Credit is an important financial factor in modern life, necessary for making large purchases and borrowing money.
What many people don’t realize, though, is that your credit score can also affect things unrelated to loans, like your insurance coverage and rates. That’s why it’s essential to know what impacts your credit history and score (and what doesn’t). Read this to learn the truth behind four common credit myths. Myth #1: Carrying a credit card balance will improve your score. While debt utilization (the percentage of your total available credit in use at any given time) matters, carrying a balance won’t necessarily help your score — and could hurt it. Carrying a balance also means having to pay interest on it, which is why paying off your card’s balance in full each month is best, if you can manage it. Myth #2: Checking your credit history will lower your score. When you apply for a loan and the lender checks your credit, that’s a hard inquiry, which can affect your score (especially if multiple credit checks happen within a short period). But you can make a soft inquiry to check your own credit report and score without penalty. Myth #3: Closing a credit account will improve your score. The age of your credit accounts and your credit utilization ratio are both factors in calculating your score. Closing a credit card, especially a longtime account, can actually hurt your score temporarily. It’s generally better to leave a credit card open and unused than to close it. Myth #4: You can quickly improve your credit. Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix for your credit history. Certain events, like bankruptcy or foreclosure, may stay on your credit report for years. Other factors, like high credit utilization, simply take time to improve. But the upside is that you can rebuild your credit over time with sustained effort and good habits. Get in touch if you have questions about your insurance policy or need to make changes to your coverage.
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What Does Home Insurance Cover?Typical home insurance coverage (level HO-3) protects the buildings on your property against certain types of damage and affords you personal liability coverage.
Enhanced Coverage for Massachusetts Homeowners Insurance
According to a 2023 survey, 63% of workers said they would be unable to cover a $500 emergency expense.
This means a majority of Americans don’t have an emergency fund, which is a savings account with roughly three to six months of living expenses set aside for unexpected expenses. If you can, you should be working on building emergency savings. Even a small amount can add up over time. Learn about the most common reasons to tap your emergency fund. Job Loss Losing your job can be financially devastating, especially if you’re the primary earner in your household. Even if you qualify for unemployment benefits, emergency savings can help you keep up with bills. Emergency Home Repairs Homeowners can plan and budget for routine maintenance and repair tasks, but expensive repairs may arise suddenly. For example, a storm blows through and knocks a tree branch onto your roof or floods your basement. Whatever happens, it helps to have emergency savings to cover the cost without going into debt. Major Car Repair As with your house, your car doesn’t always give a warning before breaking down on the highway. Whether you have trouble with your brakes, engine or tires, having money saved up can get you back on the road. Medical Expenses Nearly half of American workers are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan, according to the most recent federal data. This can result in costly bills if you or one of your dependents has an injury or needs diagnostic testing. If you have access to a health savings account, you can save for medical expenses with pretax dollars. If not, your emergency fund will come in handy. Do you have questions about your insurance coverage and how it could help you save in case of property damage? Get in touch to talk about your policy. A pair of climate scientists are proposing a sixth category for hurricanes as climate change increasingly intensifies these storms, according to a new research study. In a study, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the two scientists argued the “open-ended” Saffir Simpson hurricane wind scale is becoming increasingly “inadequate” as the globe continues to warm. The scale, developed in the early 1970s, may not reflect the true intensity of some storms, argued study co-authors Michael F. Wehner — a climate scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab — and James P. Kossin — a former NOAA climate and hurricane researcher. A Category 6 designation would apply to storms with winds that exceed 192 miles per hour under their proposal. Storms with winds of 157 mph or higher are currently ranked Category 5, an open-ended approach that fails to adequately warn people of the dangers of higher wind speeds, the study contended. The study’s co-authors believe the open-ended nature of the current scale will prompt people to underestimate the risk of some hurricanes, which will become “increasingly problematic in a warming world.” “We find that a number of recent storms have already achieved this hypothetical category 6 intensity and based on multiple independent lines of evidence examining the highest simulated and potential peak wind speeds, more such storms are projected as the climate continues to warm,” the study stated. Does the hurricane intensity scale need a new 'category 6'?Since 2013, five — all in the Pacific — reached wind speeds of 192 mph or higher, with warming conditions expected to bring even stronger weather, The Associated Press reported. “Climate change is making the worst storms worse,” Wehner told the news wire. Some experts told The AP they do not believe another category is needed, and could give people the wrong impression as it’s based on wind speed, rather than water — the deadliest element of hurricanes. University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy reportedly noted climate change is not causing more storms, but rather intensifying storms and increasing the proportion that qualify as major hurricanes. This is driven by warmer oceans, McNoldy said. Kossin told The AP pacific storms are stronger as there is less land to weaken them, in contrast to the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. While no Atlantic storm has reached the 192 mph threshold, Kossin and Wehner told the news wire the world warming will create a greater chance in the future. Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, noted to the news wire that his office attempts “to steer the focus toward the individual hazards, which include storm surge, wind, rainfall, tornadoes and rip currents, instead of the particular category of the storm, which only provides information about the hazard from wind.” Rhome added a Category 5 already suggests “catastrophic damage” from wind so adding a higher category would not be necessary even in the case storms get stronger, the AP noted. No matter what else winter may bring, you’re probably experiencing lower temperatures this time of year.
