Property insurance in New York will replace both your home and belongings. It also includes liability insurance against injuries or property damage caused by family members or household pets. Temporary living expenses incurred while living away from home due to a natural disaster can also be covered by property insurance.

Property insurance in New York provides protection against fire, hurricanes, hail and lightning in addition to other natural disasters that are specified in the policy. However, you will need a separate policy for earthquakes and floods, which are normally not covered by a standard home insurance policy. Property insurance companies in New York will not cover losses caused by poor maintenance.

There are three key points that will affect the cost of property insurance in NY:

1. The location of the property may require additional home insurance. New York properties should also be protected against ice, sleet and snow.
2. Effective loss-control measures can control the premium for New York property insurance coverage. This most commonly refers to an alarm system.
3. Home insurance should allow you to replace detached structures in addition to rebuilding your house. These structures are typically covered up to a fixed percentage of the value of the house.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Collect quotes for a variety of New York homeowners insurance

Obtaining multiple quotes from different sources can be an effective method of identifying the general terms of these policies and the premiums you can expect to pay.

I recommend: Most Choice specializes in property insurance and allows you to search for quotes by zip code. Complete the form at Insure.com for home insurance quotes.

Find NY property insurance brokers who represent major carriers

Locate a NY property insurance company through an agency. The agency represents a major carrier in the state and can make a recommendation based on the specific needs of your situation.

I recommend: Go to Allstate and search for a list of agents in a given location. This web site also allows specific agents to be searched for by name. Nationwide has agents throughout the country and has an agent search capability by name or location.

Get a New York homeowner insurance policy from a local agent

Contact property insurance companies in NY rather than dealing with different national insurers. Often, a local agent can write a more customized plan for you. This method allows you greater flexibility and control over your home insurance needs.

I recommend: Utica First Insurance specializes in homeowner and small business insurance for New York as well as Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Mazzeo Agency provides all types of insurance in both New York and New Jersey.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  New York property insurance will cover the contents of your house up to a specified percentage of the value of your home. You should conduct a home inventory to determine if replacement cost for the contents of your home exceeds this value. If you have a substantial amount of number of belongings outside of your home, you should consider off-premises coverage