Westworld Alberta

SparkingHillResort_REV.indd 1 15-04-20 12:39 PM S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 | W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A 43 A t one time, basements were just glori- fied furnace rooms, with unfinished floors, storage boxes, exposed insula- tion and not much else. But in today's homes, they tend to be secondary living and work spaces, kitted out with stereo equipment, expensive tools, computers, cabinetry and high-end furniture and floor coverings. Yet they're still the most vul- nerable area of the home when it comes to water damage and sewer backup. "Many people underestimate the cost of a sewer backup loss, and the cost to rebuild," says Calgary Crowfoot AMA insurance agency manager Karen McDougall. "It's not just your belongings. Every- thing has to be torn out and dried. On average, it costs $15,000 just to do cleanup on a sewer backup, before restoration even begins." Which means homeowners need to raise their insurance coverage accordingly. The best way to ensure you have enough is to confer with your insur- ance advisor, says McDougall. To get an accurate pic- ture of your space, advisors will typically ask if your basement is finished and whether there are any spe- cial features, such as a bar, a speaker system, high- end light fixtures or crown molding. en, using a cost calculator, they'll factor in today's prices for labour and building supplies. ey'll also suggest you do a full inventory of your belongings, downstairs and up, making note of each item's replacement value. For a hand with inventory, the Insurance Bureau of Canada recommends free online software called Know Your Stuff (knowyourstuff.org). When all's said and done, you may be surprised to learn just how much value you have underground. W The Downstairs Adds Up Once bare-walled utility spaces, basements today need more coverage to protect the high-value possessions they harbour INSURANCE LINGO floater An add-on to your insurance policy for special items. Most home insurance policies cover items such as jewellery or electronics up to a certain limit. But if you have valuable jewellery, sports memorabilia, tools, watercraft, fine art, high-end electronic equipment or other special collections, a floater can add extra protection. Sprucing up your home? Save up to 30% on regular- price Cloverdale Paint products. AMARewards.ca/ Cloverdale

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