That’s why this season can bring a specific set of challenges for your home and car. Snow and ice, heating systems, fire safety, pipes and tires should all be top of mind during the colder months. Keep reading for 12 tips on staying safe at home and on the road when the thermostat is at its lowest. Stay Safe and Warm at Home
Drive Safely This Winter
If you have questions about winter safety or your insurance policies, reach out today. 2022 Local Choice Award Insurance Agency - Serving Massachusetts Since 1980 We Shop Leading Insurance Carriers To Save You Money! Click Here - FAST Home & Auto Insurance Quote We Create the 'Best Home & Auto Insurance' Package Deals in Massachusetts We Create the 'Best Home & Auto Insurance' Package Deals in Massachusetts We run our business with a value system of love (concern for others), trust, respect, a commitment to excellence and fun. And thanks, in part, to the customer service focus way we run our business, Calfee Insurance, has consistently been rated 5-Stars (superior) on Google & other platforms by current clients for more than 40 Years. We were voted the Best in the Local Choice Awards in 2022. Click here - Testimonials & Reviews: "Trustworthy, Knowledgeable, Qualified, Skillful, Talented, Accomplished" We offer a wide range of coverage, including umbrella, auto, home, renters and life insurance. It doesn't stop there - we also provide motorcycle and small business insurance. "Good customer service means helping customers efficiently, in a friendly manner. It's essential that we are able to handle issues for customers and to do our best to ensure you are satisfied." "Providing fast, educated, quality service is one of the most important things that we can differentiate from our competitors." FAST HOME INSURANCE QUOTES (508)540-2601 We recommend coverage amounts for your personal situation and break down everything we offer with clear-cut explanations so you know exactly what you’re getting. Easy, Fast, & Secure Homeowners Insurance & Car Insurance. Get a Free Quote 100% Online Now! Real-Time Pricing. Affordable Rates. Available 24/7. Insurance coverage: Wind Damage, Fire Loss, Water Damage. "Providing fast, educated, quality service is one of the most important things that we can differentiate from our competitors." FAST HOME INSURANCE QUOTES (508)540-2601 By answering some simple questions about your home, we’ll get you the protection that you deserve, all through our secure network. We offer a comprehensive set of home insurance coverages to protect your property and your family. Once you start a quote, we’ll recommend to you the appropriate amount of insurance needed for your home by calculating property and building construction information from multiple databases. Compare home insurance quotes today and save on protection for your biggest investment. Build a Custom Policy & Make the Switch! When purchasing property insurance, doing your due diligence is more than a turn of phrase. The period when a house is under contract is an essential part of the home insurance buying process and requires careful attention to detail. Being thorough in the due diligence phase will help you uncover potential issues and make the right choices for you and your family by calling us at (508)540-2601. Using innovative thinking, cutting-edge tools and expert resources at national and local levels, we deliver the best possible outcome on every policy we manage. Our local underwriting insurance professionals focus exclusively on finding the best home insurance products for our Massachusetts residents. Protect yourself on the road with auto insurance. Find out about coverage options, discounts and get a free online car insurance quote. Car Insurance shopping has become something of a science. If you time your insurance purchase right, you could save hundreds off the sticker price, while buying insurance during certain times of the month or on the wrong day can cost you. Here's a look at when you might find the best deals on a new set of wheels by calling us at (508)540-2601. Arthur D. Calfee has 60 years of experience in the insurance industry. He worked in the Boston claims office of the Boston Old Colony Insurance Company from 1960 to 1966, when he moved to Falmouth. After 14 years working for a local agency, Art opened his own agency in 1980. In 1988 he purchased the Everitt W. Noyes Insurance Agency in North Falmouth. In 1990 he purchased the Gordon W. Bryden Insurance Agency and merged it into the North Falmouth office. Today the agency's Falmouth office serve the insurance needs of more than 500 businesses and more than 4,000 individuals throughout Massachusetts and beyond. Arthur was named the town's "Outstanding Citizen of the Year" by the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce" for many years of dedicated service, leadership and achievements that have made Falmouth and Cape Cod a very special place to live," an honor recognized by citations from the State Senate and House of Representatives. Arthur has also received similar community awards such as the Falmouth Heritage Award. In the past, Arthur has held several positions such as President to the Falmouth