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Contributing Site Editors and Credits
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Content for HomeSnap.com™ is provided by the following resources and editors
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Home Buying
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Buyer's Network™
New England's oldest exclusive buyer agency
real estate association. |
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Home Selling
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HomeSnap.com™
Information and resources that
empower Massachusetts real estate consumers. |
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Legal
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 Frank
Bridges, Esq.
Lawson and Weitzen, LLP
Mr. Bridges is a graduate of Trinity
College in Hartford, Connecticut (B.A., Philosophy, 1969, Pi Gamma Mu
Honors Society), and The Law School of the University of Pennsylvania
(J.D., 1972). He is a member of the Bar of Massachusetts (1972), the
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (1973) and
the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.(1982). He is a
member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys.(1999 The
Esperti Peterson Institute. (2000) The Esperti Peterson Institute is the
acknowledged Global Center for Wealth Strategies Planning and advanced
estate planning. Mr. Bridges has practiced law continually in
Massachusetts since 1972. He specializes in estate planning for
individuals and their families, including estates, gifts, trusts, probate
and business succession planning.*
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Mortgage Resources
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Loansnap.com™
Massachusetts Mortgages.
Fast.
Local. Online. |
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Financial Advisors
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 Williams
Financial
Donald J. Williams specializes in planning strategies for business owners and professionals.
Mr. Williams helps his business Clients in the areas of business succession, employee retention and other tax advantaged planning.
He works with individuals in regards to estate planning, retirement and risk management.
Mr. Williams also specializes in working with businesses and families where dual citizenship issues exist.
Joe is the Principal of Williams Financial, a financial services firm located in
Brighton, MA. He is a Registered Representative of Park Avenue Securities,
and a licensed Life and Health Insurance Agent. Mr. Williams has a diploma in Financial Planning from Boston University's Program for Financial Planners.*
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Home Inspection
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 Home Inspections
By James Robinson
Home Inspections are becoming more and more popular throughout the nation. As a result, in many states home inspectors are now recognized as professionals and are regulated by their state, similar to doctors, attorneys, and plumbers. The purpose of the home inspection is to inspect the home as a system and provide the client with a better understanding of the property's condition as observed at time of inspection.
A home inspection is a visual examination of the physical structure and major interior systems of a residential building consisting of one to four dwelling units. A home inspection can be compared to a physical exam by a physician; however, it should be clearly understood that a home inspection is not to be confused with an appraisal, a building code inspection, a guarantee of any kind, and/or an insurance policy on the condition of the property.
During the inspection, the inspector will review the readily assessable exposed portions of the structure of the home, including the roof, the attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, basement, and foundation as well as the heading/air conditioning systems, interior plumbing and electrical systems for potential problems.
A home inspector is typically hired by a potential home buyer while contracting to purchase a house. The purchase should be contingent on the findings of the home inspector. A home owner/seller can greatly benefit by having a home inspection and disclosing the findings to potential buyers. Homes sell quicker and closer to the asking price when a seller's inspection is performed.
It is highly recommended that you follow your inspector during the home inspection to listen, learn, and ask questions. A home inspection should be educational and enlightening. Just learning how to maintain and operate the systems in your potential new home makes the experience invaluable.
A through written report should be provided as a result of a professional home inspection. If you have any questions or would like further information regarding the home inspection profession contact; THE BUILDING INSPECTOR OF AMERICA at 1-800-626-4408. Visit our website at www.buildinginspectors.net.
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Moving & Storage
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Best Relocation, Inc.
Best Relocation Inc. was established in June
of 1990 under the name of Best Price Moving and Storage Company Inc. Ann and
Oz Rabinovitz founded the company. Ann has a marketing degree from the
University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Oz was a highly experienced employee
with the largest moving company in New York. From the beginning, the goals
of Best Relocation Inc. were to build a company that would answer the
client's needs and make the moving process easier. Best Relocation Inc.
stood out from its competitors by providing professional services at
reasonable prices. Since 1990, Best Relocation Inc. has increased the number
of customers it serves. The key to success is instructing employees to be as
helpful as possible and listen to the client's needs. These philosophies
have been consistent in the training of both office employees and movers.
Throughout its growth, Best Relocation Inc. has maintained its identity as a
customer-oriented moving company. Ann & Oz Rabinovitz have always taken
pride in being personally involved in all aspects of the moving process.* |
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Insurance
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 Homeowners Insurance
By Joe Harrington, Markham-Priest Insurance
Your home is one of your biggest investments. It is important to protect your home with the best insurance coverage that suits your needs. Your agent can help you to buy the correct amount of coverage and can suggest important coverage enhancements to provide protection that is right for you. If you buy an insurance policy simply based on price, you may not have enough coverage when it’s time to make a claim.
Mortgage lenders typically require you to purchase homeowners insurance when you close on a property. The reason is that mortgage companies are typically lending the larger amount of your total purchase money needed to finance your home. Without requiring an insurance policy to protect the investment, a mortgage company could find themselves without the necessary collateral in case of a fire or other disaster. Below is a list of recommended optional coverage.
Guaranteed Dwelling Replacement Cost Endorsement
Your lender may request that you add the guaranteed dwelling replacement cost endorsement to your policy. This endorsement provides additional protection to the dwelling limit on your policy. If your house is insured for $200,000 and is completely destroyed, your policy will pay up to $200,000 plus an additional 25% or $50,000 to rebuild the house if necessary. Without the endorsement, the policy will pay only $200,000 even if the rebuilding costs are higher. In order to qualify for this endorsement, you need to buy an amount of dwelling coverage equal to 100% of the replacement cost.
Personal Property Replacement Cost Endorsement
Your homeowners policy provides coverage for your personal property such as furniture, clothes, appliances etc. Another important policy endorsement to add is replacement cost coverage for your personal property. A standard homeowners policy will provide coverage on an “actual cash value” basis. If a five-year-old television is stolen from your home, a policy providing actual cash value coverage will pay the claim minus 5 years of depreciation. If you have the personal property replacement cost endorsement, the five-year-old stolen television will be replaced with a new television similar to the old one without deduction for depreciation.
All Risk Type Coverage For Your Personal Property
A standard homeowners policy provides coverage for your personal property on a named peril or named risk basis. A named-perils policy covers only those losses specifically listed in your homeowners policy.
The all-risk type policy pr special form works the opposite way -- unless a peril is specifically excluded, coverage is provided. This policy is broader and this means that your personal property is covered in most situations, regardless of the cause of loss. Ask your agent about specific exclusions that apply.
Valuable Items Plus Endorsement
A standard homeowners policy provides limited coverage for items such as jewelry, money, silverware, fine arts, furs, cameras, firearms, musical instruments and home computers. For example, a diamond ring may be covered for theft at a limit of only $1,000. If you were to misplace your diamond ring or lose the diamond from the setting, your policy will not provide coverage. A valuable items endorsement will provide coverage on the value of your ring on an all-risk basis and without a deductible.
The key to getting the best homeowners insurance protection is to ask you agent questions about how to modify a standard “off the shelf” policy so that it will provide coverage designed for your specific needs.
This article was furnished by Markham-Priest Insurance. HomeSnap.com, Inc. does not warranty the content or accuracy of this article. For more information contact Markham-Priest Insurance at 1-800-971-0800 or www.insuranceinmass.com.
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Consumer Protection
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Massachusetts
Board of Registration of Registration of Real Estate Brokers &
Salespersons
Commonwealth
of Massachusetts Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
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* The resume,
biographical information, and description of services has been provided
expressly by the editor.
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