Questions California Contractors Insurance Agents Should Ask Contracting Professionals

By Amanda Underwood

When the economy is going well, the construction business almost always benefits. People who feel confident about the future are willing to spend their money on new houses and the remodel and expansion of older ones. This encourages newcomers to start building and repair businesses, and those who have been in the business for years to expand. All of these people have to be insured. That opens great opportunities for California Contractors Insurance Agents.

Agents have to understand exactly what the contractor does in order to insure him properly. Handymen, for instance, tend to do smaller, residential repairs and maintenance. You need to know what kinds of services he provides his customers. His answer will help you decide whether a general liability, inland marine, contractor's coverage, or builder's risk policy is appropriate.

Carpentry is a high growth industry. It is also a risky business. Over a third of professional carpenters are self-employed. You need to know if your carpenter clients are framers or finishers. You should ask if they work in a shop or travel to their customers' homes. Depending on the answers to your questions, you might suggest builder's risk, contractor's equipment, inland marine, auto, property, and general liability coverage.

Another high growth industry is the plumbing business. This is generally a fairly stable business. You need to ask this client whether or not he works on boilers. If he does, he may be covered by the carriers. You need to know if the plumber has a showroom where customers are allowed access. If so, there is always the possibility of third-party lawsuits.

When you are considering contractors as clients, you should not forget about window washers. These are individuals who are always in demand and face plenty of risk in their work related activities. You need to know what kinds of structures a window washer services. Residential properties and small commercial ones are very different from high rises. You might suggest general liability, commercial auto, equipment, and workers' compensation for clients with crews.

Electrical installers are not in a field that is growing rapidly. Consumers have become accustomed to replacing damaged electronics rather than having them repaired. Technology has made electrical equipment more reliable and less in need of regular repair. If you have an installer as a client, you need to know if that person owns his business. If so, he will need a business owner's policy.

The general contracting business is one that is on the upswing. To find a general contractor the right coverage, you need to know exactly what kind of work he does. Most are involved in all aspects of construction. If he works on large commercial projects, he may need an umbrella liability policy. If he has employees, he must have workers' compensation coverage.

The construction industry has great potential for agents looking for new customers. The industry overall is experiencing healthy growth. Most contractors face some risk and need the kind of coverage a good agent can provide.

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