Hunter Insurance Blog

10 Can’t-Miss Contractor Blogs, Podcasts and Magazines

Contractor Talk Forum Contractor Talk is clearly the King of contractor forums with more than 130,000 members and 2 million posts….numbers that grow every single day. Get answers to your questions and advice from other pros on just about every facet of the construction industry. With over 181,000 threads in the forum, there’s a good chance the answers you seek already lie within Contractor Talk. If not, you’re sure to get plenty of advice from your peers - no matter what your niche, experience level, or business size. Be the Pro Forum Be the ...

What is an Additional Insured?

More than likely, if you’ve been in construction for any length of time, you’ve been asked by a general contractor, vendor, property manager, or homeowner to add them as an additional insured on your general liability policy. But what does that mean? What is an Additional Insured on Your Contractor Insurance Policy? “Additional insured” is a standard, run-of-the-mill endorsement requirement when it comes to contractors and construction. Adding another person or entity as an additional insured on your policy means they are now protected by the terms of your policy as an insured. ...

The Reason You’re Paying Too Much for Contractor Insurance

You’ve been in the business a long time. If any of your clients has an issue with your work, you go out there and fix it. You adhere to safety standards and run your business the right way. You’ve never even had an insurance claim. So why does it feel like you’re paying too much for your liability insurance? Losses, experience, and operation can all factor into the cost of your insurance. But what you may not realize is there’s another factor that can lead to increasing insurance costs… not ...

Contractor Insurance vs Contractor License Bond

One of the most common questions we get is, “What is the difference between general liability insurance and a contractor license bond?” We have all seen the phrase “Bonded & Insured” on the side of a contractor’s truck or on their website, but what exactly does that mean? Contactor Insurance vs Bonds: What Do They Cover & Who Do They Protect? The easiest way to understand the difference between contractor insurance and contractor license bonds is to think about who they protect and what things they cover. License Bonds Protects the consumer or ...

Builders Risk: Back to Basics

Builders risk insurance doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ve compiled the basic information about this essential construction insurance policy so you can get the info you need to protect your next project quickly and easily. So here it is, no complicated jargon, no class codes... just the basics of builders risk. Builders Risk 101 What is it? Simply put, builders risk insures a structure while it is under construction. It can cover ground –up projects, such as residential or commercial construction, as well as remodeling or tenant improvement projects. Also called course of ...

What Kind of Contractor Insurance Will Cover Your Subs and Employees?

More hands on deck means you can get more work done faster. But it also means more liability on a project, too. When you’ve got people helping you get the job done, you want to be sure you’ve got the right contractor insurance policies in place to protect your employees, subs, and your business interests. Take a look at the ways employees and subcontractors can impact your contractor insurance policies and coverage. Contractor Insurance for Employees: Workers’ Comp Got employees? Then you need workers’ comp. In most states, carrying workers’ comp isn’t ...

The Dos and Dont’s of Advertising Your Contractor License, Bonds and Insurance

You’ve probably heard it before: if you have a contractor license, bonds, and insurance coverage, let people know about it! In a digital age where you can put up a website and promote your business on a dozen different social media accounts all in one day, you are missing out if you’re not advertising your business. If you want to use your status as a licensed and bonded contractor to your advantage to get more work, there are some right (and wrong) ways to proceed. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts ...

Introducing our NEW Website: Hunteronline.com

We are proud to introduce to you our newly designed Hunteronline.com website. We’ve shaken things up to make our website work even harder for you, and we have some pretty neat features that will make it even easier for your to get what you need quickly and easily. Here’s what you can expect from our NEW website at Hunter Insurance Services. A More Helpful Homepage The #1 reason why business owners and construction professionals come to Hunter Insurance Services is to get a insurance quote. We’ve met that need head-on with our ...

How Well Does Your Contractor Insurance Cover Your Mistakes?

Mistakes happen, even to the most experienced contractors. People trip and fall, equipment breaks, designs aren’t always perfect. But a mistake can have a huge financial impact. Even if the incident wasn’t your fault, someone still needs to cover damages, lawsuits, or any other costs that arise. That’s why it’s important to know how well your contractor insurance covers your mistakes. Luckily, there are two contractor insurance policies that are designed to cover many different types of accidents: general liability insurance and builders risk. Here’s how these policies cover your mistakes. Not ...

How Much Does a Contractor License Bond Cost?

Do you have your contractor’s license bond yet? If not, you’ll need one soon! In many states (including California!), you can’t work as a licensed contractor without one. Becoming bonded doesn’t have to be inconvenient or expensive. For more information on how affordable your bond could be, read on. How Much Your Bond Needs To Cover If your state license board requires you to have a bond, make sure you know how much you need to be bonded for. Live in the Golden State? The required bond amount in California is ...

How to Use Contractor Insurance to Protect Your Tools In Every Situation

How would you get through the day today without your tools? For most contractors, business would come to an abrupt halt if their tools suddenly vanished. And what would it cost you to get back on track? Many contractors have slowly built up their inventory of specialty equipment bit by bit. Replacing it all at once could be a huge financial hit. You can’t operate without your tools, it’s only natural that you want to make sure they’re covered. Picture this: You wake up early to get to a new job site. ...

Contractor License Bonds FAQs and Facts

Contractor license bonds can be confusing if you’re new to the business, but they don’t have to be. We’ve got the answers to your most pressing license bond questions. What is a license bond? Do you really need one? Isn’t a bond just the same thing as insurance? Read on to find out what exactly a license bond is and how to get yours. Contractor License Bonds 101- Key Terms Claim: A demand made by the obligee for compensation for a loss resulting from the principal’s failure to fulfill contractual duties ...

Which Contractor Insurance Policy Covers Workplace Damages?

Sometimes it really pays to have contractor insurance coverage in place. Most days, you may never even think about your insurance. But when an accident happens, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief knowing you won’t have to deal with a major financial loss, even if the accident is (gulp) - totally your fault. But when you’re at fault for an accident which leads to damage while you’re working on a project, you may be surprised at which of your contractor insurance policies you should have in place to cover it. And it’s ...

Understanding Exclusions in Your Contractor Insurance Policies

Waiting too long to learn what your insurance policy’s exclusions are can be frustrating at best and disastrous at worst. Picture this: You’re working on a new construction job when the whole roof caves in. Turns out you didn’t have the right support beams for the weight of the structure. You call your insurance company, only to find out your contractor insurance doesn’t cover faulty materials or design. You’ve just discovered an exclusion- the hard way. So, what is an exclusion? An exclusion is a limitation or restriction of your insurance coverage. Your policy’s ...

How Does a Contractor License Bond Claim Work?

If surety bonds confuse you, you’re not alone. There are many different types of surety bonds, and different reasons people might make a claim against them. So what do you do if someone makes a claim against your bond? Read on for more information on the claims process, and discover how a claim could impact your business. When a Claim Is Filed Against Your Contractor License Bond… One type of surety bond is required by law in most states: a contractor license bond. A contractor license bond, like other surety bonds, is like ...