Beautification Council and President of the Design Review Committee to the Town of Falmouth. Cape & Plymouth Business, was proud to honor Davidson O. Calfee as one of the region's top young & most dynamic business leaders with a '40 Under 40 Award' on June 16, 2010! Born & raised on Cape Cod, Eagle Scout, Davidson studied platinum customer service techniques and obtained his bachelor of science hotel & restaurant management degree. Soon after they asked him to become the 2002 Alumni Class Director to the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, TX. Davidson learned quickly about home insurance & flood insurance during the 2001 Tropical Storm Allison in Houston when the entire city of Houston, Texas was under water. Davidson studied more about the insurance industry when Hurricane Katrina destroyed his coastal home & property along the Mississippi Gulf Coast in September, 2005 with heavy winds, storm surges & tidal waves. Learning from his past experiences with natural catastrophes & hurricanes, Davidson grew a natural passion to assist his hometown residents on Cape Cod, Massachusetts understand their home insurance policies and their complexities surrounding coverage amounts, causes of damage and relief. Quickly settling on Cape Cod, Massachusetts after losing his home to Hurricane Katrina, Davidson became the Founding President & Chairman of the Falmouth Young Professionals, President of Business Networking International - Cape Cod Team Advantage, Treasurer of the Falmouth Education Foundation and the Director of Automation with the Cape Cod Insurance Agent's Association. In the past, Davidson has held positions such as a Loaned Executive, personally raising over $800,000 for the United Way of South Mississippi, the Ambassador to the Conrad N. Hilton College in Houston, TX, the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce and the Canal Region Chamber of Commerce in Massachusetts. In 2012, the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce voted him on to their Board of Directors. The Falmouth Community Television Station awarded Davidson with their prestigious 2012 "Volunteer of the Year" Award during their Annual Dinner for many events & special productions including The Village Green, Live Election Coverage, Young Professional Television and special government meetings, to name a few. Davidson O. Calfee is the Owner, President & CEO of Operations overseeing all agency & portfolio management, consumer relations and new business generation. He has a natural ability to manage complex situations to achieve outstanding results for his clients. By constantly looking for ways to improve professionally, Davidson Calfee has worked diligently to revamp his team’s service of the needs and expectations of clients. Calfee specializes in developing, designing and implementing complex property catastrophe insurance programs for his clients. His market knowledge and client service skills have made Calfee’s Agency a sought-after home insurance resource for Massachusetts coastal residents. Calfee created a cohesive work environment by recruiting, retaining talent and developing successful home insurance products that has built a strong clientele over the years. Calfee has maintained a high customer retention rate by tirelessly searching for savings solutions and fostering community relationships to bring people closer to home insurance resources that can improve their situation. Currently, Calfee is leading and developing the execution of an upcoming home insurance package product launch. Always keeping the interest of the insured at the forefront, followed by the markets and associated parties, Calfee truly has the recipe for developing a great home insurance program. Calfee has an incredible ability to consistently build strong relationships to create win-win partnerships with clients, colleagues, and business partners. With a firm belief that effective client services is rooted in trusted relationships, Calfee approaches projects by ensuring all parties are on the same page in order to deliver effective results from start to finish. His team uncovers cost savings by navigating the complex world of home insurance to create specific insurance solutions that are unique to each home. Calfee also assists in producing presentations, submissions and documentation; interpreting analytical results to evaluate and compare different home insurance prices and strategies. By helping clients fully understand their actual and potential costs, Calfee provides actionable advice to support in minimizing the total cost of risk in protecting home assets. Home insurance is often one of those necessary-yet-avoided topics of discussion. Its importance for family continuity and individual survival is paramount, but no one wants to voluntarily think of “the worst that can happen.” Sometimes it does happen and local communities can suffer incredible damage from natural and man-made disasters. It is for this reason you need representation that can build a connection, share this knowledge and offer resources in a way that dissolves doom and gloom scenarios and encourages you to see the positive benefits of insurance policies.
