News & Views

“The customer is always right.” We remember when this saying meant something in terms of customer service, respect and the attitude that any business serving the public was actually committed to that end. Of course, the reality is that as much as we honor the spirit of the customer always being right, there are times when this simply isn’t so, and we have to deal with it. A case in point is a long-time builder…

Read your policy! That’s advice most insurance professionals give, and for good reason. If you’ve read previous blogs on this site, we not only ask you to please read your policy but read it carefully. We know our advice is taken because we’ll get questions like this: “I read my policy and most of it is about what isn’t covered. What’s left?” There are many types of businesses requiring other liability policies. Architects and Engineers,…

I’ll assume if you’re reading this you are most likely a home builder.  That being the case, you already know how much fun it has been dealing with inflation, rising materials costs, labor shortage, etc.  When so many problems/challenges descend over a relatively short time, the entire industry can be upended.  Regardless of the demand for housing, ever increasing costs must be dealt with in ever more innovative ways; but how?  Just a casual Internet…

A general contractor hires a roofer to do what roofers do for several homes he is building. The GC hasn’t done business with this particular roofer (we’ll call him Joe’s Roofing, LLC) but has asked around locally and heard only good things about Joe’s. Our GC obtains certificates of insurance, signs an agreement with Joe’s and is named additional insured on all Joe’s policies. All is well. Then, shortly after Joe’s Roofing begins work on…

Let’s imagine you’ve obtained a construction loan for $1.5 million to build a custom home for a professional person. To make it interesting, imagine the professional is a personal injury attorney.  Now, let’s say you are lining up the subcontractors to build the home for the lawyer and meet them at a bar to discuss the project over a few beers.  After several hours and more than a few beers, everyone has a clear idea…

One of the most frequent requests we get from our builder members is to add a new insured location to their general liability insurance policy.  They provide the address and sometimes a description, but usually we have to ask how this place is being used in their construction business?  “I’m building a house on that lot,” is the most typical answer.  We then ask the builder if they realize they are automatically covered for all…

A few weeks ago, a builder called to get a general liability quote. I asked when his current policy expires. He replied, “oh, I let that policy go a few months ago when my last project was finished.” Are you no longer in business? I asked. “Sure,” he said, “I just don’t need insurance since I’m not building right now.” I was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. Did you sell your last house then?…

You’re a general contractor, a GC.  Like it or not, you are responsible for everyone’s safety at your jobsites.  That means anyone who may be there for any reason.  Even trespassers who trip and fall over some debris left by your demo guy.  That’s right.  Even if you post  “NO TRESPASSING” signs, you have some degree of care to any member of the public who is at your jobsite for any reason and gets hurt. …

As insurance agents we hear it all the time; are certificates really that important? If my subs’ certificates aren’t current, am I on the hook for what their policies don’t cover? What about exclusions on my policy? Maybe a hypothetical claim will help provide some answers. Let’s say you contract with a roofer. He’s not the roofer you usually work with but, he has a good reputation and he gives you a certificate of insurance…

A quick Internet search revealed some alarming statistics. According to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), 81% of construction companies are having difficulty filling both hourly and salaried trades positions.  A whopping 72% of these builders expect the labor shortage to continue to be the dominant challenge to our industry this year.  Lumber prices have been falling since June.  One Internet article likened it to a bubble that has finally popped.  But that is cold…