Massachusetts Home Insurance Winter Prevention Tips

I hate to think it, but winter is around the corner. Ice, snow & wind can have devastating effects on your home. The time to winterize is before the snow begins to fall. Here are some suggested precautions:

-Maintain gutters. Removing leaves, acorns, sticks & debris from gutters so that snow & ice can drain properly can help prevent dreaded ice dams.

-Trim trees & remove dead branches. Ice, snow & wind can cause weak trees or branches to break damaging your home, car or injuring someone.

-Check Insulation. Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Water re-freezing causes more snow & ice to build up resulting in collapsed roofs & ice dams. Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than the outside air.

-Keep your home warm. The temperature in your house should be at least 65 degrees. The temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is colder than the walls themselves.

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.

Please call us for more information or to find out where you should file.

The Ice Dams are coming …

Nobody likes them and they’re not a lot of fun, but they keep coming and coming.

They are Ice Dams and, fortunately, they are preventable.

Ice dams are caused by the build up of ice and snow on your roof.

Melting and re-freezing contributes to more snow and ice building up.

Watch for ice dams near gutter downspouts.

Keep gutters free of leaves and debris so melting snow and ice can flow freely.

Ice dams can cause water to build up and seep into your house destroying walls, floors and personal property.

MA Home Insurance Rates

As referenced in a recent Sunday Boston Globe article: “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.”

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 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 click or call for your free, friendly, home insurance review.

Higher Deductibles = Fewer Losses?

Our MA Independent Insurance Agency often recommends higher deductibles to save money.

Our MA Independent Insurance Agency 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.

Quick tip

MA home insurance: For those of us that go years & years without claims, higher deductibles is, literally, “money in the bank.”

(… To Save You Money)

Massachusetts Home Insurance

Consider higher deductibles. When your parents bought their first home, most likely their deductible was $250. As a general rule of thumb you can save 10% of the annual premium if you carried a $500 deductible; an additional 10% if you carried a $1,000 deductible.

For those of us that go years & years without claims, higher deductibles is, literally, “money in the bank.”

In addition, by carrying a higher deductible you self-insure yourself a little more thus making the chance of filing a small claim less appealing. By doing such consumers can keep their “loss free” credits and, without claim frequency, you ensure your insurability.