Risk & Business Magazine McFarlan Rowlands Magazine Summer 2018 | Page 31

SURETY BONDS The Misunderstood Value Of Surety Bonds W hen it comes to construction and contractor portfolios, the ability to provide Surety Bonds is one of the more complicated and crucial services a broker can offer. Unlike insurance products — which are relatively easy for individuals to understand — Surety Bonds are often misunderstood. The core function of a Surety Bond is not misunderstood, but their value and timely delivery can often be overlooked which can result in a failed bid that potentially leads to lost contracts. The importance of having an experienced Surety Broker working for you is absolutely critical in winning future projects. So what, exactly, are Surety Bonds? Although there are numerous types of Bonds available on the insurance market, by far the most widely used are Contract Surety Bonds. In a nutshell, they are a guarantee by the Surety Company that the contractor will satisfy its obligations with respect to the contract it successfully bid on. Surety Bonds are provided at the tender phase, when companies are bidding on contracts to owners — often municipalities, cities, and private entities. At this phase, th