Before your lender will agree to let you borrow money to buy your home, you must agree to insure the home. And you must have this insurance lined up before you can close the deal.

Having homeowners insurance (also known as hazard insurance) is a requirement before a bank or mortgage company will allow you to obtain a mortgage or complete a home sale. This insurance is also designed to protect the homeowner from being forced to go into debt when an emergency occurs. The coverage puts a homeowner in the financial position to repair or rebuild the house.

Types of Homeowners Insurance

There are two types of homeowners insurance: cash-value coverage and replacement-cost coverage.

Cash-Value Coverage

Cash-value coverage will pay you back for the depreciated value of your home and your personal property should they be destroyed. While is it usually cheaper than replacement-cost coverage, it will likely not allow you to rebuild your home if disaster strikes. Mortgage companies also tend to require a replacement cost policy.

Replacement-Cost Coverage

Experts recommend a replacement-cost policy that insures your home for the total cost to rebuild it, regardless of its market value — which includes other factors such as your neighborhood, local school district, the land, the type of construction, current condition and home features.

By using your appraisal and comparing it to your insurance agent’s worksheet, you can estimate the replacement cost of your home and buy a policy that will guarantee that amount.

Policies differ in coverage and costs. It is imperative that you work with an independent agent like Lallis and Higgins Insurance to find the policy that fits your needs. In addition, you need to understand any exclusions or limitations within the policy you choose.

You may need to purchase extra coverage depending upon several factors:

• What perils are more likely in your area that you want to be protected against (flood and earthquake insurance, for instance, may need to be bought separately).
• The replacement value of your possessions (fine art or expensive jewelry might require higher premiums).
• Special insurance needs.

All homeowners insurance policies come with a deductible. This is the amount you will pay every time you file a claim with the insurance company. A higher deductible comes with a lower premium, and vice versa.

Other tips about insuring your house:

• Check out a prospective insurance company’s financial strength.
• Compare rates and coverage.
• Choose a higher deductible in order to lower your premiums.
• Decrease your risk to insurers by installing things like a security system, deadbolt locks and smoke detectors in your home. Keeping your credit score high also makes you a better risk with many insurance carriers.

For more information on homeowners insurance when buying or selling a home, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

debt.org

Ah, Valentine’s Day is near, and love is in the air. Well, love and a few other things, such as chocolates, romantic dinners, candy hearts that say “Be Mine” - and, of course, jewelry.

It’s exciting to receive jewelry from a loved one — or to give it as a gift. Not to mention romantic. But if you’re lucky enough to have some new jewelry in your Quincy or Weymouth, MA home this Valentine’s Day, you should take a few minutes to think about something you probably don’t find exciting or romantic: insurance.

Don’t know where to turn? Don’t worry. At Lallis & Higgins Insurance, we think it is exciting to help our customers protect what’s most important to them — so we’re ready to help and can answer all of your questions.

Things to consider when insuring jewelry:

You may need to purchase additional coverage. Your homeowners policy covers valuable items such as jewelry only up to set amounts. If the cost of replacing your jewelry exceeds that limit, you will want to purchase scheduled personal property coverage. You can check your policy or contact us.

You might want to reconsider your deductible amounts. As always, this impacts your policy premium. It’s a good idea to take a look at your deductibles whenever you make a change to your policy.

Do you need an appraisal? You may need to have an independent appraisal if the insurance company requires it or if you don’t know the value of your jewelry. Each item should be listed with a description and value on paper.

What kind of coverage is offered? You’ll want to determine if items are covered no matter where they are, whether they’re in Quincy, MA, or on an international trip, and if the policy offers full replacement cost. You also should ask if you will be required to replace your jewelry if lost or stolen, or if you can simply keep the cash settlement.

Pictures can be helpful. Lost or stolen pieces of jewelry sometimes can be recreated if the jeweler has a good photograph to work from.

Should I go with a company that specializes in jewelry insurance? There are companies that specialize in jewelry insurance. Whether you choose one of these, or a company that we represent, you’ll want to make sure they are reputable and stable.

Is the value of your jewelry mainly sentimental? Is an item irreplaceable? If the answer to either of these questions is “yes,” you might consider foregoing insurance. But please, contact us before making that decision. That’s what we’re here for.

Of course, it’s important to store your jewelry securely when it’s not in use; a safe in your home or a safe-deposit box is best. We want your jewelry to be replaced if it’s lost or stolen, but we’d rather your sentimental and valuable pieces stay with you and your family for years to come.

