
• Details of any subcontractors and whether they carry their own cover
• Products you make or sell, and where they are made and distributed
• Loss history for the past several years and any incidents that did not become claims
• Your current policy or certificate, with limits and expiry date
• Safety practices, such as floor-care routines, tool inspections or product testing

What the broker will ask

1. Which professions practise in the clinic, and is each one regulated where you work?
2. Do you own the clinic, work in it as an associate, or rent a room?
3. Does each associate carry their own malpractice cover, and do you keep proof of it on file?
4. What treatments or procedures do you offer, and has that list changed recently?
5. Where are patient records kept, and who outside the clinic can reach them?
6. Which piece of equipment would stop the clinic working if it failed?
7. What does the lease require you to insure, and who paid for the build-out?
8. Has there been a college complaint, a claim or a privacy incident?

What to gather

• Your profession, registration number and the college or association that oversees it
• The current malpractice requirement from your college, including any required form and limit
• A list of the services offered, noting any procedures or modalities added recently
• Who works in the clinic: owners, employed staff, associates on contract and practitioners renting rooms
• An equipment list with replacement values, marking anything leased or financed
• The clinic lease, especially the insurance clause and any improvements you paid for
• How patient records are stored, who can reach them and how backups are handled
• Annual billings and the number of patient visits in a typical week
• Any college complaint, claim or privacy incident, with dates and outcomes

What the broker will ask

1. How many inspections do you complete in a typical year?
2. Is every inspector working under your business licensed, and are any of them subcontractors?
3. Do clients sign your agreement before the inspection begins, every time?
4. What services do you offer besides the standard visual inspection?
5. How do you store reports and photos, and for how long?
6. Have you ever received a complaint or a lawyer's letter about a past inspection?
7. Do you inspect commercial buildings, condominiums or new builds?
8. What retroactive date is on your current errors and omissions policy?

What to gather

• Your provincial licence details and those of each inspector working for you
• The pre-inspection agreement you use, with the date it was last reviewed
• A sample report, including the photos and how limitations are described
• The number of inspections done last year and expected this year
• Every service you offer beyond the standard inspection, such as radon, mould or thermal imaging
• How long you keep reports, photos and signed agreements, and where they are stored
• Your current policy, its retroactive date and the renewal date
• Any complaints, demand letters or claims, including ones that were dropped
• The split of work between buyer, seller and new-construction inspections

What the broker will ask

1. Are you an individual agent, a team lead or the brokerage owner?
2. Have you read this year's program summary, and do you know the deductible you would carry under it?
3. Do you host open houses, and how many in a typical month?
4. How often do clients ride in your vehicle, and who owns it?
5. Who on the team can send or change payment instructions, and how are changes checked?
6. Do you earn money from anything that is not licensed trading?
7. Do you employ assistants, and are they on payroll or paid as contractors?
8. For property management, how many units, and who reconciles the trust account?
9. Have you had a complaint, a regulator review or a claim in the past several years?

What to gather

• Your licence class and the brokerage you are registered with
• The current errors and omissions program summary from your brokerage or the regulator, with its renewal date
• A list of paid work outside licensed trading, such as staging, rental management or renovation coordination
• Your auto policy, and a rough count of how often clients ride in your vehicle
• Your open-house routine: sign-in, who attends with you, and how the seller's valuables are put away
• How deposit and wiring instructions reach clients, and any separate verification step
• Team structure: licensed members, unlicensed assistants, and how each is paid
• For property managers: units under management, trust account arrangements and who can move money
• Any complaint, regulator inquiry or claim, with dates and outcomes
• The office lease, if you or the team rent space, and its insurance clause

What the broker will ask

1. What do you actually build, run or advise on, and for which industries?
2. Do you work under your own contract or under the client's terms?
3. Do any contracts promise uptime, delivery dates or specific results?
4. Can you reach client systems remotely, and with what level of access?
5. Do you host, store or process data for clients, including personal information?
6. How much of your work is for clients in the United States, and which law governs it?
7. Who else works on client projects, and are they employees or subcontractors?
8. Has a client withheld payment, complained or threatened a claim?
9. Do you work on software where a failure could cause injury or physical damage, such as health or industrial control systems?

What to gather

• A plain description of the services you sell: development, consulting, design, hosting, support or managed services
• Your standard agreement and any client paper you have signed in the past year
• Revenue for the past year and the coming one, split by type of service
• The share of revenue from clients in the United States or elsewhere outside Canada
• Whether you hold remote or administrator access to client systems, and how that access is secured
• The kinds of client data you store, process or can see
• Subcontractors you use, where they are based and whether they carry their own cover
• Your largest client and the share of income it represents
• Security on your own accounts: a second sign-in step, device encryption and backups
• Any client complaint, withheld invoice or project dispute, with dates

What the broker will ask

1. How many commercial lots do you clear, and how many are retail, medical or condo sites?
2. Who decides when to plow and salt: the contract trigger, your own judgement or the client's call?
3. How do you record each visit, and could you produce last winter's logs for a single site?
4. Do your contracts make you responsible for any fall on the property, or only for your own negligence?
5. Do you subcontract plow routes, and do those operators name you on their certificates?
6. What do you apply to lawns and gardens, and who on the crew holds certification?
7. How much does the crew grow between April and the first snowfall?
8. Do you build patios, walls or irrigation, or only maintain existing landscapes?

