Liability Insurance

gjs

I'm looking into getting liability insurance for myself. I'm just a small one man painting business at this point located in chicago. Question: Am I better off going thru agencies in and around my neigbor hood or going with quotes I get from the internet which come from agencies that are in other cities . Have gotten some good rates from the internet. Waiting to here back from the ins agent up the street. Is there any advantage in going thru a local agent. Does it matter? Thanks for any advise, Greg.

AAPaint

I deal with a local agent mostly because they came as a recommendation and they give great support. They also gave me a real good deal on insurance. Sometimes the small guys are more willing to root out the deals for you..

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-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

donb1959

I deal locally with Nationwide, I get decent rates and the coverage is good. The reason I went locally is because I include my ins. info to all prospective clients, and I want someone locally, if I should file a claim, or just questions, I feel some things are better with local folk where you can see a face than thru the internet.

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I fish therefore I am
http://www.shimmerz.biz

Peladu

Just make sure you are getting the same coverage. Some commercial buildings will not accept anything under a $5million in coverage. Residential, you should be able to get away with $1million in coverage.
The friends that I have as painters talk about how tricky their policy is. For example, if you want to do exterior painting, the insurance premium is much higher than if you just stick with interior. Something about spay getting on cars on top of ladder/scaffold work. Even some painters are restricted from working commercial according to their policy.
I carry a one million dollar policy with a two million dollar aggregate. This is still to low for working a decent commercial job. But you may also be able to get the lowest amount of coverage and grow your policy at the same rate you grow your company.
I also stay with a local agent, ‘cause if there ever was a problem, I would feel better that they are just a truck ride away.
Hopefully someone here has a policy purchased over the net and will be able to answer that side.

Good luck…….a fellow Chicagoan

AAPaint

There are other things to know as well......through my agent at least, you must have 6 years verifiable experience to even get spray painting coverage.....pressure washing coverage is separate through some agencies, etc. Just make sure you mention all the types of work you do so you get proper coverage. When I started I only bought 300,000 general liability to get me going, then pushed it up to 1mil/2mil when I had the chance. For residential, you can get away with a policy that small to begin with...in that situation just HAVING coverage will put you above 50% of your competition.

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-AAPaint

AA Quality Painting & Pressure Washing LLC
Jacksonville Painters
Jacksonville, FL.

slickshift

You'll find most of the people on the site go to a local agent

hauoli63

Local agent here, too. I like knowing who I am talking to and dealing with .... like being able to sit down together and discuss coverage, get immediate response to questions and requests for Certificates of Insurance, etc.

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~~ Lisa ~~

www.chantillyplumbing.com

Zeebo

GJS...these are really good pointers. My liability insurance does not cover me for any type of spraying, interior or exterior. You should also ask if your insurance will cover you for tools, equipment....just in case any are stolen. Ask lots of questions. Get the highest deductible you can to reduce cost....but also buy the most amount you are allowed. Being in the business for only 18 months, I am only allowed 2 million coverage. Protect your assets, your family and yourself....get it sooner than later.

Zeebo