Massachusetts Homeowner Insurance

Smile Massachusetts Home Insurance

Whether your homeowner insurance is renewing or if you’re starting a new policy, following is a list of things to consider:

  • Do you own jewelry, furs or watches with values over $1,000?
  • Do you own silverware with a total value of over $2,500?
  • Do you have a collection of valuables, including: coins, stamps or other?
  • Do you own any of the following: Musical Instruments, Fine Arts or Antiques, Camera Equipment, Sports Equipment, Personal Computer?
  • Do you own a boat?
  • Is there a trampoline on your property?
  • Do you have any tools, equipment or other property used in your business or occupation?
  • Would you like your insurance to provide: Replacement Cost Protection on your Dwelling, on your Personal Property, Credit Card/forgery protection, Ordinance or Law coverage, Earthquake coverage?
  • Flood is not a covered loss on a homeowner policy. Would you like to obtain rates for flood insurance? Also excluded from coverage are such things such as: rot, mold, mildew or animal/vermin/insect damage.
  • Are you interested in receiving information on:  Auto, Life, Excess Liability (Umbrella), Boat or Business Insurance?

 Contact us for your free, Massachusetts homeowner insurance quote.

MA Home Insurance Inventory Checklist

home insurance checklist

The homeowner insurance policy is one of “utmost good faith”- meaning that each party involved in the insurance contract (client, agent & insurance company) is acting in good faith and that everyone trusts one another.

At claim time, anything you have in the form of receipts, detailed descriptions, appraisals, inventory listings, video etc., can be extremely helpful.
 
In the old days, we recommended our clients fill out a home inventory checklists — send us a copy, and keep another copy in a safe, fire-proof location. Checklists can still be helpful but now -even better- is video. If you video your home and belongings and store in the cloud, at claim time, you should have no problems.
 
Another site sponsored by the Insurance Information Institute (https://www.knowyourstuff.org/iii/login.html) offers free, online inventory and checklist software/app.
 
If you would like a free, home insurance inventory checklist, please call or click us today!
 
HomeownerQuote.com: Your Online Independent Massachusetts Insurance Agent!

Top Tips to Save Money on Massachusetts Home Insurance

expert

Many industry experts are predicting property insurance increases in the years to come. We offer our top insurance savings ideas: 

  1. Shop around
  2. Shop your coverage
  3. Package your insurance
  4. Consider higher deductibles
  5. Make sure your home is in great shape
  6. Avoid insurance claims
  7. Avoid “high liability exposures” such as certain dog breeds (such as Pitbull, Akita,  and German Shepard), trampolines, and old, knob and tube wiring.

Call or click us at HomeownerQuote.

The Massachusetts Homestead Act

Massachusetts Homestead Act Information

The Homestead Act is designed to allow homeowners in Massachusetts to protect their primary residence against subsequent attachment, levy or sale to satisfy debts up to $500,000.

The Homestead Law does not protect against: taxes or mortgages used to purchase the residence. Homeowners must file for the Homestead Act with The Registry of Deeds office in the county in which the residence is located.

Massachusetts charges a one time Filing Fee of $35 for a Declaration of Homestead.

Contact The Registry of Deeds Division at: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/rod/

You can also reach them at:

617-727-9640
Toll Free: 1-800-392-6090
Fax: 617-878-3511
E-mail: registry@sec.state.ma.us

4th of July Home Insurance Safety Tips

Happy 4th of July from HomeownerQuote.com!

Keep your home and family safe this 4th of July

We’ve identified 3 areas of largest risk to homeowners.

1. Grill Safety- Almost everyone fires up the grill for the 4th of July. Grilling accidents are the number 1 most common insurance injury and property damage claims. This holiday season: make sure you’ve cleaned and inspected your grill. Make certain propane attachents are secure, tight and unencumbered. Does your grill start right up? Does your grill’s ignition button work? Every year many millions of arm hairs get singed (or worse) while grill chiefs attempt to fire up the burner with their butane lighters. Keep your grill far away from your home or porch. Store extra propane tank a safe distance away from the grill, as well.