What to gather

• Your service list for each season, with the split between residential and commercial clients
• Every snow contract, including the trigger depth, response time and any hold harmless or indemnity clause
• Service logs from last winter: arrival times, salt or sand applied, weather notes and photos
• A schedule of mowers, plows, spreaders, skid steers and trailers with rough replacement values
• Each truck that carries a blade or salter, with who drives it and where it is parked
• Payroll by season, and what you paid any subcontracted plow operators
• Products you apply, such as fertiliser, herbicide or ice melt, and any applicator certification held
• Slip-and-fall claims, damage complaints or demand letters from the past several years
• Your current policy, with any snow removal exclusion or limitation highlighted

What the broker will ask

1. Which services make up most of your revenue, and which do you subcontract?
2. Do clients sign off on every piece of content before it goes live?
3. Do you buy media with your own money or the client's, and who carries the risk of an overspend?
4. Do you run contests, comparative advertising, or health and financial claims for clients?
5. How do you obtain consent for the email and text lists you send to?
6. How many people hold administrator access to client ad and social accounts, and is multi-factor login turned on?
7. Do you work with influencers, and how do you handle disclosure of paid posts?
8. Have you received a cease-and-desist letter, a takedown notice or a client demand for a refund?

What to gather

• A description of your services and how revenue divides among strategy, creative, media buying, social, email, public relations and web
• Annual revenue and how much of it comes from your largest client
• Sample client contracts and statements of work, especially clauses on results, approvals, intellectual property and indemnity
• Your process for client approval of content before it is published
• How you license stock images, music, fonts and footage, and where those licences are stored
• How consent is collected and recorded for the email and text lists you send to
• Which client accounts and platforms your team can log into, and how that access is secured
• A list of freelancers and subcontractors and whether they carry their own insurance
• Any client disputes, takedown demands or complaints from the past several years

What the broker will ask

1. What valuation do most customers choose, and how is it explained to them before moving day?
2. Do your crews pack the boxes, or do customers pack their own?
3. Do you hold goods in storage, and for how long on average?
4. What is the most valuable load that has ever been on one of your trucks?
5. Do your trucks leave the province or cross into the United States?
6. How do you hire and train crews, and do you use day labourers at peak times?
7. How do you protect floors, door frames and elevators on a job?
8. Have customers or buildings made claims against you, and how were they settled?

What to gather

• The number and types of trucks, with vehicle identification numbers and who owns or leases each one
• A typical month of moves: how many local, long-distance and cross-border jobs
• The valuation options you offer customers and a blank copy of your moving contract or bill of lading
• Warehouse details if you store goods: address, construction, sprinklers, alarm and how long goods usually stay
• Crew size, employees versus casual labour, and your workers' compensation account details
• The highest-value single household or office shipment you moved in the past year
• Past claims from customers, including broken items, missing boxes and damage to homes or buildings
• Sample certificate requests from condo managers or office landlords, showing the wording they expect
• Any specialty work: pianos, safes, artwork, antiques or crated electronics

What the broker will ask

1. What programs do you run and who benefits from them?
2. Do you work with children, seniors or other vulnerable groups, and how are volunteers screened?
3. Do you own or lease a building, and who is responsible for it?
4. How many events do you hold, how large are they, and is alcohol served?
5. Do you transport people or use volunteers' vehicles?
6. How is money handled, and how many people have access to bank accounts?
7. Do your board members carry any cover through other roles, and have they asked about protection?
8. Do funders, landlords or municipalities require particular wording or additional insureds?

What to gather

• Legal name, registration status and a plain description of the programs and services
• Number of staff, volunteers, members and participants, and how they take part
• Sources of revenue, including fundraising events and government funding
• Facilities owned or used, with leases or rental agreements
• Events planned in the next year: type, size, location and whether alcohol is served
• Screening, training and supervision practices for volunteers who work with children or vulnerable adults
• Governance documents, board list and any conflict-of-interest policy
• Contracts or grants that name specific insurance requirements
• Existing policies and any claims or incidents in recent years

What the broker will ask

1. What do you sell, and do you make it, import it, put your label on it or resell it?
2. Could any product hurt someone if it failed: anything electrical, edible, worn on the body or meant for children?
3. Where is your stock right now, and how much sits in each place at your busiest time?
4. Do you import in your own name, and whose name is on the customs paperwork?
5. How much of your revenue comes from customers in the United States?
6. Do any marketplace agreements require you to carry liability cover or name them on the policy?
7. How do customers pay, and has the store had fraud, a hacked account or a run of chargebacks?
8. Have you had a safety complaint, an injury claim or a product you had to pull?