The Arthur Draper Calfee Insurance Agency, Inc. demonstrates this empathic capacity to connect with clients specifically in its community about policies and preparing for those surprise catastrophes. The Cape Cod agency offers home insurance, flood map info, flood insurance, boat/yacht, auto, disability and life insurance packages to meet the unique needs of the community. A 2nd generation company solely family-run, the agency originated with founder Arthur from his home in 1980. Arthur Draper Calfee comes from a long line of leaders; his middle name “Draper” originates from the Draper Family from Hopedale that was responsible for leading the industrial revolution in Massachusetts. The Draper brothers, General Draper and Massachusetts Governor, Eben Draper also manufactured Looms, which distributed fabric for people internationally. Art’s vision expanded beyond his Cape Cod home borders and he eventually began servicing over 3,000 clients in his immediate territory. It was this single-minded dedication to serving his community that endowed him with “Outstanding Citizen of Year” by the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce in 1997. The agency is now well positioned with developed relationships in the industry, enabling the family team to offer its clients more competitive policies. The list includes but not limited to: Kingstone, Swyfft, Clear Blue Insurance, Travelers, Pilgrim, Safety, Hanover, Progressive, ASI, MPIUA, Mass Property Insurance, Main Street America, Arbella, Encompass, Plymouth Rock, Universal Property, Narragansett, ASI, Lloyds of London, Preferred Mutual and others. Legacy is vital in a family-run business that serves its local region, and the insurance agency’s leadership principles have continued with Art’s son, Davidson O. Calfee, as President and a humble recipient of the “40 Under 40 Award" from the Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine. Contact Arthur D. Calfee Insurance Agency, Inc. to learn more about its services and how you may be assisted immediately. What’s one of a homeowner’s greatest enemies? Water (where it shouldn’t be).
When water enters your home, it can quickly cause a lot of damage. So, it’s important to understand which types of plumbing issues and water damage are covered by your home insurance policy. Learn about the types of insurance for water damage as well as what is and isn’t covered: Likely Covered When it comes to coverage of water damage, the key indicators that an issue is likely covered are sudden and accidental. Coverage of water damage would fall under dwelling coverage (the structure of your home) or personal property coverage (your belongings). A deductible and coverage limits may apply to personal property coverage — review your policy or contact us with questions. Examples of water damage that are likely covered include:
Not Covered On the other hand, water damage caused by issues that are not sudden or accidental, such as delayed maintenance and neglect, will not be covered. And homeowners insurance only covers the damage caused, not the source of it. You’ll have to replace or repair pipes and appliances yourself. Examples of water damage that isn’t covered include:
“Act of God” is a commonly used insurance term, but you may not know exactly what it means. When it comes to weather and other unpreventable events, it’s important to understand acts of God so you can protect your property by making sure you have the right insurance coverage.
