ana's Profile
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September 4, 2008
brownstone insurance wants me to remove my flowers!
has this happened to anyone else??
I have three small flower pots on my brownstone steps like evryone else in my neighborhood, in fact I have less than most.
I just got a letter from brownstone saying they just surveyed the exterior of my house and found them in violation. I must remove them by tomorrow. I've been a customer of there's for 6 years. Not a huge deal of course, but this really pisses my off.
Author's Comments
NOT a joke, seriously I am supposed to write a letter informing them of my compliance.
Posted by: ana at September 5, 2008 9:00 AM in response to brownstone insurance wants me to remove my flowers!
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
Did they specify the nature of the violation? If not, ask them. From what you wrote, one can only assume Brownstone perceives the flowerpots as having potential to contribute to trip-and-fall. Ask them to specify their concern, and what change can be made to address it while retaining the flowerpots.
Posted by: vinca at September 5, 2008 9:51 AM in response to brownstone insurance wants me to remove my flowers!
I received a similar letter from Brownstone with a photo of my stoop. I removed the pots and hung some plants on the outer side of the railing ascending the steps. Looks great!
Posted by: timber at September 5, 2008 11:42 AM in response to brownstone insurance wants me to remove my flowers!
I am, actually, quite surprised that there've been no rants about this being your private property and you should be able to do what you want with it. But I seem to remember such posts being mostly against dreaded tenants wanting to do something evil. I guess it's different when it's an insurance company calling the shots?
On this issue, I'd feel strongly. I know what I would tell 'em and where to go with such a request. There's more than one insurance company around, and I know not to use Brownstone.
Posted by: cmu at September 5, 2008 1:10 PM in response to brownstone insurance wants me to remove my flowers!
Its a simple cyoa liability issue. Do not remove the flower pots and iof someone has a slip & fall claim in front of your house, the insurance company will deny your claim and sight their letter to you as the basis of the denial.
Posted by: newsouthsloper at September 5, 2008 1:48 PM in response to brownstone insurance wants me to remove my flowers!
I am assuming that these three pots are at the sides of the typical 6-7' wide brownstone stairs.
Are you saying that someone can bang into them and sue you? I guess I don't go through life worrying about such eventualities. Just casually looking at my block, about half the houses have pots or other stuff. Are they all at risk?
And if the insurance company sights their letter, just proves they have a good filing system. (joke)
Posted by: cmu at September 5, 2008 2:18 PM in response to brownstone insurance wants me to remove my flowers!
So anyone have any recs for alternaative insurance companies? I would really appreciate a contact name and phone number. I know there are more important issues to fight, but I love how my plants and flowers cascade down my steps, it really gives me pleasure when I get home from work.
Posted by: ana at September 5, 2008 2:28 PM in response to brownstone insurance wants me to remove my flowers!
Well, I've had Allstate thru Walter Wright on 7th AV (PS), and while no claims on house, one auto claim went smoothly.
I guess I'm naive or lucky, but I wouldn't even have thought this might be a problem. And, honestly, I can't believe it is a widespread one considering the amount of stuff you see on stoops.
Posted by: cmu at September 5, 2008 4:48 PM in response to brownstone insurance wants me to remove my flowers!
So anyone have any recs for alternaative insurance companies? I would really appreciate a contact name and phone number. I know there are more important issues to fight, but I love how my plants and flowers cascade down my steps, it really gives me pleasure when I get home from work.
Posted by: ana at September 5, 2008 2:28 PM in response to brownstone insurance wants me to remove my flowers!