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Insurer requires changing window bars?

12:14 PM 01/15/2013

 

margie

Our insurer (State Farm) is requiring that we change our basement window bars from permanent to the kind that have safety latches that will allow them to release. Has anyone done this? Any one that you can recommend to do the work? What did it cost? Is it possible to modifiy the bars (as opposed to remove and replace)? Our building is landmarked - any issues to worry about there?
Thanks very much.

 

 

Insurance
7 answers
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  • vote

    daveinbedstuy

    Bedford Stuyvesant, NY

    This topic seems to be posted about almost monthly now.  Check archived threads.

    12:41 PM 01/15/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

    Comments (1)

    • margie

      I did search the archives, but didn't find anything with regard to price/service providers, etc.

      2:01 PM 01/15/2013

          

  • vote

    bobjbkln

    Boerum Hill, NY

    Are you sure that the are actually requiring it? We got a letter from State Farm *recommending* that we make the change on two floors. We ignored it.

    1:45 PM 01/15/2013 | 1 Votes

     

     

    Comments (1)

    • margie

      They are telling me it is mandatory for all new policies.

      2:01 PM 01/15/2013

          

  • vote

    cate

    Bedford Stuyvesant, NY

    I am hoping someone with more knowledge than me will chime in here, but from what I understand, Landmarks will not allow this.

    5:25 PM 01/15/2013 | 1 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    bedstuytownhouse

    We got the same letter and modified our existing bars to make them a fire exit so as not to compromise the appearance too much because most of those bars are hideous!!  We used Boro Park Iron and Locksmith and they did a fantastic job.  Think price was around $1000.

    1:08 PM 01/16/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    margie

    From OP - just to update, Llandmarks confirmed that a permit is required to alter the existing window bars and that if they are original to the house, it's likely that a permit will be denied. A permit request apparently takes 30-40 days to process, and State Farm is giving me just 10 days to comply, so obviously I need to start looking for another insurer...Seems crazy, given that the basement has two door exits...

    2:06 PM 01/17/2013 | 1 Votes

     

     

    Comments (1)

    • minmnyc

      NY

      Hi - same issue here. Have you found another insurance that will not require the removal of the bars? State Farms' request came out of the blue and am going crazy calling other insurance companies

      8:16 AM 03/14/2013

          

  • vote

    nalusurf

    Bed Stuy, NY

    Hey minmnyc, we just got the same phone call from State Farm and we are a new policy for a brownstone we just closed on a week ago.  Have you had any luck with other insurance carriers?  Or for that matter, has anyone had luck with another carrier other than State Farm?  Thanks!

    4:46 PM 04/01/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

    Comments (1)

    • minmnyc

      NY

      Not much luck so far. Chubb and Fireman's Fund came back with a quote that is 2.5x what State Farm charges, so I never even addressed the window bars issue. Liberty Mutual does not issue insurance in NY because we are considered a coastal area (anything within 2 miles of any body of water).I have a good quote from Pure Insurance. Will find out if they have the window bar issue and report back.What's maddening is that they want EACH window to be changed, not even just one out of 2; and the presence of a door next to the window w/o any partitioning wall is considered irrelevant.

      8:30 PM 04/01/2013

          

  • vote

    nalusurf

    Bed Stuy, NY

    Thanks minmnyc.  I am aslo looking at another insurance co, GFI Ins,  and will let you (and group) know as well regarding what they offer.  Yeah very frustrating.  Tried to explain to State Farm that the room they are conerned with is not a bedroom, the front door is adjacent to the windows with a wall separating them and the back room of the floor has NO bars whatsoever (a whole separate issue regarding break ins!).  

    6:57 AM 04/02/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

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