Insurance Issues / Burglar Bar Removal?

Hi, I am thisclose to getting the clear to close on a home I’ve been in contract on for almost a year. Now that we have a tentative close date for this Friday, the last item I needed to send to my bank is an insurance quote. I received a quote I was happy with, way back in January, from State Farm. My problem now is that since then, State Farm has changed it’s policies and won’t insure my home becuase there are burglar bars on two of the 4 floors. They stated (the truth) regarding the trap they become in case of a fire. I’m not mad at the policy, so I asked and they did say they could insure the house with the stipulation that I have the bars removes within 60 days of closing. Despite the fire trap issue, I kind of don’t want to remove them, so I am scrambling to get other quotes right now. Just in case, I am now looking for quotes on what it would cost to remove them. PLEASE HELP ASAP: – APPROXIMATE COST/REFERRALS FOR SOMEONE TO REMOVE IRON BURGLAR BARS ON 4 WINDOWS OF A BRICK TOWNHOUSE – ANY IDEAS FOR ALTERNATIVES FOR SAFETY? THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

wshlet

in Insurance 8 years and 7 months ago

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Lurker | 8 years and 7 months ago

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Call Narrows Insurance, Will Smoltino. We have bars, they got us a policy fast and are a joy to deal with. That said I’ve never had reason to file a claim, but otherwise they’re wonderful.

catboot | 8 years and 7 months ago

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Stuycat, ugly happens when you least expect it, and it’s happening all over BedStuy. Hopefully your block will be spare the indignity of a rooftop addition, or those horrible chrome railings. As for the bars, check with Bronstone Agency, as Bob Marvin suggested. We have our insurance through them and bars haven’t been an issue.

sunsetpark2deanst | 8 years and 7 months ago

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Hey Stuycat, I don’t remember who I used, just googled Iron Works in my area. As for price I paid $150\. to retrofit 1 set of window bars, as not all the bars needed to be altered for my insurance company to cover my property.

stucohen | 8 years and 7 months ago

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City Building Owners Insurance insures these types of properties all the time. Best of luck to you.

wshlet | 8 years and 7 months ago

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Bob Marvin – yes, “lucky” is all relative. 🙂 For purposes of being insured, if removing or retrofitting the bars would fix this issue, I’m “lucky” that it’s not disallowed due to landmarking. The block is pretty well-kept and I’d be shocked if anyone ever did anything crazy to their exteriors. I will check out the Brownstone Agency, as well. Thanks!

BobMarvin | 8 years and 7 months ago

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I’ve been insured through the Brownstone Agency for many years and my ground floor bars have never been an issue. As to being “lucky” that your house is not landmarked, that’s only so as long as your neighbors don’t do terrible things to their houses that lower the value of yours.

wshlet | 8 years and 7 months ago

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NeoGrec – thanks, but no it’s not landmarked (luckily for me).

NeoGrec | 8 years and 7 months ago

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You don’t mention whether your home is in a landmark district. If not, read no further! If so, you can’t remove original window bars (usually just the ground floor/garden floor). Check the designation report on the LPC website to see how your address is described.

wshlet | 8 years and 7 months ago

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Thank you, both. sunsetpark2deanst, can you refer to the contractor you used? Were you happy with the results, both aesthetically and cost-wise? Would you be willing to letme know how much it cost you to have that conversion done? HelloBrooklyn12345, thanks, Allstate is one insurer that I am checking with.