Blog - Page 8 of 15 - HomeownerQuote

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.

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

Massachusetts Home Insurance Rates

In 2012, the Boston Globe reported: “insurance companies are raising rates to offset a big jump in claims related to damage caused by tornadoes, severe snowstorms, and Tropical Storm Irene last year, according to industry executives.”

Since then, rates have continued to increase.

All is not lost, however. With the help of your helpful, friendly, independent agent (us!), you still just might be able to save money yet!

HomeownerQuote.com’s: Home Insurance Money Saving Tips:

– Package your home insurance with your auto insurance.

– Review your coverage.

– Consider increasing your deductible.

– We will shop your coverage with multiple companies.

Give us a call for your free, friendly, home insurance review.

MA Home Insurance: Insuring Your Home Properly …

The Coverage A, Dwelling, on your home insurance policy should represent the Replacement Cost, or pure construction cost, of your home.

This is the amount of money that it would take to rebuild if you were to suffer a total loss.

Land, driveway & usually foundation costs should not be considered.

This amount is usually very different than your home’s market value.

If you have had any renovations, improvements or additions done to your home you should have your insurance agent increase your Dwelling amount.

Please call or click us if you would like to review your Massachusetts home’s Coverage A, Dwelling, amount.

Massachusetts Homestead Act

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.

To find out more about the Massachusetts Homestead Act, please visit:

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/rod/rodhom/homidx.htm

Replacement Cost Reminder …

Within the Insurance Industry it is known as “the hidden deductible at claim time.”

Replacement Cost Protection on your Personal Property is vital to ensure you receive money to replace your belongings without depreciation.

The cost for this endorsement is approximately 10% of your policy’s annual premium.

The savings, at claim time, can be in the thousands of dollars.

With this Replacement Cost Endorsement your homeowner’s policy will pay to replace stolen or destroyed unscheduled personal property – old or new – without depreciation.

Call or click us for your free, no obligation Massachusetts home insurance quote.

Home Insurance

Our pursuit is to quote your home insurance with numerous companies and show you different coverage and premium options.

Although our humble web log is dedicated to Massachusetts homeowner insurance, you should really be thinking about packaging your auto, home, and umbrella coverage with the same insurance agency.

By buying your insurance through your local, Massachusetts independent agent, you receive the benefit of having someone shop, compare and recommend an insurance program that is right for you and your family.

By packaging your insurance with one agent, you will benefit from account discounts and having someone working for you at renewal, claim or billing time.

Save money by requesting a Massachusetts homeowner insurance quote with us today.

You’ll be happy you did.

MA Home Insurance Quotes

Map of MA

Marshall and Swift/Boeckh, “the leading provider of building cost solutions, book of business management services, analytics products and claims,” suggests that two out of three homes are not adequately insured.

Fortunately, your Massachusetts Independent Insurance Agent will help you determine your home’s insurance coverage amounts.

Construction costs fluctuate and as you make changes to your home, your insurance limits should keep pace.

http://www.HomeownerQuote.com recommends you have us review your Massachusetts home insurance coverage.

Call, click or fax us a copy of your Declarations Page or, if your home is a new purchase, please use us as your Massachusetts homeowner insurance resource!

We will shop your home insurance with numerous markets to try to find you the best coverage and premium.

Massachusetts Home Insurance

We recommend, when shopping for homeowner insurance in Massachusetts, give us a call or click.

We will shop your MA home insurance with numerous companies to provide you the best rates, the best companies, the best insurance programs, and the best options.

We will work with you to help determine your MA home insurance needs.

Call or click us today ….

The basics of homeowner insurance coverage:

Covered Perils – A homeowner insurance policy will provide protection from: fire or lightning, windstorm or hail, explosion, aircraft, vehicles, riot or civil commotion, smoke, theft, vandalism/malicious mischief, glass breakage, volcanic eruption, falling objects, weight of ice, snow or sleet, freezing of plumbing, accidental plumbing discharge, rupture of steam or hot water heating system, air conditioning systems, or water heaters, damage from artificially generated electricity.

Exclusions – A homeowners policy excludes coverage from: flood, or water that backs up through sewers, loss to building by earthquake, aftershocks and mud slides, loss by enforcement law or ordinance regulating construction, repair or demolition, or zoning, loss due to power interruption when the interruption takes place off the residence property, loss due to neglect of the insured to save and preserve property following a loss, war and nuclear perils, intentional loss.

Massachusetts Home Insurance: Special Limits Alert

Not many Massachusetts home insurance consumers appreciate home insurance until it’s claim time.

Claim time is bad time to find out about your policy’s limitations.

That’s why it’s important to know and understand your coverage before a claim.

Recently a client asked if he was “all-set” when it comes to his coverage. Especially, he mentions, because they’ve spent quite a bit of money on jewelry and watches over the years.

That’s when my inner, Massachusetts insurance agent alarm started ringing in my head:

“SPECIAL LIMITS ALERT! SPECIAL LIMITS ALERT! SPECIAL LIMITS ALERT!”

The standard, broad form, Massachusetts homeowner insurance policy has “Special Limits of Liability” for special items.

Such as: the most the insurance company will pay for loss of money, bank notes, bullion, gold, coins etc is $200; $1,000 limit for jewelry, watches, furs, precious and semi-precious stones theft loss; $1,000 limit firearms theft; $1,000 loss securities, deed, manuscripts, tickets, stamps (etc).

In order to have adequate coverage for such items (& antiques, fine art & collectibles), you should schedule onto your policy per appraisal.

When you schedule jewelry (or other special items) you receive all-risk coverage (vs. named peril coverage), no deductible applies, and the item is insured for it’s actual appraised value.

If you would like a free, competitive, no-obligation Massachusetts home insurance quote, please call or click us today.

Burst Pipes

Massachusetts Home Insurance.

In Massachusetts, the cold weather is here and pipes are bursting throughout the Commonwealth.

As a service, HomeownerQuote.com offers the following tips to prevent the dreaded burst pipe claim:

When temperatures are 30° F or less, homeowners should start worrying about pipes freezing.
Pipes should be fitted with insulation, the more insulation the better.
Let your faucets drip during extremely cold weather to help prevent pipes from bursting.
If you have a burst pipe, or if you open a faucet and no water comes out, don’t take any chances: call your plumber!
Turn off the water at the main shut-off valve, leave the faucets open until repairs are completed.
Don’t try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame, this will damage the pipe and may even start a building fire.
You may be able to thaw a pipe with a hand-held hair dryer. Slowly apply heat, starting close to the faucet end of the pipe, with the faucet open. Work toward the coldest section. Keep all electric cords away from water!
When away from the house for an extended period during the winter, be careful how much you lower the heat. The temperature inside the walls is colder than inside the house.
The best solution is to drain the water system. With no water in the pipes, there is no freezing.
To drain the system, shut off the main valve and turn on every water fixture (both hot and cold lines) until water stops running.

Good luck and stay warm, Massachusetts!