The Allan Block Agency has been providing homeowners coverage for over 45 years. The Allan Block Agency represents all the leading household names for homeowners insurance including Chubb, MetLife Auto & Home, The Hartford, Travelers, Fireman’s Fund, One Beacon, Encompass, and Progressive, among many others.

At the Allan Block Agency, we analyze your specific homeowner insurance needs, and then recommend the best policy for you. Unlike direct writers, we have many options and choices. We look out for your interests and put together a comprehensive policy that covers your needs.

Your home is your most important asset and should be protected properly. This is not a case where price should be your most important consideration. You should choose the right product at the right price.

Areas we focus on:

1. Insuring the dwelling to value. Using a square footage formula, we estimate the cost of rebuilding your home. With building material prices rippling and labor costs skyrocketing, the cost of rebuilding changes rapidly, and has been trending upward. Many companies cap replacement cost of your home at 125% of the dwelling coverage. We look for companies that provide a minimum of 150%. Many of the companies we represent offer unlimited replacement cost on the building.
   
   
2. Personal property. Coverage can vary from 50% of the dwelling coverage to 70%. In most cases 50% is adequate, but this should be reviewed carefully to be sure that you could purchase all of your contents at today’s replacement cost value in the event of a total loss. We will provide you with an inventory workbook to assist you in determining how much coverage you need. For valuable possessions such as fine arts or antiques, you may want to contact a professional appraiser to determine the replacement cost of these items. Some items, such as jewelry, have limited coverage under the general contents, and need to be scheduled in order to obtain additional coverage (see our Valuable Items section).
   
   
3. Liability. Liability provides worldwide coverage if someone is injured as a result of the owner’s negligence as relates to a covered peril. For example, if you have a painter in the house, and he trips over your dog and injures himself, this is covered under liability coverage. Another example: if the toilet overflows and damages the precious painting owned by your downstairs neighbor, liability covers it. And liability coverage follows the owner worldwide. For example, if the condo owner is walking on the street in London, and accidentally pokes someone with his umbrella causing an injury, liability coverage protects the owner.
   
   
4. Forms of coverage.
   
   
   • Special form provides all risk Building and Named Peril Contents. Most homes are written using a Special form, although many companies have given this service their own product names, such as Deluxe, Standard, or Comprehensive. Your loss must fit the description of one of 17 named perils in order for this coverage to apply.
     
     
   • All Risk Form provides for All Risk coverage on the building and contents. This means all risks of loss are covered unless specifically excluded in the policy. The exclusions are far less than a Special form – it is not limited to the Special form’s 17 named perils for the contents.
     
     
5. Loss Assessment. If you are part of a homeowner association, you will need increased loss assessment coverage as you could be assessed for a loss the Association incurs for which you have no direct negligence. Loss Assessment is the only way to protect you from these assessments.
   
   
6. Deductibles. Choose sensible deductibles. Claiming losses can hurt your chances for renewal in a preferred rating tier. Choose deductibles that you can handle but that will not promote putting in small losses. If you can save half the difference between two deductibles, it makes sense to move to the next highest deductible. You are responsible for the deductible in the event of a loss. Deductibles apply to all losses except liability and scheduled items.