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Find Out the Benefits of an Annual Check-In

2/12/2021

Do you have the right amount of property coverage?

This question is an important one to ask each year. Life changes and the passage of time can affect the cost of rebuilding your home or replacing your vehicle.

Want to make sure you’d be covered in the case of an unexpected event? Take a quick look at these examples and reach out if you’d like to check in.

Auto Coverage

Say you’ve been driving since you were 16 and have never needed to file a claim. Then, one day you accidentally hit a pole in a parking lot in a moment of distraction.

Even a minor incident like this could end up causing thousands of dollars in damage. If you have collision coverage with a manageable deductible as well as rental car coverage, you’ll most likely end up facing far less financial strain than if you were underinsured.

Homeowners Coverage

Here’s another example: Imagine that an ongoing lumber shortage has increased homebuilding costs by thousands of dollars. If a natural disaster were to severely damage your home, you want to make sure your policy would cover the rebuilding costs no matter what.

Upcoming or Recent Changes

Remember, life events like getting married, moving, gaining or losing income, and when a teen starts driving can all affect your coverage needs and options. Knowing you have the right policy can help bring peace of mind as well as better financial security.
As 2021 gets going, reach out to make sure you’re adequately covered this year.

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Take a Look at 2021's Top Home Trends

2/9/2021

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It’s no surprise that this year’s top home trends are all about practicality and comfort.

And while you’ve probably already taken steps to improve your space over the last few months, there could be a few more ways to make the most of your property.
Whether you have safety in mind or you’d like some design inspiration, take a look at the most exciting home trends for 2021:

Colors and Moods

Did you see Pantone’s color of the year for 2021? It’s actually two colors: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating (a vibrant yellow) are together described as “a marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness.”
And speaking of warm and comforting, natural wood is also on the rise. When it comes to design, 2021 is all about mixing traditional and modern for a cozy feel.

Connecting With Nature

Feeling cooped up at home has motivated people to get closer to nature. You can tap into this trend by buying indoor plants, adding earth tones to your living room, freshening up any outdoor space you have, or going big with a brand new deck, porch or landscaping project.

Smart Features for Health and Safety

Smart and wellness-oriented features such as touchless faucets and flushers, motion sensor lighting, bidets and heated floors will continue to be in demand this year.

Distinct Spaces

This trend began a few months ago and will unsurprisingly continue in 2021. Both homeowners and homebuyers want separate rooms for work, Zoom, play, exercise, intergenerational living and more.
Accomplishing this can be as simple as buying room dividers. Or, you can go big and renovate an existing open floor plan or add a new room or wing to your house.
Do you have questions about how a home update will affect your coverage? Just need to check in? Reach out anytime.

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What Is Home Staging and What Does It Cost?

2/2/2021

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If you're looking to sell your home — and get top-dollar for it — staging the property can help you do it.
Put simply, staging means preparing the home for a potential buyer — or "setting the stage," if you will. It involves redecorating, rearranging furniture, cleaning and other aesthetic strategies to present the home in the best possible light. The goal is to make the home as appealing as possible to the most potential buyers.
Benefits of Home Staging

Home staging comes with many benefits. For one, it can make it easier for potential buyers to envision themselves in the home. It provides a clean palette of sorts — one without clutter, personal photographs and other items that might turn off a buyer or make it hard to imagine themselves living on the property. According to a study from the National Association of REALTORS© (NAR), 77 percent of buyers say it's easier to visualize a staged property as a future home.1

Staging also makes a home look more "move-in ready" — meaning that it doesn't seem to need a lot of work or repair before a new buyer could move in. Seventy-one percent of buyers are looking for a move-in ready home.2 Staging could help give that impression, which could be a nice advantage for you in successfully selling your home.

Finally, staging a home makes it easier to market. It looks better in listing photos (which can play a big role in today's home-shopping process), and it is also more eye-catching when shared on social media, printed on flyers and displayed in other visual marketing mediums. As a result, staged homes typically sell faster. According to NAR, 62 percent of agents say staging has an impact on a home's time on the market.3

Options for Home Staging

You have a few options when looking to stage your home. You can choose to do the process yourself (DIY); you can look to your real estate agent for help; or you can bring in a professional staging company to do the work on your behalf. In some cases, you could also do a combination of these options.

DIY: If you're confident in your abilities to design and present the property, or you simply want to save some cash, doing your home staging yourself can be a good option. Things you might want to consider include: repainting and touching up the walls, rearranging your furniture, adding new throw pillows, removing any personal photos or décor and adding warm touches like fresh flowers.
Your Real Estate Agent: Many real estate agents believe strongly in staging's ability to improve a home sale. As a result, they will help their clients prepare and stage the home before photographing it, listing it or beginning to market it. While some might only provide recommendations for how sellers can stage the home themselves, other agents will get hands-on in the process. They may even have a collection of décor items they can share with you to spruce up the property.
Professional Stagers: If you're looking for a more hands-off way to stage your home, you can opt for a professional stager or staging company. These are experts in the field who often have interior decorating, design or even real estate experience that can work in your favor.

