Is home insurance required to buy a home?
You're often required to show proof of homeowners insurance to your lender before they'll relinquish the keys to your property and fund your home loan. Until your home is paid in full, your lender holds a lien on your property, so it's in their best interest to make sure that the property is insured while you're paying down your mortgage. If you're purchasing your new home with cash or an unsecured line of credit (credit card or personal loan), you may not be required to show proof of home insurance before closing. Home insurance isn't mandated in any state, but you should still consider buying homeowners insurance to protect the equity in your home. Learn more about what home insurance covers and how homeowners insurance works. How to shop for home insurance During the mortgage approval process, your loan specialist will let you know when to buy homeowners insurance. However, you can start shopping for a policy as soon as you've solidified your new address. Shopping for homeowners insurance early gives you more time to select the right policy and look into ways you can save. While your lender may provide a referral, it's a good practice to compare homeowners insurance quotes and pricing, homeowners insurance coverages, and consumer reviews before making a final choice. You can often save money by bundling homeowners and auto insurance with the same insurer. Learn more about switching your homeowners insurance. What to look for in a home insurance policy
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When was the last time you gave your home and auto insurance policies an annual checkup?
A lot can happen in a year, and reviewing your current coverage is worthwhile to see if anything needs to be updated or changed. Keep reading to learn why you should check in on your policies. Major Home Renovation If you added on to your home, upgraded the kitchen and bathrooms, or made any other big changes to the property, make sure you have enough dwelling coverage to rebuild your newly remodeled home. Even if you’ve only done minor renovations, rising construction labor and materials prices could mean that your coverage wouldn’t be enough to rebuild your home in its current condition. In that case, you’ll want to increase your coverage to avoid having to foot some of the bills yourself. Addition of Valuable Objects Have you purchased or inherited valuable artwork, antiques or jewelry in the past year? It’s time to update your home inventory and see if you have the proper policies to replace the value of the items inside your home. And if you added a home security system to protect your valuables, you may be eligible for a discount. Change in Marital Status Did you get married recently? You could be eligible for a discount if you bundle home and auto insurance policies with your new spouse. If you got divorced or your spouse has passed, you can no longer be on a joint car or home insurance policy with that person. Reach out to get a quote for your own policy. Payments on an Auto Loan Review your auto insurance coverage to see if it still meets your needs. For example, if you’ve paid enough of your auto loan down, you may no longer need gap insurance. If you’ve changed jobs and are doing less driving, you may be able to get a discount. Do you have questions about your coverage? Reach out so we can discuss your Are you planning a backyard project? With spring here and summer on the horizon, many homeowners are ready to spruce up their backyards or take on a big project. If you’re ready to plant new trees, build a deck or patio, add a pond, or do anything else that requires digging, make sure you know where underground utilities are before you break ground.Send me a Home Insurance Quote Keep reading to learn who to call before you dig, how to identify different utility markings and how to keep yourself safe during an excavation project. Call 811. This is the national call-before-you-dig number. You or your contractor should call 811 to request the marking of buried utilities so you don’t accidentally damage an underground utility line. You can also contact 811 online through your state’s website. Understand the different colors. Once the buried utilities in your yard are marked, you may see different color markings. Here’s what they mean:
If you’re doing your own backyard digging project, make sure to stretch and warm up before you get started. Otherwise, you risk injuring yourself. Use the right equipment. Are the hand tools in your shed or garage enough, or do you need to rent equipment for your project? Do your research before you begin so you have the proper tools. Contractors should be insured and bonded. If you’re hiring a contractor for your digging or excavation project, check that they have insurance and are bonded. This protects you if they don’t finish the project or cause damage to your property. If you accidentally hit a utility line while digging, call 911. And if you have questions about your home insurance, reach out for answers. ![]() Flood Map Update Schedule Reflecting data as of 02/06/2014 Enter your Zip Code to see all of the communities in your county that have maps scheduled to be updated. Even if your community is not listed, changes may still be in progress. To view preliminary maps issued since May 1, 2013, visit FEMA's Preliminary Flood Map Search Tool. ![]() The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act was signed into law by the President March 21. It amends some provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. Find details here as they are made available. Don’t wait until water is at your door Consider purchasing flood insurance sooner rather than later. Keep in mind that there’s often a 30-day wait after purchase for the policy to take effect. So call or write us today about flood insurance. It’s rainy day protection that could help save your most valuable investment: your home or business.
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Arthur D. Calfee Insurance Agency, Inc. is proudly serving primary home, vacation home, auto, collector car, business, general liability, property, professional liability, contractor's liability, worker's comp, key man, whole life, term life, group or personal disability, & long-term care insurance policies to patrons in the following Cape Cod, Massachusetts towns, communities and villages: Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Buzzards Bay, Centerville, Chatham, Cotuit, Craigville, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hatchville, Harwich, Hyannis, Hyannisport, Marstons Mills, Mashpee, Orleans, Osterville, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet, Woods Hole, Yarmouth, and Yarmouthport.
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