What to gather

• A product list noting where each item is made and whether you make, import, private-label or resell it
• Supplier details for imported goods, including any test reports or safety certificates they provide
• Annual sales split by channel: your own site, each marketplace, and any in-person events
• Sales split by destination: Canada, the United States and anywhere else
• Every place stock is kept, with its usual and its peak value
• The fulfilment warehouse agreement, if you use one, especially its liability and insurance terms
• Marketplace seller agreements that set insurance requirements
• How you take payments, and whether card details ever pass through your own systems
• Any injury complaint, safety-related return or product you had to pull from sale

What the broker will ask

1. Which activities do you run, and which carry the most serious injury risk?
2. Where do trips go, and how long would it take to reach medical care from the furthest point?
3. What certifications and first aid training do your guides hold?
4. Do clients handle firearms, and how are guns stored, transported and supervised?
5. Which boats, aircraft or vehicles move clients, and who owns and operates them?
6. Do you use horses or pack animals, and how are clients matched to them?
7. Where do your clients live, and do any come from the United States or overseas?
8. Do you hire other operators, such as a charter pilot or a second outfitter, for parts of a trip?

What to gather

• A trip list with each activity, its difficulty, duration and the season it runs
• Every permit, licence, allocation or land-use agreement, with its insurance clause
• Guide names, certifications and first aid level, and how long each has guided
• Client numbers per season and the countries they usually come from
• Your waiver, trip agreement and the pre-trip information sent to clients
• A list of boats, motors, vehicles, aircraft charters, horses and firearms used on trips
• Your emergency response plan, communication devices and evacuation arrangements
• Descriptions of lodges, cabins and camps, with construction, heating and fuel storage
• Incidents, injuries, rescues or complaints from the past several seasons

What the broker will ask

1. Which services do you offer, and which brings in most of your revenue?
2. How many animals are in your care at once, and do you accept dogs of every size and temperament?
3. Do animals ever stay overnight at your home or facility?
4. How do you assess new dogs before group walks or daycare?
5. How many client keys and access codes do you hold, and where are they kept?
6. Do employees or subcontractors go into clients' homes without you?
7. Do you drive animals anywhere, and in whose vehicle?
8. Has an animal in your care ever been injured, lost or involved in a bite?

What to gather

• A list of your services: walking, drop-in visits, overnight sitting, boarding, grooming, training or daycare
• The most animals you handle at one time, and the largest group you walk together
• Where animals stay while with you: their own home, your home, a leased facility or a vehicle
• Your client intake form, service agreement and the vaccination proof you ask owners for
• How many client keys, fobs and alarm codes you hold, and how they are labelled and stored
• Staff or subcontractors who work for you, and whether any visit homes alone
• The vehicles used to move animals and who drives each one
• Certifications in grooming, training or pet first aid
• Business licences or kennel permits your municipality has issued, and any limits they set
• Past incidents such as bites, escapes, injuries or client complaints, with dates

What the broker will ask

1. What do you shoot most, and how much of the work is weddings or live events?
2. What would it take to replace the gear you own, and what do you usually rent?
3. Is equipment ever left in a vehicle, and is it locked and out of sight when it is?
4. Do you use second shooters, assistants or subcontracted editors, and do they carry their own cover?
5. How are files protected between the shoot and the final delivery?
6. Do you fly a drone for clients, and do you hold the certificate those flights need?
7. Does your contract cap what you owe a client if images are lost or late?
8. Do you shoot in other countries, or ship gear across the border for jobs?

What to gather

• An equipment list with make, model, serial number and replacement value, split into owned and rented
• Where gear is kept overnight and between shoots, including vehicles, hotels and storage units
• The kinds of shoots you do and roughly how many a year: weddings, commercial, events, real estate or content
• Your client contract, especially clauses on delivery dates, refunds, image ownership and liability
• Venue, planner or rental house insurance requirements you have received in writing
• How files are protected during and after a shoot, such as dual card slots and off-site copies
• Drone details and the pilot certificate held, if you fly for paid work
• Annual revenue and any assistants, second shooters or editors you pay
• Shoots outside Canada, and how often you cross the border with gear
• Past claims, stolen equipment or client disputes, with dates

What the broker will ask

1. What services do you actually provide, and what do you avoid doing?
2. Do you advise, design, supervise or take responsibility for outcomes?
3. Have you or your firm had a claim, a complaint or a demand letter?
4. What contract terms do you agree to, and do you promise particular results to clients?
5. Who works for you, as employees or subcontractors, and do they carry their own cover?
6. Is there a regulator or professional body that sets a minimum cover or a required wording?
7. Do you work for clients outside Canada, or on projects in the United States?
8. Is this a new policy, a renewal or a change of insurer, and what is the retroactive date?

What to gather

• A plain description of what you do, the services you offer and any you have stopped offering
• Your qualifications, professional body or college membership and registration number where one applies
• Annual revenue from professional services, and the number of staff and contractors
• Sample client contracts and engagement letters, especially clauses on limits, indemnities and warranties
• Your current policy, the retroactive date and any claims or circumstances reported to date
• Details of any complaint, demand letter or dispute, even if it did not become a claim
• Any work done for clients in the United States or elsewhere outside Canada
• How you check your work, such as peer review, written sign-off or a documented process
• Requirements from a regulator, landlord, client or lender that specify the type or level of cover

What the broker will ask

1. What does the kitchen cook with, and is there a certified suppression system over every appliance that makes grease?
2. How often are the hood and ducts cleaned, and by whom?
3. What kind of liquor licence do you hold, and how are staff trained to refuse service?
4. Do you run security, cover charges, a dance floor or entertainment?
5. What happens to the food in the coolers if the power is out overnight?
6. Who owns the improvements to the space, you or the landlord?
7. Do you deliver, cater off site or set up at events?
8. How long could you survive a closure, and which costs would keep coming?