Though these pros do come at a fee, they typically do the work for you. They will evaluate your home's current condition, make recommendations on how to improve its overall appeal to potential buyers and marketability, and then put those suggestions into action by rearranging the furniture, bringing in new décor or helping you declutter.
Often, stagers have a large inventory of furniture, décor, artwork and other items they can pull from to help your home look its best. Just be aware that using a stager's inventory may come with an extra fee, so be sure to ask about that.
Travelers Insurance allows you to customize your coverage to fit your unique needs. We focus on understanding you, so you'll feel right at home working with us.

How Much Does It Cost to Stage a House?

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median cost of home staging is $675.4 These costs vary, though, and depend on several factors, including the size, location and price of the home, the exact type of staging services you're looking for, and whether you need additional furniture, décor or other items in your staging efforts. Some agents recommend spending between 1 to 3 percent of your home's listing price on staging.
If you're staging your home yourself, you'll want to consider the costs of things like:

Paint and home repair supplies.
Storage units and organizers, if you'll be decluttering.
New furniture and décor.
Floral arrangements.
Cleaning supplies.

Consider shopping at thrift stores or second-hand shops for any new décor or furnishings you might need. You might also want to focus your staging efforts on only a few rooms — higher impact areas like the living area, the kitchen and the master bedroom.

Is Home Staging Worth it?

From a financial standpoint, staging can add measurable selling appeal to a home. According to NAR, nearly a third of real estate agents say staging increases the dollar value offered by buyers, in comparison to similar homes, by 1 to 5 percent. Another 21 percent of agents say it increased the dollar value of the home between 6 and 10 percent.5
To determine if staging a house is worth it, you'll want to consider a few things, including:

The cost of staging it (either professionally or on your own).
The value it could add to your property.
How quickly you're hoping to sell the home.
How competitive the local market is for sellers.

Home staging may increase the likelihood that you'll sell your property and do so quickly, and for top-dollar. If you're on a tight timeline or looking to boost your profits on the sale, home staging can certainly help. It also can be beneficial if your market is particularly competitive for sellers by ensuring your home is memorable, beautiful and stands out from the rest.

If you're ever unsure of whether staging is in your best interest, consider speaking to a local real estate agent. They can help assess your property as well as make recommendations based on the market and preferences of local buyers.
Selling your home is an important life moment. Why not also take it as an opportunity to review your homeowners coverage? Learn more about Travelers’ innovative suite of homeowners insurance products.

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Testimonials & Endorsements for the Best Insurance Agent on Cape Cod, MA

PHONE: (800) 479-2601 CUSTOMER SUPPORT & SERVICE

Please note: The above is meant as general information to help you understand the different aspects of insurance. This information is not an insurance policy, does not refer to any specific insurance policy, and does not modify any provisions, limitations, or exclusions expressly stated in any insurance policy. Descriptions of all coverages and other features on this page are necessarily brief; in order to fully understand the coverages and other features of a specific insurance policy, we encourage you to read the applicable policy and/or speak to an insurance representative. Coverages and other features vary between insurers, vary by state, and are not available in all states. Whether an accident or other loss is covered is subject to the terms and conditions of the actual insurance policy or policies involved in the claim. References to average or typical premiums, amounts of losses, deductibles, costs of coverages/repair, etc., are illustrative and may not apply to your situation. We are not responsible for the content of any third-party sites linked from this page.

Find Out the Benefits of an Annual Check-In

Take a Look at 2021's Top Home Trends

What Is Home Staging and What Does It Cost?

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Testimonials & Endorsements for the Best Insurance Agent on Cape Cod, MA

CAPE COD MASSACHUSETTS HOME INSURANCE

Arthur D. Calfee Insurance Agency, Inc.

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PHONE: (800) 479-2601 CUSTOMER SUPPORT & SERVICE

better Insurance ​for HomeOwners

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Real-Time PricinGInsurance coverage: Wind DamageFire LossWater DamageProtect your home and belongings

Insurance Products

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PHONE: (800) 479-2601 CUSTOMER SUPPORT & SERVICE

better Insurance
for
HomeOwners

Compare home insurance quotes today and save

Build a Custom Policy & Make the Switch!

Real-Time PricinG

Insurance coverage:

Wind Damage

Fire Loss

Water Damage

Protect your home and belongings