When the remnants of Hurricane Ida struck the Northeast, many property owners discovered that their homeowners’ insurance excluded damage caused by floodwaters. Both coastal flooding—overflow of inland or tidal waters—and flash flooding—rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters—require special flood…
Your breaker panel is supposed to keep your home safe by guarding against serious electrical problems, such as: Circuit overloads Short circuits Outside power surges But sometimes your breaker panel itself is the danger. According to experts, more than 2,800…
Do you know the financial rating of your insurance company? We recently had representatives of a New York City co-op approach us because someone in the building wanted to finance the unit. However, the resident was unable to secure financing…
Rain, snow and ice can be lovely to watch when they’re outside your home. But when the water comes inside? Not so much. Water damage is one of the most common homeowners’ insurance claims, second only to wind and hail…
From summer thunderstorms to tropical storms and hurricanes, Mother Nature has a way of keeping us on our toes—indoors and hoping the power stays on. Trees often provide the most visible indicator of a storm’s intensity, both during the event…
Once you've found the right commercial property coverage for your residential building, the final item you should consider is an umbrella policy, sometimes known as an excess liability policy. This type of insurance policy provides additional protection in the event…
Congratulations! You’ve paid off your mortgage. Your mortgage payment probably included extra funds for property taxes and insurance. Of course, you’ll still have to pay taxes. But now that you don’t have a lender requiring insurance, can you drop your…
The Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) responds to more than 2,000 structural fires (those that occur in buildings) each month. Hopefully, you’ll never be involved in such an incident, but fire safety knowledge can help you be better…
While finishing a basement can expand a home’s living space, this home improvement project carries additional considerations in the five boroughs. Other blog posts address New York City requirements for basement rentals. This article looks at general restrictions and uses for…
While New York City maintains its water and sewage system, homeowners are responsible for the lines that run from the exterior of their property to the service lines in the street. Standard homeowners’ insurance policies exclude such repairs, which can…