I’m having some work done at home and was wondering if my homeowners insurance would cover damage if the contractor messes something up? Like, if they break something or cause damage, would my policy step in? Thanks in advance for any info!
Yeah, your homeowners insurance can cover some things if your contractor damages your property. For example, if they break a window or cause a fire, you’re probably covered. But if they do poor work or mess up an installation, that’s not covered. You’ll have to sort that out with the contractor.
@Spencer
Ahh, that makes sense. So, it’s more for accidents than bad work?
Morgan said:
@Spencer
Ahh, that makes sense. So, it’s more for accidents than bad work?
Exactly. Think of it as covering damage, not the quality of their work. If they wire something wrong and it starts a fire, you’re covered for the fire damage, but not to fix the wiring.
FYI, make sure your contractor has their own insurance too. If they damage your neighbor’s property, they should be the ones covering that through their own insurance.
Pat said:
FYI, make sure your contractor has their own insurance too. If they damage your neighbor’s property, they should be the ones covering that through their own insurance.
Good tip! I didn’t even think about them having their own insurance.
I had a plumber install pipes wrong and it leaked. My insurance covered the water damage to my walls, but I had to pay out of pocket to fix the pipes. It’s frustrating, but at least the damage was covered.
@Arley
Wow, that sounds annoying. Did the plumber fix the pipes after that, or did you have to find someone else?
Whit said:
@Arley
Wow, that sounds annoying. Did the plumber fix the pipes after that, or did you have to find someone else?
Had to get someone else to fix it. The original guy ghosted me once the problem came up. Lesson learned!
Definitely check reviews before hiring anyone. You don’t want to be stuck with a contractor who does sloppy work, and then you’re stuck footing the bill for repairs.
Tatum said:
Definitely check reviews before hiring anyone. You don’t want to be stuck with a contractor who does sloppy work, and then you’re stuck footing the bill for repairs.
For sure. I always ask around to friends and family for recommendations. Better safe than sorry.
If you’re really worried, ask your contractor for their insurance details before they start. It’s better to know upfront that they’re covered in case anything goes wrong.