What to gather

• The menu, cooking methods and whether there are deep fryers, woks, open flame or wood-fired ovens
• Seating capacity, hours of operation and whether there is a dance floor, live music or late-night service
• Liquor licence class and expected share of sales from alcohol, described in words rather than figures if easier
• Service records for the hood suppression system and the last grease-duct cleaning invoice
• The lease, especially the insurance, repair and improvement clauses
• A list of kitchen equipment with ages and rough replacement values, and the value of food kept on hand
• Monthly revenue and the costs that continue during a closure, like rent, loan payments and key staff
• How delivery works: your own drivers, third-party apps or both
• Claims, health inspection orders or liquor incidents in the past several years

What the broker will ask

1. What do you sell, and where are the products made?
2. How much does your stock value change between quiet months and the busy season?
3. Is the alarm monitored, and how is the storefront secured after closing?
4. Who is responsible for clearing snow and ice at the entrance and sidewalk?
5. Does the lease make you responsible for glass, signage or improvements?
6. How much cash is on site at the end of the day, and who takes it to the bank?
7. Do you sell online, and do you ship outside Canada?
8. Have you had a break-in, robbery or customer injury before?

What to gather

• A description of what you sell, including any goods you import yourself or sell under your own label
• Stock value at its lowest and its highest point of the year, with the months of each
• The lease, especially the insurance clause, glass responsibility and who clears snow and ice
• Security details: alarm monitoring, cameras, locks, shutters and any safe
• How much cash is kept on site overnight and how deposits reach the bank
• Annual sales, split between in-store and online if you sell both
• Where online orders ship from and which countries or provinces you ship to
• Claims, break-ins or customer injuries in the past several years

What the broker will ask

1. Which services do you offer, and which bring in the most revenue?
2. Do any services use lasers, peels, microneedling or other devices?
3. Are the people behind the chairs employees, commissioned staff or renters?
4. Do renters carry their own insurance, and do you keep their certificates on file?
5. Do you do patch tests or consultations before colour, lashes or chemical services?
6. Do you sell products under your own brand?
7. What does your lease require you to insure?
8. Has a client ever complained of a burn, cut or reaction after a service?

What to gather

• Your full service menu, including any advanced or device-based treatments
• Each person's certifications or trade credentials and the services they perform
• Whether each worker is an employee, a commissioned stylist or a booth renter
• Copies of booth or chair rental agreements
• The lease, with its insurance and indemnity clauses
• Annual revenue, split between services and retail sales
• A list of retail and private-label products, with who manufactures each one
• An equipment list with replacement values, including lasers or other devices
• Your consultation, patch test and client record forms
• Any client complaints or claims from the past few years

What the broker will ask

1. How much of your work is static guarding, mobile patrol, event security or alarm response?
2. Do guards ever detain, search or physically remove people, and what do your post orders say about it?
3. Are any of your sites bars, nightclubs, shelters or other places insurers treat as higher risk?
4. What equipment do guards carry, and has anyone on staff used force in the past few years?
5. Do your contracts make you responsible for losses at the client's site, such as theft during a shift?
6. How do you screen guards before hiring, and how do you record their training?
7. Do guards hold keys, codes or access cards, and how is each one signed out and returned?
8. Do you subcontract shifts to other guard companies when you are short-staffed?

What to gather

• Your provincial security business licence, and the licence status of every guard you deploy
• A list of sites you protect, the type of each property and the hours you staff it
• What equipment guards carry, such as handcuffs, batons or body cameras, and your written policy on using it
• Training records: licensing courses, use-of-force and first-aid refreshers, and site orientation
• Incident reports from the past several years, especially detentions, injuries and complaints
• Sample contracts with property managers and clients, including indemnity, insurance and hold-harmless clauses
• Details of patrol vehicles, who drives them and roughly how far they travel each night
• For alarm work: how signals are received, the response times you promise and your call-down procedure
• Revenue and payroll split by type of work: static guarding, patrol, events and alarm response

What the broker will ask

1. How many units and outdoor spaces do you rent, and what is the typical occupancy?
2. Is the facility staffed, and during what hours can tenants get in?
3. What does your rental agreement say about tenants' goods and their own insurance?
4. Do you offer a tenant protection plan, and who stands behind it?
5. How do you handle defaulted units, and how many lien sales did you hold last year?
6. What do tenants store that worries you, such as fuel, vehicles or business inventory?
7. What security and access records do you have, and how long are they kept?
8. Have you had break-ins, water damage or injuries on the property?

