Büyükdere and Rumelikavağı: A Guide to Home and Business Insurance

Büyükdere and Rumelikavağı are among Sarıyer’s neighbourhoods on the Bosphorus shore. Rumelikavağı lies on the part of the Bosphorus near the Black Sea and is known for its coastal village character; Büyükdere, with its settlement along the waterfront, is one of Sarıyer’s long-established neighbourhoods. Many families here live in their home and also run a shop, restaurant or small business nearby, and some are foreign residents who have set up a business in Türkiye. This guide is for families and business owners who need to think about home and workplace together.

Keeping home and business policies at the same agency makes tracking and communication easier. As Ailenizin Sigortacısı, we have served clients from Maslak since 1996 and work with more than one insurance company, so we can compare different options for both your home and your business side by side.

Home and business: two separate policies, one plan

Even if the home and the business are in the same building, or run by the same family, they are assessed separately for insurance. Home insurance considers the home you live in and your belongings; business insurance deals with the shop’s fixtures, stock and the risks specific to the business. Your home policy does not cover the goods in your shop, and the business policy does not cover your household belongings.

So the first step is to list separately what needs protecting at home and at work. Once the list is ready, preparing both policies in the same period makes tracking and renewal easier.

What to watch on the home side

For homes with a title deed, DASK, the compulsory earthquake insurance, is mandatory under Law No. 6305 and is requested for title deed, electricity and water subscription transactions. DASK covers earthquake damage to the building up to a set limit. Belongings, fire, flooding and theft need home insurance.

• Report the building’s construction type and period accurately.
• For homes near the shore, ask how storm and rain damage is handled in the policy.
• If there is a shop below and water leaks into it from your home, discuss what happens under liability cover.
• Set a realistic contents value.

Business insurance for shopkeepers and small businesses

Restaurants, cafés, grocery shops and small stores are common in waterfront neighbourhoods. Every business has different risks; the kitchen equipment of a restaurant and the stock of a hardware shop are not assessed the same way. When business insurance is prepared, these questions are asked:

1. What is the line of business? The policy should match the business’s actual activity.
2. What are the fixtures? Kitchen equipment, refrigeration, the till, furniture and signage should be listed.
3. How much stock is there? If stock changes with the season, this should be discussed.
4. Is there glass and signage? Shop windows and outdoor signs can be handled separately in the policy.
5. Customers and third parties: liability cover should be considered for situations such as a customer being injured on your premises.
6. Are there employees? Responsibilities towards employees are also part of the plan.

For a general framework, see insurance priority order for SMEs.

The lease: who insures the shop?

A shopkeeper who rents premises and the property owner have different responsibilities. The owner usually considers the building; the tenant should insure the fixtures, stock and fit-out investments inside. If the lease has an insurance clause, share it with us at the quote stage so the policy can be prepared in line with it.

The right steps when damage happens

When damage occurs at home or at work, the first thing is to ensure safety and stop the damage getting worse. Then photograph the damage, keep the relevant documents and notify the insurer in good time. Try not to throw away damaged items or goods before the insurer’s inspection is complete. You can call us during this process for help with notification and paperwork, in English if you prefer.

What you need for a quote

You can visit our office from Büyükdere or Rumelikavağı or get a quote remotely. For the home, the address and building details; for the business, the address, line of business, fixtures and stock information are enough to start. Foreign residents should also have their foreign ID number (Yabancı Kimlik No) ready. We present quotes from several insurers with the differences in cover.

Seasonal businesses

In waterfront neighbourhoods, some businesses are busier in certain seasons. Customers, stock and staff may increase in summer, while in winter the business may run more quietly or close for a while. This variability needs to be considered in business insurance.

• Ask how extra stock and equipment in the busy season are handled in the policy.
• State the periods when the business is closed at the quote stage.
• Note the security measures taken during closed periods, such as an alarm or shutters.
• Find out whether tables, chairs and awnings used outdoors, such as on a terrace, are included.

Reflecting the business’s real working pattern in the policy helps choose suitable cover and prevents a gap between what was declared and reality at claim time.

If you would like to plan the policies for your home and shop together, visit our office at the Maslak Atatürk Oto Sanayi Sitesi, or call +90 530 375 89 61 or message us on WhatsApp for quotes from several insurers. Support is available in English, and with experience since 1996 we will prepare your policy with you in plain language.