Homeowner Articles
Homeowners Associations and Fraud: What You Need to Know
If you live in a property with a private homeowners' association (HOA), like many condominium and co-operative buildings in the New York City area, homeowner association fraud is a real…
Mind the Gaps (in Your Homeowners Insurance Policy)
You may not have considered homeowner's insurance policy gaps. You own a home. You buy homeowners insurance. Simple, right? Not always. There are a number of situations a standard homeowner’s…
12 Tips to Avoid Kitchen Fires (and What to Do if One Occurs)
It isn’t just sharp knives and overindulgence in cooking wine that makes kitchens dangerous places. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking fires are the leading cause of…
NYS Bans Sale of Removable-Battery Smoke Detectors, Effective April 1, 2019
New York is moving to make removable-battery operated smoke detectors things of the past on April 1, 2019. Specifically, only smoke detectors with a sealed, 10-year battery can be sold…
Does Your Insurance Company Know Who Owns Your Property?
Your insurance company knows who owns your property. For example, As part of your estate or financial planning, you decide to transfer ownership of your property to a trust or…
Own a Smart Home? Be Smart About Security
Lights you can turn on remotely. A front door camera you can access while you’re at work. Smart thermostats, networked devices and conveniences that would have been unthinkable as recently…
Newest Inductees in Insurance Fraud Hall of Fame (or Shame)
Insurance fraud hurts everyone, even the policyholders (like you!) who are honest and ethical. When an insurance company pays claims that are unwarranted, the other policyholders wind up shouldering those…
How Much Homeowners Insurance Do I Need?
How much homeowners insurance should you get? If you say, “I paid this much for my house, so that’s how much insurance I need,” you should know that how the…
9 Ways to Protect Your Home from Winter Storms
Winter storms, bitter cold, ice and snow can cause serious damage to your home. We recommend these steps now to avoid expensive problems this winter. Keep your pipes warm. When…
Holiday Tips for Building Staff: Who and How Much
Your super, your doorman, the handyman who unstops your toilet, and the porter who carries your packages: how much should you tip them during the holidays? You don’t have to…