Reviewed by Shara Bierman, Registered Insurance Broker at StrongRoots Insurance Brokers Ltd. and current Chair at the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario.
If you live in Stratford, your home and auto insurance should reflect more than just the province you live in. The age and features of your home, local infrastructure, rebuilding costs, how and where you drive, your deductibles and even changes to your daily commute can all affect the protection you need.
At Strong Roots Insurance Brokers Ltd., we live and work in the communities we serve. Our office is located at 168 Ontario Street in Stratford, and we help local homeowners, drivers and business owners understand their coverage, compare pricing and identify gaps before they become problems.
So, what should Stratford residents be reviewing when it comes to home and auto insurance?
Here are seven areas worth looking at.
1. Is Your Home Insured for What It Would Cost to Rebuild Today?
One of the most important numbers on your home insurance policy is not necessarily your home’s market value. It is the estimated cost to rebuild it following a major insured loss. Those numbers can be very different. If a home were significantly damaged by fire, for example, rebuilding could involve demolition, debris removal, labour, materials, permits and reconstruction. Depending on the property, specialized materials or construction methods may also be required. That can be particularly important in a community like Stratford, where homeowners may own everything from newer subdivisions and townhomes to older homes and distinctive character properties.
Shara Bierman’s Perspective
One thing we regularly encourage homeowners to understand is the difference between the market value of their home and what it could actually cost to rebuild it. Especially in a community like Stratford, where we have such a mix of newer homes, older properties and unique construction, those numbers can be very different. Your insurance should reflect what it would realistically take to put your home back together after a major loss.
What should Stratford homeowners review?
Ask your broker:
- Is my current rebuilding value still accurate?
- Have renovations or additions been included?
- Does my insurer know about updates to my roof, electrical, plumbing or heating?
- Are there special features in my home that may be more expensive to replace?
- What happens if rebuilding costs exceed my stated dwelling limit?
Your home can change significantly over ten years. Your insurance needs to keep pace.
2. What Would Happen if a Fire Forced You Out of Your Home?
A recent Stratford incident is a reminder that major property losses can happen unexpectedly. On August 30, 2026, emergency crews responded to a residential fire on Albert Street after a passerby spotted flames inside the home. Fortunately, no one was inside and no injuries were reported, according to our local news StratfordToday.
We would never speculate about the insurance circumstances surrounding an individual loss. But events like this raise an important question for every homeowner:
If you could not live in your home after an insured loss, where would you go, how would you pay for it and how long might you need to stay there for?
Home insurance commonly includes Additional Living Expenses, or ALE, for eligible insured losses. Depending on the policy and circumstances, this can help with expenses such as temporary accommodation and certain additional costs incurred while your home is being repaired.
When reviewing your policy, don’t only ask: “Is my house insured?”
Also ask: “What would my insurance do for my family during the months after a major claim?”
3. Does Your Home Have the Right Water Coverage?
Water continues to be one of the most important conversations Ontario homeowners can have with their insurance broker. Not every type of water damage is covered in the same way, not every water related coverage carries the same deductible as everything else. A sudden plumbing loss inside your home can be treated differently from sewer backup or water entering your home from outside. Some forms of water protection require specific endorsements and are subject to policy conditions, limits and deductibles. This is particularly worth discussing as Stratford continues to invest in local infrastructure. In 2026, for example, reconstruction work along Huron Street included installation of sanitary, storm and water-main services, according to StratfordToday.
That doesn’t mean nearby homes have a particular insurance risk. Rather, it is a visible reminder of just how much infrastructure exists beneath our streets and how important water management is to any city.
If your home has any of the following, tell your broker:
- sump pump
- backwater valve
- battery backup
- water detection system
- automatic water shut-off device
These measures may help reduce your risk, and some insurers may offer discounts or other benefits for qualifying loss-prevention systems. Most importantly, confirm exactly what your policy covers for sewer backup, overland water, service line and other forms of water damage rather than assuming all water losses are treated the same way. And ask do I have different deductibles? What are they?
4. Have Your Driving Habits Changed?
Your auto insurance is based partly on how your vehicle is actually being used. That means it is worth speaking with your broker when your routine changes. Maybe you used to commute outside Stratford five days a week and now work primarily from home. Maybe you’ve taken a new position in Kitchener or London. Perhaps a teenager has recently become a licensed driver in your household, you’ve purchased a second vehicle, or you have started using your vehicle for work. These details matter.
Contact your broker when you:
- change jobs or commuting distance
- add a new driver
- purchase or replace a vehicle
- begin using your vehicle for business
- significantly change your annual kilometres
- move
- add modifications or specialized equipment to a vehicle
Insurance works best when the information on the policy matches real life.
5. Stratford Is Growing and Changing. So Are the Roads We Drive.
If you’ve driven through Stratford recently, you’ve probably encountered construction somewhere along your route. If your vehicle is damaged, stolen or involved in a collision, the coverage available will depend on the circumstances and the coverages and endorsements you selected. This is why the lowest-priced auto policy isn’t automatically the right policy.
When reviewing auto insurance in Stratford, Ontario, ask your broker to explain:
- your liability coverage
- your deductible options
- collision or upset coverage
- comprehensive coverage
- protection for theft, vandalism and certain non-collision losses
- optional endorsements that may be appropriate for your vehicle
- accident benefits and available options
You should understand what you are buying before you ever need to make a claim.
6. Does Your Auto Insurance Protect You if Your Vehicle Is Stolen?
Vehicle theft remains an important issue for Ontario drivers, even as theft rates have started to improve.
