INDUSTRY INSIGHT
HOME SAFETY
SPONSORED CONTENT
Hiring
Contractors?
Make Sure
They’re Insured
W
hen you hire contractors such as electricians
or other home repair specialists, you may shop
around on price and go with the least expensive
one.
However, if a contractor comes in with a bid that is much
lower than the competition, it could mean that they are cutting
corners—and one of the top ways for a contractor to do this is in
the insurance it carries or perhaps does not carry.
Consider these scenarios:
• An electrician’s faulty work starts a fire that damages your
kitchen and dining room.
• A contractor’s worker breaks a leg while working on your
home.
If either of these events occurs and the contractor doesn’t have
insurance, you’ll be on the hook for the damages or injuries.
Even if a contractor tells you the company is insured and
bonded, you need to verify that it’s true.
The first thing you should do when hiring contractors is to ask
them to provide you with a Certificate of Insurance. If they don’t
have it, they can call their insurance agent to have it sent it to you.
This certificate doesn’t provide all the insurance details, but it’s a
good start.
However, if you are having major work done on your home,
you need to delve further. You should look for the following:
finished work. If this is not included, then their liability ends
when they finish the job.
• Workers’ Compensation - This coverage is mandatory for
all employers, except under very rare circumstances. It covers
medical expenses and lost wages if an employee is injured on
the job. If the contractor doesn’t have this coverage, you could
be responsible for these costs.
OTHER COVERAGES TO LOOK FOR:
• Builder’s Risk - If you are building a new home or adding
on to your home, this provides protection for the new
construction and building materials while it is being built.
While most contractors will buy this coverage, some of them
will ask the homeowner to do so. Make sure you are clear who
should buy the coverage and, if it is the contractor, make sure
you ask for proof that it’s been purchased.
COVERAGES ON THE CERTIFICATE OF LIABILITY
INSURANCE:
• Current Dates - Check to see that the coverage is current. If
it’s past the policy expiration date, you can’t tell whether they
currently have insurance.
• General Liability Coverage - Contractors should have this
insurance, which covers bodily injury to you or third parties
and property damage arising out of their operations. Check
also to see if their coverage includes “products and completed
operations,” which covers damages that may arise out of their
Cusumano Insurance, a local family-owned business, has been serving the
Pittsburgh area since 1958. The agency represents several insurance companies
offering various options for your personal and business insurance needs. Its
experienced staff are creative problem solvers who help find the suitable insurance
companies, products and discounts to meet your specific needs. Give them a call
today for a free insurance review.
This Industry Insight was provided by:
Joann
Cusumano
Sciulli, AAI
Agency
Principal
Rosann
Cusumano
Elinsky, AAI,
LUTCF
Agency Principal
Cusumano Insurance Agency, Inc. • 178 Clairton Blvd. • Pleasant Hills, PA 15236
Free to do what’s right for you.
SM
Sponsored by Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina
To learn more about protecting your family, home or business,
visit www.TrustedChoice.com.
Cusumano Insurance Agency
178 Clairton Blvd (Rt 51)
|
Pittsburgh PA 15236
(412)655-4432
[email protected]
www.cusumanoinsurance.com
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*To see these statistics or others about distracted driving, visit www.distraction.gov
WEST JEFFERSON HILLS
❘
SUMMER 2018
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