Buying or owning a home in Staten Island or South Brooklyn isn’t just about location or aesthetics, it’s about protection. One question many homeowners gloss over is: What exactly does my homeowner’s insurance policy cover and what is excluded? Understanding the answer can save you from unpleasant surprises when you file a claim.
What Standard Homeowner’s Insurance Covers in New York
In New York, standard homeowners policies typically include a package of coverages: property damage to the dwelling and other structures, personal property (your stuff), liability protection and additional living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable. Department of Financial Services+2Lemonade+2 Coverages common in NYC include:
Dwelling coverage (the walls, roof, foundation and built-ins) Progressive+1
Personal property coverage (furniture, electronics, clothing) Lemonade+1
Liability coverage (if someone is injured on your property) and medical payments to others. libertymutual.com
Additional living expenses if you need to live elsewhere while your home is repaired. Lemonade+1
What Many Policies Do Not Cover And Why It Matters Locally
Notably, standard policies in NYC do not cover flooding, including water that seeps in from the ground or via sewer backup. City Realty+1 Other common exclusions or gaps: wear-and-tear, neglected maintenance, earthquakes, and sometimes backup of septic/sewer systems. Because Staten Island and South Brooklyn homes often face high rainfall, coastal risk, older plumbing or sewer systems, assuming everything is covered is dangerous.
If you’re buying a home here, it’s smart to ask:
Do I need separate flood insurance (via FEMA or private market)?
Does the policy cover sewer or sump pump backup?
Is my replacement cost tied to an outdated value or is it under-insured? For example, homeowners policies in NYC may require dwelling coverage equal to the full replacement value. Investopedia+1
What This Means for Staten Island & South Brooklyn Homeowners
Working with me means we review your insurance as part of the deal, not after. I’ll help check:
Are you adequately insured based on your home’s current rebuild cost?
Are you in a flood-prone zone (or basement risk) and need separate flood or backup coverage?
Does the policy include appropriate personal property and liability limits for your neighborhood value?
Because older homes, legacy plumbing, basements, and local weather patterns (coastal surges, heavy rain) all raise risk here, assuming a one-size-fits-all policy is enough can leave you exposed.
Bottom line: You want to buy a home you love, but you also want to own it with confidence. Knowing what your insurance covers and what it doesn’t - is a key part of that confidence.
—
Joseph Ranola | Five-Star Staten Island & South Brooklyn Realtor® (30 + Google reviews)
Associate Broker · Matias Real Estate | Founder · Bridge & Boro Team
Serving 103xx and 11209 / 11214 / 11228 | $25 M + closed volume
📞 917-716-1496 | RanolaRealEstate.com
