Umbrella Coverage


I’m about to purchase a 3-unit townhouse and just started looking into insurance needs.
I was looking at umbrella policies and saw offerings of commercial umbrella coverage. Is this different from a personal umbrella policy? I will be living in one of the units, and I want to make sure I am properly covered.

In addition to home and umbrella coverages, I have a car (currently with geico) and would switch coverage if I can get good discounts for having all 3 with the same company. Is it generally better to keep everything under one insurance company in Brooklyn?

Thanks

Categories: Insurance
By bkln2010 | 04/25/2011 10:45 AM | Comment

PLP Pros and Cons


Hi, I’m going to be rewiring my newly-bought 3-family house and currently have 3 electric meters. I plan to live in one of the units, but may move out eventually and rent out all 3 units. What are the pros and cons of adding an additional meter for the common areas? If I don’t add it, will my unit be charged as non-residential? Is there an additional cost to having a PLP meter, given that I do intend to live here for a while. Or should I wiring the common areas into my unit, but make it easy to separate and add the PLP later.
-Thanks

Categories: Electricians
By bkln2010 | 04/21/2011 4:00 PM | Comment

2BR configurations


I have a 20′ wide townhouse that currently has the large dining room in the back with the kitchen adjacent. I was thinking to move the kitchen and make both of these rooms into bedrooms. But the separating load-bearing wall only leaves about 6.5′ in the smaller room. It doesn’t seem very ideal. This seems like a typical problem for houses this size. What are some possible solutions to get 2 decent sized bedrooms? Is moving the load bear wall worth the effort?

Thanks in advance for any responses!

Categories: Configuration
By bkln2010 | 04/17/2011 6:51 PM | Comment

Things to do while waiting for CofO


I’m trying to understand the sequence of events when changing the CofO. I’m looking at buying a 2-family and making it a 3(or 4) family. It sounds like the approval could take upwards of a year. What can be done before getting approval? Rent the 2 units just until the approval? Renovate as much as possible and then let it sit vacant?
How do people usually handle the long wait?

Thanks

Categories: C of O
By bkln2010 | 04/04/2011 11:11 AM | Comment

Extension and Floor Remodel


I’m in the process of closing on a brownstone in Bay Ridge. There is an existing one floor extension that I want to extend and make 2 floors. The FAR allows for another 500 sqft. Also I want to see about converting from a 2-family to 3-family. What is the process? Do I need an architect or an engineer?
Thanks

Categories: Architects
By bkln2010 | 03/30/2011 11:50 PM | Comment