How do I found out if he's insured?

Question

I am thinking about going with a gentleman from church to put in my sprinkler system. It is my understanding that he doesn't need to be bonded (it's just him), but should I make sure he has insurance? And if so, how do I go over his head to make sure he is up to date on it? What exactly should it cover (ie. just in case he gets hurt, or should I make sure it would cover any damages to my home or property?). Any extra thoughts would be appreciated, as we are putting in $2000 to have this done!

Answer 1

You ask him to give you a certificate of insurance. You need to be listed as the 'certificate holder' on that certificate. It should show general liabiltiy coverage, and workers compensation coverage, with current dates.

A "binder" just shows he applied for insurance and doesn't give you ANY assurance that coverage is currently in place. A Certificate of Insurance doesn't cost him anything, and there's a blurb at the bottom of it, that they will attempt to notify you if his coverage changes or gets cancelled.

You can verify it by calling the agency that issued the certificate - their phone number should be at the top of the page, near their name and address.

His general liability is NOT going to cover his shoddy workmanship, or any damage he does to part of the home that HE was working on. You still want him to have it, because it means he is legit. But you need him to show you that he has workers comp, in case he or his workers get injured on your premises - otherwise YOU are responsible for paying medical bills and lost wages, in most states - EVEN in states that don't require an employer to carry workers comp, like Texas, or to insure fewere than five workers.

Answer 2

This is easy -ask for a copy of his "binder" - it will list the insurance company, and then call them to make sure his premium is paid up! This should be for workman's compensation as well as liability insurance ($2M umbrella liability is a good standard policy).

By the way, you still want him bonded - what if HE steals from you?

Other advice - who will pull the permit? Make it him, because if he has you pull the permit, then you're liable in case there is a problem.

Get a contract - it should specify real materials (brand name, number and type of each sprinkler head, how deep the pipes will be buried, the type and location of the controller (model # is best) - think of it as a "bill of materials" if you were going to do it yourself - find out how many regions there will be - and then compare to home depot recommendations - more regions is better - especially have your landscaping on it's own region (because you'll water it differently than the grass) - get a drawing of where the lines are (in case you ever have to dig them up) - and try not to have any heads close to driving areas (so you don't have to replace them when someone accidently drives over them).

Answer 3

Ask him for a copy of his certificate of insurance. If he won't give it to you, or gives you a hard time about it, then you automatically know that you should not be dealing with this person. If he provides it, give the broker listed on the certificate a call. Not only can they tell you if the policy is in force, they might be able to tell you if he's had any claims made against him, and if you can really sweet talk them into it they might be able to tell you whether they have trouble getting the guy to pay his insurance premiums on time (could mean financial difficulty!). You might have better luck getting more information if you go in person to the broker's office (if possible) with a copy of the certificate rather than doing it over the phone, or else be super polite on the phone!

Answer 4

Then he could have got to touch the coverage manufacturer and go back the long-established ring to them...or pay them again the cash they paid him for the hoop. When the coverage manufacturer settles with him, they'll have him signal a invoice of sale giving them possession of the long-established ring. Therefore, if he maintains it, he's breaking the regulation due to the fact the long-established ring now not belongs to him.

Answer 5

if you want to check for insurance, you shouldnt have to go over his head. Ask him straight up to provide proof of insurance, and references. If he cannot provide this, go with someone else. Just because he goes to your church, does not mean he is 100% trustworthy or perfect

Answer 6

re: first answer
In most states, you do not need workman's compensation unless you have 5 or more workers/employees.

You can still just ask for his proof of insurance, call them, and find out if he's really insured through them, and what it covers.