What to gather

• The facility address, number of units by size, total rentable area and any outdoor parking spaces
• Building details: construction, roof type and age, year built, heating and climate-control systems
• Gate, keypad, camera, alarm and lighting details, and how long access logs and footage are kept
• The current rental agreement, especially the clauses on goods, insurance and default
• How tenant protection is offered, who administers it and roughly how many tenants take it
• Your process and records for lien notices and sales of defaulted units
• Office staffing hours, or whether the site runs unstaffed
• Annual rental income and occupancy, for the business interruption discussion
• Claims and incidents over the past several years, including break-ins, water damage and injuries

What the broker will ask

1. What exactly do you sell or do, and what do customers or clients do at your location?
2. Do you work at customers' sites, and do you subcontract any of the work?
3. Do you store, hold or work on things that belong to other people?
4. How many people work for you, and are any of them paid in cash or as contractors?
5. Who has asked to be named on your policy, and what wording did they request?
6. If you had to close for a month, which costs would continue?
7. Do you sell online, ship products or take payments by card?
8. Has the business had a claim, a complaint or a policy refusal?

What to gather

• A plain description of what the business does, including any activity you do only occasionally
• Business legal name, structure and how long it has operated
• Annual revenue estimate and, if you have one, last year's actual figure
• Number of employees, owners who work in the business, and any contractors you pay
• Address of each location, whether you own or lease, and the lease clauses about insurance
• A list of equipment, stock and improvements you have made to the space
• Any contract, licence or lender requirement that names a specific insurance
• Claims or incidents in the past several years, even small ones
• Your current policy and renewal date if you have one

What the broker will ask

1. Which sport and level of play, and is there body contact?
2. Is the club a member of a provincial sport organization, and what does that program already provide?
3. How many participants are minors, and how are coaches and volunteers screened?
4. Which facilities do you rent, and what do the rental agreements require?
5. Do you host tournaments, and do visiting teams come from outside your organization or province?
6. How do teams travel to away games, and does the club ever rent vehicles?
7. Is the club incorporated, and has anyone ever challenged a board decision?
8. Do you sell alcohol at fundraisers or run a canteen at games?

What to gather

• The club's legal name and whether it is an incorporated society or an informal group
• Whether the club is registered with a provincial or national sport organization, and the insurance summary that comes with membership
• The number of registered players by age group, and the number of coaches, officials and volunteers
• Facility rental agreements for arenas, fields, pools or gyms, with their insurance clauses
• A schedule of tournaments the club hosts and the out-of-town events it attends
• The club's screening, training and conduct policies for coaches and volunteers
• A list of equipment the club owns and where each item is stored
• Planned fundraisers, including any with alcohol, raffles or a canteen
• Any injuries, complaints or disputes in recent seasons and how each was handled

What the broker will ask

1. Who issues the workers' pay and deductions: your agency, the client or a payroll provider?
2. Which industries do you place workers into, and do any placements involve heights, heavy equipment or driving?
3. Do you place workers into healthcare, childcare or financial roles where credentials and checks matter?
4. What do your client contracts say about who indemnifies whom for workers' acts?
5. Do placed workers have access to client cash, stock, systems or private homes?
6. How do you handle harassment complaints from workers placed at client sites?
7. Do you use sub-vendor agencies to fill orders you cannot staff yourself?
8. Have there been human rights complaints, employment claims or theft allegations in the past five years?

What to gather

• A breakdown of placements by type: light industrial, clerical, healthcare, IT, drivers or skilled trades
• Annual payroll for placed workers and for internal staff, shown separately
• Your workers' compensation account details and the industry classification the board uses
• Sample client agreements and any master service agreements with large clients
• Your screening steps: reference checks, credential checks and criminal record checks where lawful
• Any provincial licence or registration your agency holds as an employment or temporary help agency
• Which clients ask placed workers to drive, operate machinery or handle cash
• Employment complaints, human rights matters or claims from the past several years
• The provinces and countries where workers are placed

What the broker will ask

1. How many campers attend each session, and how old are they?
2. Is it a day camp, an overnight camp, or both?
3. What screening, references and training do counsellors complete before campers arrive?
4. How do you make sure no staff member is alone with a camper out of sight of others?
5. Who supervises the waterfront, and what certifications do they hold?
6. Who designed, built and inspects the ropes course or climbing wall?
7. How do campers travel to camp and on trips, and who owns the vehicles?
8. Has the camp faced any allegations, serious injuries or accreditation findings?
9. Is the site occupied and checked over the winter?

What to gather

• Session dates, camper numbers per session and the age range of campers
• A list of activities, including waterfront, climbing, ropes, archery, horses and out-trips
• Staff and volunteer counts, with the screening each goes through, such as police and vulnerable sector checks
• Written policies on supervision ratios, buddy systems, cabin coverage and reporting concerns
• How camper health and consent forms are stored, and which staff can see them
• Lifeguard, first aid and activity-instructor certifications held by staff
• Transportation arrangements: owned buses or vans, charters and who drives
• A site plan with buildings, construction, heating and fire protection
• Accreditation reports, inspection records and any incidents or allegations in the past several years

What the broker will ask

1. Which kind of bond is required, in what amount, and who is asking for it?
2. Has the business been bonded before, and with how much track record?
3. What is the size and status of all your current contracts?
4. How is the business financed, and what does the balance sheet look like?
5. Who owns the business, and who will be asked to sign the indemnity agreement?
6. Have any projects finished late, over budget or in a dispute?
7. How do you manage subcontractors, and do you require their bonds or insurance?
8. When is the bid due, and what does the obligee expect to receive and when?

