Brooklyn Homeowners Insurance

If you have a detached garage, a pool, a shed, or perhaps a fence, then you need to make sure that your Other Structures coverage is adequate to cover your exposure. Most companies will provide a limit equal to 10% of the Dwelling limit and others might default to 20%; however, this limit can be increased if needed.

Our favorite way to describe personal property is to consider the possibility of turning your home upside down — what falls when your house is turned upside down — that is your Personal Property or Contents. Based on what you have for contents in your home we help pair you with limits that meet your replacement cost needs. If you are a collector, then we want to know about that so we can make sure your insurance addresses this particular need. Everyone’s personal property is different — you may have the highest-end electronics or high-end clothing — let’s have that conversation so we can make sure your personal property coverage covers YOU.

The simple definition of Personal Property is Bodily Injury or Property Damage to other people. If someone is injured at your house, or you are sued for Personal Injury, homeowners insurance can kick in and provide you and your family with protection against litigation costs and out-of-pocket expenses related to the claim. Probably the most important aspect of Personal Liability coverage is the cost to defend you. When was the last time you checked to see how much an attorney charges per hour? If there is a covered liability claim, your homeowner’s insurance policy can step in and provide the legal costs to defend you and your family.

Perhaps the most underrated insurance coverage on the entire Homeowners Insurance policy. This coverage can reimburse you for the additional costs associated with living elsewhere should your home have a covered claim. An easy scenario to describe would be a fire in your home — you still have to pay your mortgage, your taxes, your insurance, your utilities, etc… however, you may need to now pick up the cost of a temporary apartment while your home is being repaired. The Loss of Use/Additional Living Expenses coverage can step in and reimburse you for these types of costs. It is hard enough having to deal with a fire, to have to bear the burden on additional living expenses on your own would make that situation even worse. When was the last time you reviewed your Loss of Use coverage?

This can provide coverage for those injured on your property whether by the structure itself, pets, or individuals on your property. No one wants to deal with it, but what happens if your brother-in-law slips on a rug and breaks his leg. Someone has to pay for it. While unusual today, since people tend to sue first, medical payment coverage can pay those medical bills without the need to go into litigation.

Homeowners insurance is here to protect your home and some of the contents from damage in case there is a fire, hurricane, lightning, and even vandalism.

Personal liability will be covered — up to a certain amount — if there is an accident on your property like a slip and fall.

Temporary lodging would also be covered — up to a certain amount — if there is a disaster that makes your home uninhabitable while repairs are made.

If you have other structures on your property like a fence, shed, detached garage, or pool a separate policy may be required to cover that outside of the homeowner’s insurance policy.

While homeowners insurance covers a lot of things, there are some exposures that insurance carriers cannot cover under regular homeowners insurance, or at all. In some of these instances, you can see additional policies to cover these exposures if they are offered.

Earthquakes and earth movements like landslides and sinkholes are not covered under homeowner’s insurance. Thankfully Brooklyn isn’t prone to earthquakes.

Floods are not covered under homeowners insurance. You can get supplemental flood insurance if you are at risk of flooding.

Maintenance Issues from things like mold or pest infestation are often not covered under homeowner insurance policies.

Sewer backup coverage is an additional coverage policy that many should consider in Brooklyn, but this is not included in homeowners insurance.