Are you looking for a something romantic to do on the South Shore this Valentine's Day? Here are a few ideas. 

Beatles concert - As part of South Shore Conservatory’s Concert Series, faculty at the conservatory will perform a concert titled “All You Need is Love” featuring popular songs by the Beatles. There will be one show at 4 p.m. Saturday at the conservatory’s Hingham campus, and a second at 4 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Duxbury campus. Both concerts are free. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit sscmusic.org.

Valentine Jazz - If jazz music is more your style, Marshfield’s Ventress Memorial Library will host a free concert by the Paul Speidel Jazz Duo at 2 p.m. Saturday. The concert will include popular romantic songs such as “Loverman” and “My Funny Valentine” on jazz guitar and acoustic bass. For more information, visit ventresslibrary.org.

Family events – If you don’t want to leave the kids at home, there are plenty of child-friendly Valentine’s Day events at local libraries. Kids at the Norwell Public Library will make Valentine garlands at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8. The Abington Public Library has a story time and craft event set for 3:30 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. Visit your town’s library website to see what your library may have to offer.

Here’s hoping your Valentine’s Day is full of fun and romance. And if there’s no jewelry involved, well, there’s always next year!

For further questions and assistance, please contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

Content provided by Safeco Insurance and The Patriot Ledger

The Patriots are in the Big Game again. Whether you’re hosting a small get-together or throwing a big bash, it’s important to protect yourself and your guests.

Sunday’s Game is synonymous with a Super Party. People invite their friends and family over for eating, and drinking and revelry. While the game has become a New England tradition, there are hidden liabilities that many hosts never consider.

Keeping your home and guests safe

The goal of a party is for everyone to have a good time. However, sometimes things can go wrong.

A simple accident where a priceless heirloom is broken, a guest may slip and fall, and occasionally you may encounter a misbehaved guest – this can quickly turn into an issue even among the best of friends.

If there is damage or injury, your home insurance may cover some scenarios. But it is important that you make your insurance agent aware of things such a pool, trampoline or other items that are considered high risk.

It is also wise to think ahead.

Make sure you do your best to clear and secure the area of any potential hazards, and let guests know that you may have a pool or other features at your home so they can prepare accordingly.

Limit party invitations to guests that you know, and let your neighbors know there is a party.

Make sure you have planned for parking to avoid the possibility of a guest damaging a neighbor’s property trying to squeeze into a tiny spot, or by illegally parking on somebody else’s property.

Social host liability

Things become more challenging when alcohol is served at the event. Whenever alcohol is involved, there is always a greater chance for something to go wrong.

The Big Game is truly a time to party. But homeowners should be aware of the risks associated with get-togethers that involve alcohol.

Here are a few tips to consider:

When serving alcohol, provide plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages for guests and encourage guests to have designated drivers.

Be a responsible host and limit your own alcohol intake so you are better able to judge your guests’ sobriety.

Stop serving alcohol well before the end of the party. Switch to non-alcoholic beverages such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and water.

Do not serve alcohol to guests who are visibly intoxicated and never serve alcohol to minors, he said. Oklahoma has strict social host laws when it comes to furbishing alcohol to minors.

If guests are intoxicated or too tired to drive home, arrange a ride with a sober guest, call alternative transportation, or arrange for overnight accommodations.

Understand your coverage

Your homeowners or renters insurance policy may not cover injuries or property damage caused by an intoxicated guest.

Familiarize yourself with social host liability laws in MA before hosting an event where alcohol will be served.

If you are planning a bigger event in the future, such as a wedding, the liability on homeowner’s insurance policy may cover it but it may be a good time to increase your liability limit or add additional coverage for extra protection specifically for the event.

The key is knowing what is covered in the first place. When in doubt, talk to your insurance agent.

For more information on homeowners and other personal lines of insurance, visit Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

NewsOK

It is that time of year again to vote for Lallis & Higgins Insurance for the best of wickedlocal.com. This year they are also giving away a $500 gift card. Deadline to vote is Wednesday February 14th.

Write in your choice of the BEST in your area for each of the categories. In order to be eligible, each vote must include the town where your choice is located.

Results will be published in a special section inserted into your newspaper the week of June 25th and will be available online at wickedlocalfavorites.com.

You must vote in at least 10 categories for your chance to win $500.

Ready to vote? Click here.

Lallis & Higgins Insurance thanks you very much for your support.

For six years in a row, the restaurant industry has reported significant sales and job creation growth—thanks in large part to restaurants experimenting with new ways to not only draw us to their tables, but also bring their tables to us.