2. Fireworks Safety- Most firework accidents happen with the “backyard” firework displays (usually consisting of drunk uncle and old fireworks, mostly of the loud, combustible, firecracker, M-80 variety). If you have the opportunity to go to a “professional,” town event your risk of injury or lawsuits are exponentially lower. IE- If you have the opportunity to view rather than host: view. Also, we should mention backyard fireworks can be terrifiying (and dangerous) to pets (& neighbors).

3. Swimming Pool Safety- Swimming pool fun can become dangerous and litigious due to the imminent threat of injury and drowning deaths. If you are the lucky owner of a swimming pool consider purchasing personal liability Umbrella coverage. Relatively inexpensive umbrella coverage can be between $1M – $5M additional personal liability coverage sitting on top of your homeowner insurance’s coverage.

Massachusetts Homeowner Insurance Protection

A Homeowners Policy Protects:

– Dwelling (your home)

– Other Structures, such as a detached garage, shed, fence, mailbox or doghouse

– Personal Property, including furniture, clothing, appliances and much more

– Loss of Use, for living expenses, when the home is damaged and uninhabitable

– Personal Liability Coverage, protects you and your family against a claim or lawsuit if someone is injured or their property is damaged while at your home

– Medical Payments to Others

Coverage Options:

– Personal Property Replacement Cost Protection. Provides full replacement cost (no depreciation)for your personal belongings

– Replacement Cost Protection on your Dwelling. Provides the extra insurance you need to rebuild your house if your coverage amount is inadequate

– Personal Injury. Protects you against libel and slander

– Schedule Valuable Items. Provides a blanket of coverage that is broader than what a basic Homeowners policy provides. It is the right coverage for people who own valuable possessions such as jewelry, fine arts, collectibles, antiques and other “special items”

– Umbrella Policy. Offers an additional $1 million to $5 million of liability protection

– Flood Coverage. Flood damage is typically not covered under a home insurance policy. This affordable coverage covers damage to your property and provides cleanup reimbursement

– Earthquake Endorsement

Consider Higher Home Insurance Deductibles

HomeownerQuote.com often recommends higher deductibles to save money. With no losses, these savings are, literally, money in the bank.

In addition to savings, higher deductibles force one to self-insure the smaller claims. By avoiding submitting claims, consumers preserve their “loss free” credits. By avoiding claims companies are less likely to non-renew, allowing consumers to stay in the voluntary, competitively priced home insurance market.

Massachusetts Home Insurance

Homeowner insurance is designed to protect your home from certain perils such as fire, theft, wind, hail, falling objects, riot, vehicle damage, explosion, smoke and bursting of pipes. Notable exclusions are: flood, earthquake, mold, mildew, rot or animal damage.

When setting up your policy your Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agent will attempt to come up with The Replacement Cost of your home. Not to be confused with Market Value, The Replacement Value is the amount of money it would take to replace you home if it were destroyed by an insurance loss. The Coverage A, Dwelling, amount should represent this Replacement Value.

Complete Protection for Your Home

Your home is one of the largest investments you will ever have. You want to make certain that your coverage is tailored to your individual home and personal needs. Your Independent, Massachusetts Insurance Agent will offer quality, basic coverage with many features and many coverage options to enhance your protection.

Massachusetts Home Insurance

Our Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agency quotes homeowner insurance all day long. Each policy is as different as each house. Each insurance company that writes in Massachusetts has a different appetite for different homes depending on such factors as age, condition, location, owner credit and insurance history.

Some companies have pulled off of Cape Cod worried about the mythic 100 year storm. Some companies will not write a home if it was built before 1930.

Some companies will not write your property if you own a dog of a certain breed (beware: pit bull owners). Some will not write you if you own a trampoline.

It is important to utilize the service of a MA independent insurance agent because your agent will know which markets are the best fit for you and your home.

Call, stop by or click us today for your free, no obligation home insurance quote.

You will be happy you did.