What to gather

• Financial statements for the business, often reviewed or audited by an accountant
• Personal financial information for the owners, since they may be asked to stand behind the bond
• A work-in-progress schedule showing current contracts, their value and completion
• A list of completed projects of similar size and kind, with references
• The bond form, tender documents or contract that requires the bond
• Resumés of key managers and site staff
• Banking details and any line of credit the business relies on
• An explanation of past disputes, delays or losses on contracts

What the broker will ask

1. How many trucks do you run, and what is the heaviest vehicle you can recover?
2. Which kinds of calls make up most of your work?
3. Do you hold police or municipal tow contracts, and what insurance do they require?
4. How many vehicles sit in your yard on a busy day, and how is the yard secured?
5. Who drives your trucks, and how do you check their records before hiring?
6. Do you document each vehicle's condition at pickup, and how?
7. Do you work highway collisions at night or during winter storms?
8. Has a towed vehicle, a customer or a stored car been damaged or stolen in your care?

What to gather

• A truck schedule with year, make, model, vehicle identification number, bed or boom type and gross weight rating
• A driver list with licence classes, hire dates and a current driver abstract for each
• Your call mix: private tows, roadside calls, collision scenes, police rotation and heavy recovery
• Impound or storage yard details: address, fencing, lighting, cameras and the most vehicles held at one time
• Any police, municipal or motor club agreement, with its insurance clause
• The highest-value vehicles you typically tow, such as luxury cars, motorhomes or loaded trucks
• Loss history for trucks, towed vehicles and the yard over the past several years
• How you record a vehicle's condition at pickup, such as photographs or a condition form

What the broker will ask

1. Which species do you treat, and do you see horses, livestock or exotics?
2. Do you run emergency or after-hours services, and who is on site overnight?
3. How many animals can you board or hospitalise at once?
4. Who owns the practice, and do associates and locums carry their own policies?
5. How are controlled drugs secured, and who has access to them?
6. What imaging and lab equipment do you own or lease?
7. Have you had a regulatory complaint, claim or drug loss, and how was it resolved?
8. Do you treat animals at farms or clients' homes using a practice vehicle?

What to gather

• Each veterinarian's licence and the provincial body that regulates the profession where you practise
• The services offered: general practice, surgery, emergency, dentistry, exotics, large animal or rehabilitation
• The number of veterinarians, technicians and support staff, and whether any are locums or contractors
• Boarding and overnight hospital capacity, and how animals are monitored after hours
• An equipment list with replacement values, noting leased or financed items
• How controlled drugs are stored, logged and counted, and who holds the keys
• The clinic lease and any improvements you paid for, such as surgery suites and kennels
• Your practice management software and how records and backups are protected
• Claims, regulatory complaints, drug losses and staff injury reports from the past several years

What the broker will ask

1. What do you ship, where does it start and finish, and how does it travel?
2. At what point does ownership and risk pass to your customer?
3. What is the highest value on one truck, vessel or aircraft at a time?
4. Do goods sit in warehouses or terminals along the way, and for how long?
5. Is the cargo fragile, perishable, attractive to thieves or temperature-sensitive?
6. Who arranges the freight, and what liability does the carrier accept?
7. Do you need a certificate in a particular form for a letter of credit or a buyer?
8. Have goods been lost, stolen or damaged before, and what was the cause?

What to gather

• A description of the goods, including their typical value per shipment and per vehicle
• Routes, origins, destinations and the modes of transport you use
• Your annual shipment volume and your largest single shipment
• Sales terms, such as which party bears risk at which point, from your contracts
• Names or types of carriers, forwarders and warehouses you rely on
• How goods are packed, including pallets, containers, refrigeration or special handling
• Any lender or customer requirement for a certificate and its wording
• Losses and damage claims on previous shipments, with causes
• Any seasonal peaks or high-value periods of year

What the broker will ask

1. What aircraft do you operate, and what are they worth along with their payloads?
2. Is the flying for fun, for clients or for your own business, and what are the tasks?
3. Who will be flying, and what certificates and experience do they have?
4. Where will the aircraft be flown, and will it be near people, buildings or airports?
5. Do you operate at night, beyond line of sight or in other special conditions?
6. Do clients, landowners or venues need to be named on your policy?
7. Have you had a crash, a near miss or a claim with this or an earlier aircraft?
8. How is the aircraft stored and transported?

