Hard to Place Property

Holman Insurance Brokers Ltd. specializes in providing Homeowners insurance solutions for hard to place risks.  If your home insurance if you’re deemed a special insurance situation, we’re happy to help! 

Here are some of the types of risks that we have no problem placing with our exclusive arrangement with an insurance company:
 

• Knob and Tube wiring
• Oil Tanks
• Bed and Breakfast
• Heritage Homes
• Non Standard construction
• Short Term Rentals (AirBnB)
• Homes under Construction or Renovation
• Vacant Properties
• Vacant Homes & Condos
• Vacation Rental
• Student Housing
• Vacant Land
• Hobby  Farms
• Foreign Embassy
• Foreign Owned Property
• Absentee Landlord
• Poor Claims experience
• Cancellation for non-payment
• Multiple Mortgages
• Multiple owners on title
• Non-Standard Mortgage
• Mortgagee in Possession or Bankruptcy
• Mortgage greater that Building value
• Business in the Home or on property
• Commercial owned residential
• Green Homes
• Wind & Solar power and panels

A bit about Knob and Tube Wiring
Many insurance companies consider these to be unsafe but provided they are in good condition and not overloaded they are still considered safe. In fact, 60 Amp service still complies with modern electrical codes.
 
A knowledgeable electrician can tell you updating wiring does not mean the size of the service has been increased or additional circuits have been added? Does it mean that the older knob tube wiring has been torn out (which is usually not necessary)? Sometimes it means that the old outlets have been replaced with modern-looking ones, however the wiring has not been changed at all.
 
A better approach may be to review the adequacy of the incoming service and more importantly the adequacy of the distribution network. It is however very difficult to assess without a solid understanding of electricity. We all know that you cannot determine the size of an electrical service by reading the sticker on the main box in the basement. It will be up to a licensed electrician to determine if your electrical system is adequate and provide an electrical safety inspection. We understand the issues and work with a number of insurance companies to provide insurance at reasonable premiums for those homes that can provide the appropriate safety inspection

More about Oil Tanks

Here’s a Simple check list which you can use to determine if your tank is installed and protected properly.
 

1. Are the tank legs unstable, tilting or on an uneven foundation? Is the tank resting on or in contact with the ground or the basement floor?
2. Are there visible signs of rust, weeps, wet spots or dents on the tank surface?
3. Are there any drips or signs of releases around the oil filter or valve?
4. Do the oil lines run underground or through the concrete floor without being encased in a protective non metallic sleeve?
5. Is there a significant potential for snow, ice or tree limbs falling onto the outside oil tank, lines or filter?
6. Are there any signs of the vent pipe being clogged with ice, snow or insect nests? (Screened vent openings available)
7. Is the overfill vent whistle obstructed or silent when the tank is being filled? (It should whistle during a delivery)
8. Are there any signs of releases around the fill pipe or from the area of the vent pipe?
9. Is the tank site gauge missing, cracked, stuck or frozen.?
10. Is there oil or staining around it or on other areas on the top of the tank? 

We work with many real estate agents and lawyers. We are able to help secure hard to place insurance at reasonable rates so the deal get done!