Today’s restaurants are earning new sources of revenue by sending food trucks on the road or distinguishing their brands with novel cuisines, farm-to-table fare and craft cocktails. Many eateries are tech-savvy, offering diners a wide variety of consumer-facing technologies to order steak and fries online for home or office delivery, or to pick their own choices on a tablet located on the table at the establishment.

These days, bartenders are chemists, chefs are celebrities, restaurant interiors are featured in design magazines and feasting is a sociocultural event.

Dining is as much about the experience as it is about the food. Average food is dead. Fine dining experiences and quality casual dining are excelling. It’s not so much about price as it is quality and food experiences.

More, More, More

These innovative and evolving iterations of what it means to be a restaurant in the 21st century have coalesced to create boom times for the industry, with revenues on track to rise 3.8% in 2015 to $709.2 billion, according to the National Restaurant Association. The industry is also a major job creator, currently employing 14 million Americans—a figure expected to rise to 15.7 million by 2025. Every U.S. state will see their restaurant industry workforce expand over the next decade.

What’s driving the industry’s spectacular growth?

According to the National Restaurant Association, “consumers continue to have substantial pent-up demand for restaurant services.” A recent survey from the association indicates that 38% of consumers would like to eat more often at restaurants, and 41% would like to purchase more takeout or delivery. Few people seem interested anymore in a home-cooked meal.

From an independent insurance agency standpoint, these factors make restaurants ripe for specialization. Agents are able to provide a broad set of insurance products and address the complex exposures of the industry, this makes them excellent at providing value.

With workers compensation prices rising, that’s a sore spot for many restaurant owners. Independent insurance agents can cut down on this pain point.

These businesses need someone who really understands their risks, particularly as their exposures become more complex.

An independent insurance agent who really knows the restaurant business and its myriad exposures has an ability to identify the right carriers to piece together an optimum insurance program. It’s all about having a relationship with the customer, which leads back to specialization. We will always value an agent that understands the nuances that go into a particular class of business.

For more details on unique restaurant coverages, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

iamagazine.com

Clients often think they don’t need renters insurance — “Nothing I have is worth that much,” they’ll say, or “I don’t have a lot of stuff.”

That’s how most people think of renter’s coverage: protection for stuff, and nothing more. After all, it’s inexpensive and it doesn’t even cover the structure itself. So how important can it be, especially if you don’t think you have anything valuable to protect?

Plenty important, because you have more to protect than you realize. You just have to stop thinking only about “stuff.”

Here are three key financial protections a renters policy provides:

Loss of use coverage. What would you do if a fire or other issue forced you out of your home? You’d have to find a temporary place to stay, maybe even for months — which might cost you more than your normal rent. Loss of use helps cover that and other additional expenses.

Personal liability protection. If someone trips and injures themselves in your unit, they could sue you. If your dog bites one of your guests, they might file suit, too. Yes, lawsuits happen — even among friends. Renters insurance can help cover legal expenses and even judgments against you. (Some dog breeds may disqualify you from coverage, so be sure to inform your agent of all dogs in the household.)

Personal property coverage. Wait, doesn’t this mean your stuff? Well, yes. But really, this coverage protects your finances. Even if you don’t think you have anything valuable, take a minute and mentally add up everything you own (note that if you do have any high-value items, such as jewelry or heirlooms, you may need additional coverage). Now imagine how much it would cost to replace it all. It’s probably a higher number than you thought — and that’s why renters insurance is so important.

For more information on renter's insurance, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.

PREPARE FOR A POWER OUTAGE

Heavy snow and high winds are a recipe for widespread power outages. It’s important to prepare a plan now before a possible outage.

PREVENT ROOF COLLAPSE

If heavy snow begins to accumulate on your roof, remove the snow with a snow rake and a long extension arm that will allow you to remove the snow while standing safely on the ground.

STAY SAFE AND WARM

Inspect your source of heat for any damage which can cause a fire and result in costly property damage. Also, remove combustible items placed near a heat source.

PREVENT FROZEN PIPES

Prevent costly water damage caused by frozen pipes by:

• providing a reliable back-up power source to ensure continuous power to the building;
• insulating all attic penetrations;
• ensuring proper seals on all doors and windows; and
• sealing all cracks and openings in exterior walls.

KNOW YOUR WINTER WEATHER ALERTS

When severe winter weather is on its way, it’s important you know and understand what each alert means so you can respond accordingly.

Read the whole article and find winter weather resources here: disastersafety.org

The coldest temperatures so far this season are expected in New England over the next few days. With the mercury dipping into the teens and even single digits, you should take note of the increased risk for frozen pipes.

