Brownstones are historical homes with unique features, such as antique fireplaces and exposed brick walls, so having the right insurance coverage is essential. Muller Insurance is an independent insurance agency that works with over 20 insurance companies in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and other states. Here, we discuss historic home insurance for brownstone homes in New York City.
What Is Historic Home Insurance?
Historic homes, like brownstones, have distinct architectural styles and classical features that require separate insurance coverage. Standard homeowners’ insurance policies often fail to provide enough coverage and protection for these historic homes. Comprehensive coverage is needed for these buildings to protect their history and ensure their architecture is preserved after a claim.
Brownstone owners have the option to pursue specialized historical home insurance policies or bundle various insurance types, such as homeowners’, liability, and property insurance. Adding enhancements, like ordinance or law coverage, can protect the homeowner from out-of-pocket expenses if upgrades are needed to meet current building codes. These policies collectively help ensure that historic homes, like NYC brownstones, are restored to their original conditions.
How Do I Know What Brownstone Insurance Covers?
While brownstone insurance offers robust protection for many aspects of historic homes, there are some exclusions that homeowners should be aware of. An insurance agent can walk you through the policy options and tell you what is covered or omitted. Common areas that are not covered by brownstone insurance include:
- Modern code upgrades: Imagine needing to repair your charming brownstone home, only to discover that bringing it up to current building codes isn’t covered by your policy. Those extra costs can surprise brownstone owners, so it’s essential to consider them before investing in the right insurance policy. You may need to make sure that you have ordinance and law coverage added to your coverage.
- Wear and tear: Your brownstone’s character comes with age, but routine maintenance issues like an aging roof or old plumbing aren’t covered. These aging features often need regular maintenance to bring them to safety code. Copper pipes are commonly found within historic homes and often need to be updated.
- Flood and earthquake damage: While your brownstone has many charming features, natural disasters like floods and earthquakes can cause significant damage. Unfortunately, standard policies typically exclude these events, so separate coverage is necessary.
- Personal property: Policies can protect the structure of your brownstone home, but historical items and furniture inside often require high-value item insurance to be covered if they are damaged.
- Service line coverage: Underground service lines, including water, sewer, gas, and electrical, are typically excluded from coverage. Damage to these lines is often not included in standard policies. However, some carriers do include damage to underground service lines, so make sure to check your policy thoroughly.
Understanding these exclusions helps you ensure your historic brownstone home is fully protected. It’s always a smart idea to chat with an insurance agent who specializes in historical properties, so you can tailor your coverage to your unique set of needs.
What Insurance Challenges Do I Need to Be Aware of as a Brownstone Owner?
Brownstone buildings are beloved for their unique features, like narrow staircases, high ceilings, and chimneys. However, brownstone owners have specific insurance considerations, including:
High Repair Costs
Brownstone homes often require specialized materials and labor for specific repairs, especially with their historical features. Insurance companies may be hesitant to cover the high costs of these repairs, making it difficult to find adequate coverage. If the policy is not designed for historic homes, the insurance company may become hesitant to cover the full cost, causing the homeowner to pay out of pocket for the rest of it.
Bringing a historic brownstone up to modern building codes can also be a complex and costly process. Many insurance policies don’t cover the additional expenses required to meet these code requirements. For example, if an outdated electrical system is found during a renovation, it needs to be updated to meet current building codes. Standard homeowners’ insurance policies won’t cover the additional expenses required for these upgrades. Luckily, Muller Insurance has the connections to help you find an appropriate policy.
Preservation Requirements
Historical societies in certain neighborhoods often have strict renovation guidelines to preserve the historical charm of brownstone buildings. Standard policies usually won’t cover such specialized renovations, limiting the options for repairs and increasing costs for the homeowner.
How Do I Find an Independent Insurance Agent for Brownstone Insurance?
When it comes to selecting the right brownstone insurance policy, homeowners must consider various factors. Finding a reliable agent is crucial in this process. As an independent agency, Muller Insurance offers a wide range of options for brownstone owners, providing access to policies from multiple carriers to help find the right plan. We have the flexibility to tailor your insurance policy for your brownstone home and can often find bundling opportunities to help save you money.
Muller Insurance collaborates with several providers to offer comprehensive coverage, including:
These policies cover everything from property insurance to plans that include upgrades. For example, Chubb Insurance offers a Masterpiece City Home insurance policy for owners with brownstones in New York City and areas of New Jersey.
Access Insurance Policies for Your NYC Brownstones
Searching for a comprehensive homeowner’s insurance policy for your brownstone? Muller Insurance has been serving residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and beyond for over 118 years, addressing the unique needs of homeowners and business owners alike and building a solid reputation in the process. Our goal is to help you find the coverage you need to feel secure in your home. To learn more about NYC brownstones and historic home insurance, contact us or request a free quote today.