Keep reading to learn what an act of God is, the types of events that qualify and how it all factors into home and auto insurance policies. What does “act of God” mean? Simply put, an act of God (in property and car insurance policy terms) refers to events, such as extreme weather, that are out of your control. If it’s something you can’t prevent, it’s likely an act of God. What types of events qualify as an act of God? Examples of acts of God include windstorms, lightning strikes, hail storms, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. However, not every act of God is included in a standard insurance policy. You may need additional coverage. Does auto insurance cover acts of God? Car insurance will cover acts of God if you sign up for comprehensive coverage. This type of auto insurance covers natural disasters as well as other types of damage not caused by a collision. For example, if your car is vandalized or an animal runs out in front of you, comprehensive coverage can help you pay for repairs or a total loss. What about home insurance? A standard homeowners policy usually covers some acts of God. Flooding and earthquakes are two common exceptions. If you live in a flood zone or an area prone to earthquakes, you’ll need separate coverage for those natural disasters. Is an act of God the same as a force majeure? The two terms are similar; however, the term force majeure is more commonly used in business and construction contracts. It refers to unforeseeable circumstances that prevent a contract from being fulfilled. Have questions about your insurance coverage for acts of God? Just reach out, and we’ll be happy to help. Are you a home insurance expert or does the industry’s jargon leave you scratching your head?
Unfortunately, if you don’t understand everything that’s in your homeowners insurance policy, you could be vulnerable to expensive mistakes or unpleasant surprises later on. We’re here to help. Keep reading for our list of 10 important, uncommon and often misunderstood home insurance terms to know about. 1. Adjuster: The claims adjuster investigates your claim, collects evidence and determines how much to pay for the property damage or total loss. 2. Declarations Page: This is the front page of your homeowner’s insurance policy. A declarations page summarizes basic information about your policy such as the policyholder, the home covered, and your coverage and premium amounts. 3. Indemnification: The compensation for your homeowners insurance claim. 4. Loss of Use: Coverage that pays additional expenses when a policyholder has to move out of their residence while repairs are made as a result of damage caused by a covered loss. 5. Negligence: A failure to take reasonable care or otherwise prevent damage to your home and property. For example, you neglect to shovel the snow from your sidewalk and a neighbor injures themselves. Or, you don’t take a dead tree down and it falls on your property or your neighbor’s. 6. Occurrence: A single event or series of exposures that cause an injury or damage to your property. Examples include break-ins, fires, burst pipes and more. 7. Personal Umbrella Policy: An optional, additional liability coverage for your personal assets in the event of an accident on your property that exceeds the limits of your current homeowners coverage. 8. Replacement Cost: The actual cost of replacing your home and property in the event of damage or complete destruction. Replacement cost is different from the current market value of your home. 9. Scheduled Personal Property: If you have high-value personal property such as jewelry, artwork, antiques and more, this type of coverage can be added to your homeowners policy. 10. Subrogation: When someone else’s negligence leads to damage to your property (such as a neighbor’s tree falling on your roof), you can ask your insurer to settle the claim for you. Subrogation is the process of seeking payment recovery for you. Have questions about your homeowners insurance? Just reach out, and we’ll be happy to help. If your home is destroyed by a fire or other catastrophe, will you be able to rebuild it?
Learn what a reconstruction cost estimate is and how to calculate it for your home. What is a reconstruction cost estimate? Your reconstruction cost estimate (also known as your dwelling coverage limit) is part of your homeowner’s insurance policy. It refers to the cost of rebuilding your home and any attached structures as they were before a total loss. The most important thing to know about a reconstruction cost estimate is that it’s not the same as your house’s current market value. How is it calculated? The simplest way to determine your home’s reconstruction cost estimate is to look up the average per-foot rebuilding costs (labor and materials) where you live. Multiply that per-foot cost by the square footage of your home and any attached structures. Reconstruction Cost Estimate vs. Home Appraisal A home appraisal looks at the real estate market in your area and comparable properties to determine a sale price for your house based on its location, condition and other relevant factors. In contrast, a reconstruction cost estimate is solely about the price of labor and materials. If you had to build your home from the ground up, to resemble its current condition, what would it cost? It’s important to choose the right amount of dwelling coverage, or you could be left with out-of-pocket costs for the difference between your coverage limit and the actual reconstruction cost. What’s the difference between a reconstruction cost and a replacement cost? The replacement cost for your home refers only to the price of labor and materials. Reconstruction cost accounts for additional costs related to rebuilding such as demolition, debris removal, and more. Have questions about your dwelling coverage limit? Just reach out, and we’ll be happy to help. |
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