What to gather

• Make, model, serial number and approximate value of each aircraft
• A description of any camera, sensor or other payload and its value
• Intended uses: recreation, commercial work, training or other
• Pilot details: certificates, licences, hours flown and any prior incidents
• Where you fly and keep the aircraft, including any hangar or storage arrangements
• Any permissions, certificates or operating approvals the work needs, as confirmed with the authorities
• Client contracts that set out insurance requirements and any additional insured wording
• Number of flights or hours expected each year
• Past losses and the maintenance history of the aircraft

What the broker will ask

1. What do you produce or do, and which processes carry the highest risk?
2. What is the most valuable piece of equipment, and how long to replace it?
3. How long would operations stop after a major fire or machinery failure?
4. Are you an owner, an operator or a contractor on other people's sites?
5. What do your contracts require you to carry, and what do they require you to indemnify?
6. Do you handle fuels, chemicals or waste that could be released?
7. How are inspections, maintenance and safety audits carried out and recorded?
8. Have there been serious incidents, regulatory orders or near misses?

What to gather

• A description of operations, processes, products and the materials handled
• Locations, with ages, construction, fire protection and security
• A schedule of key equipment: make, age, replacement cost and maintenance records
• Operating records such as inspection reports, safety audits and incident history
• Annual revenue and the cost structure that continues during a shutdown
• Contracts with customers, operators or owners that set insurance and indemnity terms
• Regulatory permits, licences and compliance history relevant to the operation
• The supply chain for critical parts and the lead time to replace large equipment
• Loss history for property, liability and workers over recent years

What the broker will ask

1. What has the property been used for in the past, and by whom?
2. Has there been any spill, leak or contamination, known or suspected?
3. What hazardous materials are stored, and how?
4. Are there underground or above-ground tanks on site?
5. Has an environmental assessment been done, and was anything recommended?
6. Do you transport hazardous materials or waste?
7. Do you do work on sites owned by others?
8. Why are you looking for this cover now: a sale, a loan, a contract or an incident?

What to gather

• A description of the site and what the business does there, now and in the past
• Any Phase I or Phase II environmental assessment, and the date of each
• Records of tanks: age, size, contents, material, testing and removal
• A list of chemicals, fuels and wastes stored, used or shipped, and how they are handled
• Any previous spill, complaint, order or regulator notice, and how it was resolved
• Details of waste disposal arrangements and the contractors you use
• For contractors: the type of work, the sites you work on and your subcontractor contracts
• Your current liability policies, and the pollution exclusion wording on each
• Any lender, landlord or purchaser requirement for environmental cover

What the broker will ask

1. What is the event, when is it, and is it open to the public?
2. How many people are expected at the busiest point?
3. Is there a written contract with the venue that sets an insurance requirement?
4. Will alcohol be served or sold, and by whom?
5. Are there any rides, fireworks, stunts, animals or other unusual activities?
6. What costs have been paid in advance, and what is refundable?
7. Is this a one-off, or do you run events through the year?
8. Who else is working at the event, and do they carry their own cover?
9. Is any filming or photography commercial, and who owns the footage?

What to gather

• The date, location and expected number of guests or attendees
• The venue contract and any insurance clause that names a required cover or additional insured
• A description of the event: ceremony, party, public festival, shoot or conference
• Whether alcohol will be served, who serves it and how it is paid for
• A list of suppliers and what each has agreed to carry
• Any activities with higher risk: fireworks, inflatables, rides, animals, open flame or stunts
• Budget and deposits paid, and which are refundable
• For productions: shooting schedule, locations, cast list and a list of equipment
• Proof of any permits or licences required by the municipality

What the broker will ask

1. What do you grow or raise, and how has that changed in the last few years?
2. How are the buildings heated, wired and protected, and how old is the wiring?
3. Are any buildings empty, in poor repair or used for something other than farming?
4. Do you lease land or equipment, or do custom work for other farms?
5. Does the public come onto the property, and for what?
6. Do you use pesticides or fertilizers, and who applies them?
7. Who works on the farm, and are any of them not family?
8. Where is machinery kept at night and in winter?
9. Do you board, train or show horses, and does anyone ride them other than you?

What to gather

• A list of every building with its age, construction, use and approximate replacement cost
• A schedule of machinery and equipment with year, make, model and serial numbers
• Livestock counts by type, and details of any high-value breeding stock
• What you grow and store, how much, and where it is kept at different times of year
• Any sales direct to the public: farm stand, u-pick, tours, workshops or events
• Workers: family, seasonal, hired and temporary foreign workers, and how they are paid
• For horses: age, breed, use, purchase price or appraisal, vet reports and who handles them
• Details of leased or rented land, shared equipment and custom work done for others
• Your current policies, renewal notices and any crop program paperwork

What the broker will ask

1. How many horses do you own, and what is each one used for?
2. What value do you want to insure, and what supports that figure?
3. Where is each horse kept, and does the barn carry its own insurance?
4. Who rides or handles the horse besides you?
5. Do you trailer to shows, clinics, trail rides or across the border?
6. Is the horse leased out, part-boarded or used for lessons by anyone else?
7. Do you ride on roads, public trails or other people's land?
8. Would you like major medical or loss of use added to the mortality cover?