While there are long term measures you can take to prevent frozen pipes in your home, like having proper insulation and sealing any cracks or gaps in your siding or foundation, there are a few small, but helpful, things you should do during extreme cold spells.

In preparation for this week's freeze:

• Keep your thermostat set to a warmer temperature than usual
• Consider opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to let warm air circulate

If you suspect a frozen pipe in your home, shut off the main water supply and call a licensed plumber right away. We recommend you avoid thawing a frozen pipe yourself - improper technique could cause the pipe to burst, leading to costly damages to your home.

For more information on protecting your home, contact Lallis and Higgins Insurance.

Happy New Year from Lallis and Higgins Insurance. We would like to thank our clients, friends, family, and community for allowing our business to be part of your lives in 2017. We wish all of you a wonderful and prosperous 2018!

If we have had the pleasure of being your choice for insurance, we hope that we provided the highest level of customer service, client care, and met all of your needs. In the coming months if you find yourself in need of the services we offer, we hope you come see us again in 2018.

It is our sincere wish that in the New Year you are surrounded by warmth, family, and friendship and that 2018 brings you good health and prosperity. From all of us here at Lallis and Higgins Insurance we hope you have a safe and exciting New Year.

“We all come home, or ought to come home, for a short holiday – the longer, the better…” ~ Charles Dickens

You’re getting ready to head out of town for the holidays and you’re excited for your trip but there’s more to do than just pack your bags. To make the most of your vacation and be worry-free, there are certain things you can do to prep your home so you won’t come back to any surprises.

Here’s a pre-vacation home checklist to follow before you leave on a long vacation and enjoy your trip!

Stop the mail and hold newspapers. If you’re going to be gone for more than a week, be sure to put a stop on the mail and newspapers. If you don’t have enough time to do this, ask a neighbor to take in the mail for you while you’re away.

Put your lights on a timer. Put at least one light in your house on a timer so it looks like someone is home. Look for programmable timers so you can randomize the daily on/off times.

Move your car. Move your car into your garage if you have one. That way, it’s out of harm’s way in case a storm hits while you’re gone and less vulnerable to theft.

Set your heating system. Don’t completely turn off your heating system. If you’re going away in the winter, be sure to set your heat to around 55 degrees to prevent frozen pipes.

Unplug small appliances and electronic devices to save power.

Turn off the water. If you’re going to be gone for a week or more, turn off the water to your house. If you don’t want to turn off all the water, then turn off the water supply (if easily accessible) to your to washing machine, dishwasher, ice-maker and toilets to prevent potential leaks.

Empty the trash. Take out the trash before you leave so you don’t come home to ants, flies and a horrible smell.

Discard perishables. Clean out the fridge before you leave so produce doesn’t go bad or start smelling while you’re gone.

Adjust your shades. You don’t want your empty home on display, but you don’t want to shut your shades if you never do that. Partially closed is a happy medium — it helps to block the view and gives your home an “in-use” appearance.

Make sure your windows are locked. Windows can be left unlocked — it happens. Maybe you just plain forgot after you had to air out the house from burning the breakfast bacon. An unlocked window is a perfect opportunity for a burglar to sidle on in.

Are any bills due while you’re away? Sewer, electric, gas, mortgage, car payment … the list could go on and on. You don’t want to ding your credit by missing a payment.

Notify your home alarm company (if you have one). Let them know that you’ll be away and when you’ll be returning and if anyone will be going into your home. This information will be helpful if they need to respond to an alarm.

Arrange for lawn maintenance/snow removal. This is just one more thing to make it look like someone is at home. A snowy driveway or an overgrown lawn is a telltale sign you’re not home. Try contacting a local service, or enlist your neighbor’s help.

Water your plants. You don’t want them to go thirsty while you’re away! Also get rid of any fresh flowers — they might not make it while you’re gone and could start to smell.

Check your oven and stove. The whole point of vacations is to relax. You don’t want anything gnawing at you if you’re trying to decompress on a beach.

Clean up your kitchen. Get all of those dirty dishes washed, clean out your sink trap and hit your garbage disposal with some vinegar to prevent any yucky smells from brewing while you’re away.

Take care of trash day. Ask a neighbor or friend to take your cans to the curb and bring them promptly. Again, the goal is to make it look like someone’s home.

While you’re getting your house ready for vacation, don’t forget about preparing your car if you’ll be driving to your destination.

For more information on protecting your home, contact Lallis and Higgins Insurance.

Plymouth Rock