Homeowners

Whether you're looking for homeowners insurance or renters insurance, Briggs can help you find a policy that fits your priorities and your budget. When you’re sure you have the coverage you need to help protect you and your family, your home and personal belongings, you can focus on the rest of your life knowing you’re protected. Getting a home insurance quote today is quick and easy.

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From our agents

“Wind deductibles seem to be a topic that is often asked about and rightfully so. Here in MA, properties close to the ocean can often be subject to high wind deductible requirements. There isn’t always a policy that doesn’t require one, but we recognize that high wind deductibles are often not wanted. This is something that we look out for when shopping our options; the price may look low but always be sure to check the deductible.”

*It is important to check your entire policy

“Bundling insurance is something that I think a lot of people have heard of but maybe don’t practice. I’m not saying it’s always the best route but under the right circumstances it usually is. For example, most of the companies that offer bundle discounts want a home and auto policy to be bundled for example. Perhaps the home and auto are on the Cape; well the company might only want to write the home and not the auto. But, if you were in, for example, western Plymouth, I’d be willing to bet that bundling your home and auto would be beneficial when compared to insuring them with separate companies.”

What does a homeowners policy cover?

Homeowners insurance policies usually cover your dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, personal liability, and medical payments. For more information on these coverages see the next drop-down “Coverages A-F”. Coverage amounts like the replacement cost of your dwelling are often calculated by carriers using sophisticated computerized tools. Although quotes utilize these numbers it is ultimately up to you, the insured, to choose the right coverages to protect you and your assets.

Policy modifications called endorsements can usually be added to a homeowners insurance policy. These endorsements can add, remove, and/or modify the coverage your policy offers. An example: earth movement (earthquake) is often excluded on the homeowners insurance policy but sometimes for a premium the exclusion can be removed.

Use the below button to request a Briggs agent review your current policy and investigate competitive alternatives.

FAQs

Base Coverages

The MA homeowners insurance policy consists of 6 base coverages labeled A-F. These coverages consist of dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use, personal liability, and medical payments.

Mass.gov has some great resources with more information regarding coverages.

  • A homeowners insurance policy usually covers the dwelling on the residence premises¹ shown in the declarations², including structures attached to the dwelling; and materials and supplies located on or next to the residence premises used to construct, alter or repair the dwelling or other structures on the residence premises.

    You should consider a dwelling limit that is high enough to help you rebuild your home at today’s labor and material costs in the event of a total loss. This cost may be very different from the market value of your home, for example a home that may sell for $300,000 may actually cost $600,000 to replace.

    • ¹ The dwelling in which you reside and other structures and grounds at the listed location.

    • ² Declarations a summary of the information essential to your insurance coverage.

  • Covers other structures on the residence premises¹ set apart from the dwelling by clear space. This often includes structures connected to the dwelling by only a fence, utility line, or similar connection.

    Other structures rented or held for rental to any person not a tenant of the dwelling, from which any business² is conducted, and/or used to store "business" property are often not covered.

    • ¹ The dwelling in which you reside and other structures and grounds at the listed location.

    • ² A trade, profession or occupation engaged in on a full-time, part-time or occasional basis or any other activity engaged in for money or other compensation.

  • Covers personal property owned or used by an insured¹ while it is anywhere in the world. After a loss and at your request, we will cover personal property owned by:

    a. Others while the property is on the part of the residence premises² occupied by an insured; or

    b. A guest or a residence employee³ while the property is in any residence occupied by an "insured".

    • ¹ You and residents of your household who are your relatives or other persons under the age of 21 and in the care of any person named above.

    • ² The dwelling in which you reside and other structures and grounds at the listed location.

    • ³ An employee of an insured, or an employee leased to an insured by a labor leasing firm, under an agreement between an insured and the labor leasing firm, whose duties are related to the maintenance or use of the residence premises, including household or domestic services or one who performs similar duties elsewhere not related to the business of an insured.

  • If a covered loss makes the residence premises¹ where you reside not fit to live in, we cover any necessary increase in living expenses incurred by you so that your household can maintain its normal standard of living.

    Payment is usually for the shortest time required to repair or replace the damage or, if you permanently relocate, the shortest time required for your household to settle elsewhere.

    • ¹ The dwelling in which you reside and other structures and grounds at the listed location.

  • If a claim is made or a suit is brought against an insured¹ for damages because of bodily injury² or property damage³ caused by an occurrence⁴ to which this coverage applies, the insurance company may: 1) pay up to the limit of liability for the damages for which an insured is legally liable. Damages may include prejudgment interest awarded against an insured; and 2) may provide a defense at the insurance company’s expense by counsel of our choice, even if the suit is groundless, false or fraudulent. The insurance company may investigate and settle any claim or suit that we decide is appropriate. The insurance company’s duty to settle or defend usually ends when their limit of liability for the occurrence has been exhausted by payment of a judgment or settlement.

    • ¹ You and residents of your household who are your relatives or other persons under the age of 21 and in the care of any person named above.

    • ² Bodily harm, sickness or disease, including required care, loss of services and death that results.

    • ³ Physical injury to, destruction of, or loss of use of tangible property.

    • ⁴ An accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions, which results, during the policy period, in: a. "Bodily injury"; or b. "Property damage".

  • Policies usually pay the necessary medical expenses that are incurred or medically ascertained within three years from the date of an accident causing bodily injury¹. Medical expenses usually means reasonable charges for medical, surgical, x-ray, dental, ambulance, hospital, professional nursing, prosthetic devices and funeral services. This coverage does usually not apply to you or regular residents of your household. As to others, this coverage usually applies to other specified people.

    • ¹ Bodily harm, sickness or disease, including required care, loss of services and death that results.

Most MA home insurance policies offer options to increase and/or expand coverage. These changes, otherwise known as endorsements, are usually fairly inexpensive to add to policies. The following are a few common endorsements our insureds request.

Additional Coverages

  • Traditionally provides coverage for damage resulting from water which backs up through sewers or drains or which overflows from a sump pump, even if the sump pump fails. Coverage often includes damage to covered property but excludes coverage for the sump pump.

  • Extends your dwelling coverage by a percentage of the cost to rebuild your home.

    For example; you purchase Additional Increase in Coverage A (25%) and our home is insured for $500,000. This endorsement increases your total amount of insurance to $625,000, 25% ($125,000) above your $500,000 in coverage.

    In the event that the coverage amount you insured your home for is insufficient maybe because of increased cost of construction increases, this endorsement becomes very useful.

  • Traditionally covers things such as: Libel and/or slander, false arrest, detention or imprisonment, malicious prosecution, wrongful eviction or wrongful entry, and associated legal costs.

    With social media more prevalent than ever and communications able to be sent instantly around the world, with the click or tap of a button a slanderous statement can accidentally be made more easily than ever before.

Looking for more information?

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Email: contact@briggsagent.com

Phone: 508-758-6929