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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.

MA Home Insurance: Winterize Your Home

The first day of winter is December 21st and, here in Massachusetts, it is time to get your home ready for the cold months ahead.

Here are some tips that will help get you and your home ready for the cold weather:

Clean your gutters

By cleaning your gutters you ensure that melting ice and snow can drain. This is your first line of defense against the dreaded ice dams. An ice dam is when when water backs up, freezes, melts and causes water to seep into the house causing lots of damage to ceilings, walls and floors. As you clean the gutters, look for leaks, misaligned pipes, and make certain downspouts carry water away from the home.

Repair drafty areas
The most common, drafty areas of your home are: recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets.

Put door sweeps under exterior doors and caulk drafty spots around window and recessed lighting. Outside, seal leaks with weather-resistant caulk or, for brick areas, use masonry sealer.

Insulate
Add insulation to existing insulation in the attic. The general rule of thumb is you need a minimum 12 inches of insulation in your attic.

Have your furnace inspected
After you’ve turned on the heat, it’s important to have furnaces cleaned and tuned annually.

Check the windows
It’s time to take out the window screens and put in the storm windows, providing you with an extra layer of protection and warmth.

If you do not have storm windows, try a window insulator kit. Insulator kits are inexpensive and very effective for keeping the heat inside your home.

Have your chimney inspected
Chimneys should be inspected annually. Woodstoves should be cleaned more than once a year. Also remember to keep the chimney’s damper closed when the fireplace isn’t in use.

Reverse your ceiling fan
Reversing the ceiling fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. Note: when in reverse, the ceiling fan blades should turning clockwise.

Insulate your pipes
Burst pipes are a consumer and insurance nightmare. Prevent burst pipes making sure outside valves are turned off and pipes are insulated.

Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
It’s always a great time to check the operation of your smoke and carbone monoxide detectors. When winterizing your home, take the opportunity to test your alarms.

MA Home Insurance: Tips Tips to Save You Money

Tips to Save You Money:

Consider larger deductibles. Different property deductibles are available for choosing; $250, $500, and $1000 deductible are available. Savings in increments of 10% are commonplace per deductible.

Try to remain in the Voluntary Market! Insurance Companies reserve the right to insure or renew properties. If you have had a few losses within the past couple of policy years your insurance company may decide to not renew you.

The MPIUA (Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association) offers insurance to properties that are not insurable on the voluntary market. The cost to insure with them is usually considerably more expensive than the consumer will find on the voluntary market.

Some of the credits that are available to insurers are:

Protective Device Credits … starting with deadbolt locks, extinguishers, and smoke detectors are available. Larger credits are available for Local and Central Station burglar and fire protection systems.

Non-smoker credits … if you and household members are non-smokers some companies offer discounts to non-smokers.

Loss Free Year Credits … if you have not had any losses in multiple years some companies offer “Loss Free Credits.” Check with your Independent Insurance Broker to see if you qualify for any companies’ programs.

Home Renovation/New Home Credits … if you have renovated your home within the past 10 years some companies offer Renovation Credits. If you are buying a new home, some companies offer large New Home credits.

Account Discounts … some insurance companies offer 10% “Account Discounts” if you insure your home and auto with the same company … in addition, some companies may waive service charges.

Shop Around!

Different companies offer different discount programs for different properties and property owners. Shop around with different companies to see who is offering the best deals. Your local, independent Insurance Broker uses numerous companies to find you the best rates & service!

MA Home Insurance Review: Do Yourself a Favor

It is important to understand your insurance coverage.

Each year at renewal time, you should schedule an insurance review with your independent, Massachusetts agent.

If you do not have an agent and you go directly through the insurance company, do yourself a favor, call them and ask for a coverage and discount review. Then call a local, independent, Massachusetts insurance agent to compare.

Become an engaged insurance consumer!

Some questions to ask:

Do we carry adequate liability limits? Limits should equal, at least, your net worth.
Should we carry Umbrella coverage?
What is the value of our vehicle? If the value is low, should we still carry collision coverage?
If our car loan is paid off, should we remove the lienholder on our policy?
Are we getting all available discounts?

Please utilize our services, as well, for an annual insurance review, explanation of coverage, & discount double-check.

HomeownerQuote = Massachusetts Home Insurance. Call or click us today!

Massachusetts Homeowner 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?

Top Tips to Save Money on Massachusetts Home Insurance

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

Shop around
Shop your coverage
Package your insurance
Consider higher deductibles
Make sure your home is in great shape
Avoid insurance claims
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.

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 Homeowner Insurance

When shopping for Massachusetts homeowner insurance, it is important to have an additional set of professional, indepedent insurance eyes review your coverage.

When comparing premiums, make sure you are comparing similar coverage.

Some items to review:
What is your present Coverage A, Dwelling amount?
Is this amount adequate?

Does your Dwelling coverage include Replacement Cost Protection?

Does your Personal Property coverage include Replacement Cost Protection?

What are the policy deductibles? Does the policy include a separate wind or hurricane deductible?

Do you have any scheduled personal property items, such as jewelry coverage, on your policy?

If you would like us to review your coverage and give you free, no obligation Massachusetts home insurance quotes, please call or give us a click.

Massachusetts Home Heating Tips:

With heating oil and natural gas prices projected to be even higher this winter than they were last, we offer the following tips to save you money.

Maximize Efficiency:

Check your heating system before you turn it on for the winter. Keeping your furnace clean, lubricated, and properly adjusted can save about 5 percent on your heating bill

Consider replacing an old furnace. Today’s furnaces are about 25 percent more efficient than they were in the 1980s

Minimize Heat Loss:

Seal up the leaks. Sealing and insulating duct systems can cut heating costs by as much as 40 percent.

Add insulation to your home’s attic. Even if your attic floor already has a couple of inches of insulation, another six inches can help.

Wrap an insulation blanket around your hot water pipes and tank. This is especially valuable for older water heaters and can save up to 10 percent on water-heating costs.

Don’t use an open-hearth fireplace for heat. The heated air that’s drawn from your home and up the chimney offsets almost all the warmth that a fire provides.

Keep your fireplace damper closed when you don’t have a fire burning. This will prevent up to 8 percent of your furnace-heated air from going up the chimney

home for free.

Conserve Heat:

Turn down the thermostat a little. For every two degrees you lower the thermostat, you’ll save about 4 percent on heating bills.

Consider a programmable thermostat. One of these can help you cut heating costs as much as 20%.

Reduce hot water temperature. Save 7 to 11 percent of water-heating costs by keeping your water heater at the “normal” setting or 120º.

Shorten showers. Showers account for two-thirds of your water-heating costs, so even shaving off a few minutes can help.

MA Home Insurance

According to industry sources, home insurance rates across the country are going up. They are going up here in Massachusetts, as well.

This does not have to be bad news.

With the assistance of HomeownerQuote.com you can actively shop your home insurance with numerous companies with the click of a button!

You will be instantly utilizing the power of the Massachusetts independent insurance agent.

We will review your coverage, maximize discount programs, and shop your coverage with multiple companies.

Even though rates are going up, with the assistance of HomeownerQuote.com, you will be able to save some money.

So, take off your jacket and shoes, find your existing home insurance coverage Declarations Page, and spend a few minutes filling out our online quote request form.

You will be glad you did.