Tips To Help You Purchase Contractor Liability Insurance
Learning a trade and becoming a skilled contractor can be an excellent career path. As a contractor, you can build your own business and earn a lucrative salary. But, you also need to take the steps to protect yourself by purchasing the right insurance policies. As a contractor, one type of insurance that is essential to have is contractor liability insurance. Contractor liability insurance will help you in the event that something with a project doesn't go right, such as materials being damaged or a client's home or place of business sustaining damage in the middle of a project. Having liability insurance can be the difference between simply making a claim or being sued and going out of business. Use these tips to help you buy liability insurance:
Choose an Insurance Broker Who Specializes in Working With Contractors
Contractor liability insurance policies differ from other types of insurance, such as auto or homeowners insurance. Thus, it doesn't make sense for you to contact your personal insurance broker when you need to buy liability insurance. You are much better off finding an insurance broker who specializes in working with contractors and understands their insurance needs. A good insurance broker will have access to many different policies and will also be able to assist you in determining what size policy you need.
Don't Buy a Policy Just Because It Is the Cheapest
While running your own business as a contractor, it is completely normal to need to stay on budget and manage expenses. However, don't make the mistake of buying a contractor liability insurance policy simply based on the fact that it is the least expensive. Instead of looking for the lowest price, try to find the best value. You want an insurance policy that provides excellent coverage at a fair price.
Make Sure You Have a Complete Understanding of Your Policy
Most people don't enjoy reading an insurance policy before buying it, but when you're purchasing contractor liability insurance it is very important to do so. You need to understand exactly what is included in your policy, as well as any exclusions. Depending on what type of contractor you are, you may need to expand your policy or include provisions that are not found in general contractor liability insurance policies. Take the time to read the terms of your policy line by line before buying. If there is something that you do not understand, or if you have questions, don't be afraid to reach out to your insurance broker.