Équité Association reported that auto theft in Ontario declined by 22% in 2025. However, only 51% of stolen vehicles in the province were recovered, meaning many vehicle owners were still dealing with the financial and practical impact of a total loss. Vehicle theft and property crime aren’t limited to Canada’s largest cities either. Police services throughout Stratford, Perth County and surrounding Southwestern Ontario communities continue to investigate stolen vehicles and vehicle-related property crime.
For Stratford drivers, the important insurance question is: Would your current policy respond if your vehicle disappeared tomorrow?
Theft protection is not automatically provided by every level of Ontario auto insurance. According to Ontario’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, theft can be covered through optional Comprehensive, Specified Perils or All Perils coverage, depending on the policy you select. That makes it important to know what you’ve actually purchased rather than simply assuming that because your vehicle is insured, theft is covered.
Ask your broker:
- Does my policy include coverage for vehicle theft?
- What is my deductible if my vehicle is stolen?
- Would I have access to a rental vehicle while my claim is being handled?
- If my new vehicle is stolen and not recovered, how would depreciation affect my settlement?
- Does an OPCF 43 Removing Depreciation Deduction endorsement make sense for my newer vehicle?
- Are there theft-prevention measures recommended for my specific make and model?
Some vehicle makes and models also experience higher theft frequency than others, which can affect how insurers assess risk. The goal isn’t to make every Stratford driver worried about vehicle theft. It’s to make sure they understand what their policy would actually do if it happened.
7. Are You Taking Advantage of Home and Auto Bundling?
One of the first areas to explore when reviewing insurance costs is whether it makes sense to place your home and auto policies with the same insurer. Many insurers offer a multi-policy or bundling discount when qualifying home and vehicle policies are insured together. But price shouldn’t be the only consideration, but we know it’s a big one.
A good insurance review should look at:
- the total premium
- coverage differences
- policy limits
- deductibles
- exclusions
- available endorsements
- claims service
- discounts
Saving money is valuable. Saving money while accidentally removing coverage you need isn’t.
8. When Was the Last Time Someone Actually Reviewed Both Policies With You?
Many people purchase insurance, renew it every year and don’t look closely at it again until something changes or a claim happens. Your life may have changed considerably in the meantime. You may have renovated your home, finished your basement, added a pool, purchased expensive equipment, started working from home, changed vehicles, added a driver or changed your commute. Even small changes can be worth discussing.
An annual home and auto review gives you the opportunity to ask:
- Has anything changed in my life that my insurer needs to know about?
- Are my coverage limits still appropriate?
- Are there new discounts available?
- Have my deductibles changed?
- Could another insurer provide a better combination of coverage and price?
That’s one of the advantages of working with an independent insurance broker. Rather than relying solely on an online quote, you have someone who can help you understand the options and ask the questions you may not know to ask.
Why Work With a Local Stratford Insurance Broker?
Insurance can be purchased almost anywhere today. The value of working with a local broker is having someone who understands both insurance, the community you live in and one that has access to the top insuring markets to find you the best coverage for the best price. Strong Roots Insurance Brokers is based right here in Stratford and provides residential, auto, commercial and other insurance solutions throughout the surrounding region.
Strong Roots’ local expertise is backed by significant industry leadership. Principal Broker Shara Bierman has more than two decades of experience in insurance and served as President of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario for 2025–2026 before moving into her current role as IBAO Chair. Whether you live near downtown Stratford, commute along Highway 7/8, own an older home, recently moved to an acreage or simply haven’t reviewed your insurance in a few years, a conversation with a broker can help you understand whether your current protection still makes sense.
Looking for Home and Auto Insurance in Stratford, Ontario?
If you’re comparing home and auto insurance in Stratford, Ontario, renewing an existing policy or simply want someone to take a second look at your current coverage, Strong Roots can help. Our brokers can review your home and vehicle insurance, explain your options in plain language and compare available solutions from multiple insurance providers.
Contact Strong Roots Insurance Brokers at our Stratford office to request a home and auto insurance review or personalized quote.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home and Auto Insurance in Stratford, Ontario
Can I bundle my home and auto insurance in Stratford?
Yes. Many insurance companies offer discounts when qualifying home and auto policies are placed together. A Strong Roots broker can compare the overall cost and coverage to determine whether bundling makes sense for you.
How do I find the best home insurance in Stratford, Ontario?
There isn’t one home insurance policy that is best for every Stratford homeowner. The right coverage depends on your home’s age, rebuilding value, location, construction, claims history, water protection, deductibles and other factors. Comparing both coverage and price is important.
Does home insurance cover sewer backup in Stratford?
Sewer backup coverage should not be assumed to be included automatically in every policy. It may require a specific endorsement and can be subject to limits and deductibles. Ask your broker to confirm exactly what your current policy provides.
What does Additional Living Expenses coverage mean?
Additional Living Expenses coverage may help pay eligible increased living costs when a covered insured loss makes your home temporarily uninhabitable. Coverage is subject to the wording, limits and conditions of your policy.
Can changing my commute affect my auto insurance?
It can. Insurers may consider factors such as how a vehicle is used, commuting distance and annual kilometres. Tell your broker if the way you use your vehicle changes significantly.
Is it cheaper to use a local Stratford insurance broker?
A broker can compare available options from the insurance companies they represent rather than offering only one insurer’s product. Price varies based on individual circumstances, so the advantage is being able to compare available coverage and pricing while receiving professional advice.
How often should I review my home and auto insurance?
Reviewing your insurance at least annually and whenever you experience a significant change is a good practice. Renovations, moves, new vehicles, new drivers, commuting changes and home-based businesses are all reasons to contact your broker.