What to gather

• For each horse: name, age, breed, colour, markings, sex and registration papers if any
• The bill of sale, or an appraisal or show record that supports the value you want to insure
• The horse's main use: pleasure, trail, lessons, showing, breeding or competition
• Your vet's name and clinic, and the horse's routine vet records
• Where the horse lives: your property, a boarding stable, a training barn or pasture board
• Your boarding agreement, including any clause about insurance or liability
• Any lease agreement, whether you lease the horse out or lease one yourself
• Trailer details: make, length, serial number and the vehicle that tows it
• A list of saddles and other tack, with rough values
• Your home or farm policy, to see what it says about animals and liability

What the broker will ask

1. What is the vessel used for, and does it carry paying passengers or work crew?
2. Where does it operate, and does it ever leave those waters?
3. Who is the master, and what qualifications and experience do they hold?
4. When was the vessel last surveyed and what recommendations were made?
5. Is it under mortgage, and does the lender require special wording?
6. Where is it kept during the off-season, and how is it protected?
7. Do you also need protection for contractors, repairs or moorings?
8. What happens to the vessel if you hire it out or lend it to someone else?

What to gather

• Vessel type, builder, year, length, hull material and propulsion
• A recent survey or the offer to purchase if the vessel is being bought
• Purchase price, refit history and an estimate of present value
• Intended use: private, charter, fishing, towing, passenger carriage or other work
• Home port, navigation range and any planned voyages outside it
• Crew size, qualifications and certificates, and the master's experience
• Safety equipment and maintenance records, including engine hours and haul-outs
• Where the vessel is kept in winter and how it is stored
• Loss history of the owner and the vessel over recent years

What the broker will ask

1. In which countries do you operate, and through what legal structure?
2. Who owns each entity, and who decides on insurance?
3. What cover do you hold at head office, and what is bought locally?
4. Do any customers or lenders require local policies or certain wording?
5. Do employees travel or work abroad, and for how long?
6. Have you had losses overseas, and how were they paid?
7. Are you planning to expand or to sell any operation?
8. Who handles the paperwork when a claim arises in another country?

What to gather

• A list of every legal entity and where it operates, with ownership details
• Locations, activities and values by country, including stock, equipment and revenue
• Headcount by country, including staff on assignment or travelling abroad
• Your current policies in each country, with limits, deductibles and expiry dates
• Contracts that require specific insurance, such as with customers or lenders
• A description of which entity currently pays for and manages insurance
• Any claims or disputes in other countries and how they were handled
• Your head-office program wording for liability, property and other lines
• Plans for acquisitions, new offices or entry into additional countries

What the broker will ask

1. What do you make, and who buys it?
2. Can you trace each batch from raw materials to customer?
3. Do you have a written recall plan, and have you ever tested it?
4. Who makes the ingredients or components, and how do you check them?
5. Have you had a recall, a regulator order or a serious complaint?
6. Where do you sell, and do you export?
7. Do you make products for other brands?
8. Do your customers require you to carry recall cover?

What to gather

• A description of each product line, its materials, ingredients and where it is sold
• How products are made, tested and released, including quality control records
• Your traceability system: can you identify which lots went to which customers?
• A written recall plan, and evidence it has been tested by a mock recall
• Your list of suppliers and what controls you have over their quality
• Any past recalls, complaints, regulator inspections or incidents
• Sales by product, channel and country, including exports
• Customer contracts that mention recall costs, labelling or testing duties
• Your current product liability policy and what it says about recall

What the broker will ask

1. What exactly is the risk, and why has it been hard to place?
2. Who has declined, and what reasons did they give?
3. What happened in each past claim, and what has changed since?
4. What limits and deductibles do you want, and which are required by a contract?
5. What risk controls are in place and can they be shown?
6. How long have you operated in this way?
7. Is the cover required by a lender, landlord or customer?
8. Are you willing to accept different wording, a higher deductible or a narrower scope?

What to gather

• A clear written description of the risk: what it is, what it does and how it is run
• The reasons given by insurers who declined, in writing if possible
• Loss history for the last several years with details of each claim and what changed afterwards
• Values, limits and deductibles you want to be insured
• Risk controls: safety systems, inspections, training, security and maintenance records
• Financial statements or other evidence of the stability of the business
• Your expiring policy and any wording that you want carried over
• Contracts that require specific cover or wording
• Deadlines: the date cover must be in place and why

What the broker will ask

1. Who are your biggest customers, and what share of your sales do they represent?
2. What payment terms do you give, and are any customers regularly late?
3. Which countries do you sell to?
4. Have you written off any debts, and what happened?
5. How do you decide to extend credit to a new customer?
6. Do you want cover on all customers, or only specific ones?
7. Do you sell to government buyers or in countries with exchange restrictions?
8. Does your bank require or benefit from insured receivables?

What to gather

• A list of your top customers with their names, countries and annual sales to each
• Your standard payment terms and any longer terms given to larger accounts
• An accounts receivable ageing report showing what is overdue and by how long
• A history of bad debts or write-offs for the last several years
• Your credit control process: who approves credit, how you chase and when you stop shipping
• Details of export markets, currencies and any use of letters of credit
• Your financial statements and, if relevant, your bank's requirements
• Contracts for any large projects abroad, and where payment comes from
• Existing cover, such as export credit agency support