{"id":24040,"date":"2025-08-27T15:44:45","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T15:44:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insurance-canada.ca\/?p=83792"},"modified":"2025-08-27T15:44:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T15:44:45","slug":"do-it-yourself-homeowners-neglecting-to-inform-insurers-of-property-upgrades-lowestrates-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/2025\/08\/27\/do-it-yourself-homeowners-neglecting-to-inform-insurers-of-property-upgrades-lowestrates-ca\/","title":{"rendered":"Do-It-Yourself Homeowners Neglecting to Inform Insurers of Property Upgrades: LowestRates.ca"},"content":{"rendered":"

Toronto, ON (Aug. 21, 2025) \u2013 For many homeowners, the allure of saving money and adding a personal touch can quickly turn into a costly lesson in what not <\/strong><\/em>to do. A recent survey by LowestRates.ca reveals that 59% of Ontario homeowners have undergone small DIY projects like painting or re-tiling, inspired by binge-worthy renovation shows and detailed YouTube tutorials which have helped turn DIY into a cultural phenomenon. But the report, Is DIY too risky?<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, uncovers a critical oversight: only 47% notify their insurer after completing major upgrades<\/strong>, leaving many exposed to potential coverage gaps.<\/p>\n

For many homeowners, the decision to DIY or hire a contractor depends on the project\u2019s complexity and their own levels of skill and ambition. Small renovations such as redoing floors, painting or tiling might be manageable, which is why these projects that don\u2019t require permits or licensed professionals; they also tend to be covered under your home insurance policy.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, tasks such as drywalling or plumbing \u2013 or anything that involves structural changes or electrical systems \u2013 tend to require professional expertise for a reason.<\/p>\n

The risks can be severe if something goes wrong with a larger renovation project: an accident that floods a house or burns it down threatens the safety of its occupants as well as the condition of the structure itself. Aside from safety risks and catastrophic damage, wasted materials and time, failed DIY attempts often ultimately lead to higher costs when professionals are brought in afterward to repair the damage.<\/p>\n

Larger renovations require specialized builder\u2019s risk insurance coverage, and homeowners who are hiring contractors for a project will want to make sure they are properly insured in case their work causes damage.<\/p>\n

To avoid policy issues, notify your insurer of renovations, as they can increase your home\u2019s value or introduce new risks. Most home insurance policies require you to disclose major changes or renovations, and failing to do so can lead to claim denials, retroactive premium increases, or policy cancellation. Worse, if someone is injured due to a new feature \u2013 such as a pool \u2013which wasn\u2019t disclosed, leaving you underinsured, you could be personally, legally and financially liable for damages.<\/p>\n

To learn more, including tips on how to pick a good contractor, read the full report: Is DIY too risky? 61% of Ontario homeowners hire contractors for home renovations<\/em><\/strong><\/a>,<\/p>\n

Survey conducted by LowestRates.ca, polling \u202f731 Ontarians  who\u202fused LowestRates.ca\u2019s home insurance quoter between June 28 and July 3, 2025<\/em>.<\/p>\n

About LowestRates.ca<\/b><\/h4>\n

LowestRates.ca is a Toronto-based company that helps Canadians make better financial decisions by saving them time and money on personal finance products. Launched in 2012, we have saved millions of Canadians over $1 billion in fees and interest to date. We make it easy for consumers to select the right insurance, mortgage, loan, and credit card offer by comparing rates on these products from 75+ Canadian providers \u2014 all for free. LowestRates.ca is the largest impartial and independent financial rate comparison site in Canada. Our product recommendations are based solely on finding consumers the best offers and lowest prices for their unique needs. We fuel our partners\u2019 growth and success by providing them with consumer leads that are perfectly matched for their offer. Partners have told us that purchasing leads from LowestRates.ca is the most effective marketing channel for them to grow at scale. Together with our partners of all sizes and types, we are improving financial literacy and redefining the Canadian financial services industry by making it easier to connect consumers with the right partner at the right price. If you\u2019re a consumer, discover how to save now at LowestRates.ca<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source: LowestRates.ca<\/em><\/p>\n

Tags: LowestRates.ca<\/a>, survey<\/a>, tips<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Toronto, ON (Aug. 21, 2025) \u2013 For many homeowners, the allure of saving money and adding a personal touch can quickly turn into a costly lesson in what not to do. A recent survey by...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[1],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24040"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24040"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24040\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lifeinsurance-orleans.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}