Understanding Contractor General Liability Insurance

October 24, 2018October 17, 2018 | by agenda84

Commercial Contractor Insurance Coverage

A worksite is by its very nature often a dangerous place. Despite the best precautions and regulations set in place by individual businesses and governmental bodies, an unfinished construction project is still inherently problematic when it comes to worker’s safety. It is for precisely this reason that most states require contractors liability insurance for contractors working within those states.

Being insured is one of those first things that many entrepreneurs would have before starting up a business. Since business is all about uncertainties and contingent risks, therefore firsthand measures to cut short the impact of all the upset situations is always highly welcomed. Inevitably, every company wants to lay down specific safety and protective measures for both, itself and its employees alike. To do so, having general liability insurance is all that you need in the strictest sense. Look for the cheapest contractor insurance that offers the most comprehensive options to ensure the best value. You can look for insurance on twitter or do a quick google search to find qualified brokers. Indeed, none of the entrepreneurs would welcome a lawsuit filed against him or his company, and in that case, it is the insurance that plays a crucial role in protecting you from all sorts of charges or complaints.

If you are a newbie in this regard, then it might take some severe deal for you to jot the best of all available companies in the market. However, your decision of choosing the right company solemnly depends upon the amount of background information you have collected right on the first go. Of course, doing your homework directly before you start to look for find a good deal contractors general liability insurance company will always be an added advantage. Though everyone has some or the other resources ready on their fingertips the question of dependability and reliability onto these resources is a matter of grave concern that cannot be overlooked anyway.

Here are some tips on how you should find the best deals available in the town.

Choose the right insurance company- it’s essential!

Well, this is first and the only place where people go for getting their business insurance stuff done. Since you have to make a call only once then make sure that you hit the right chord to avoid any hassles in the future. Of course, one should always make sure that he is dealing with a company that holds a license to operate under such a head. If the agent doesn’t have a specialization in the business, then it is advised to check out for a new and better option.

A background check of the company- makes sure the company isn’t poorly sound!

Well, you need to probe a bit deeper into the background history of the company to rest assured about its overall market experience and performance throughout. Surely, you cannot risk your company’s fate in the hands of some novice professionals. Think again if you are doing something that way!

All in all, it is never too difficult to find out the best agents or companies that offer contractors general liability insurance with a commitment to catering to all your needs for the same. Just a bit of research and homework shall fetch you the best of all purposes.

Contractor Bonds

Ten Contractor Bond Marketing Tips To Increase Sales

June 16, 2018 | by agenda84

Every business experiences downtimes. If you’re in the construction industry, you’d be dealing with cyclical demands and fluctuating costs. The challenges are tough.

To grow your construction business, you must carry a valid California contractor license bond and nurture relationships with your clients. Here are some suggestions that will help you develop the perfect marketing strategy.

Contractors Bond Tips to Increase Sales

1. Specify your offer

As an enthusiastic entrepreneur, you want to provide your clients with the best services possible. Many construction businesses cram all of them into a single advertisement. But positioning yourself as a contractor with a surety bond who does everything isn’t likely to make much impact. Customers may doubt if you can do all that you say.

The trick is to create offers with separate landing pages for each. Do this periodically. When you get customers signing up for these little offers, you can ask if there’s anything else you can do for them.

2. Get referrals

Every entrepreneur understands that referrals are a vital part of what makes his business tick. Get testimonials from related businesses. Your electrician, carpenter, and plumber can share their positive experiences working with you.

Of course, client referrals are a must. Customer reviews make excellent ones. Word-of-mouth is what powers a business. Yelp is a popular platform for posting reviews. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with its terms of use.

3. Create a logo

A logo makes you recognizable at once. It enables clients to associate themselves with your company. You’ll only need to see golden arches to know that you’re near a McDonald’s restaurant. The effort to create a logo and brand that stands out usually pays off.

Be a socially-conscious contractor’s business

Being a socially conscious enterprise can increase your sales volume. You come across as trustworthy when you do good for the community. You can put up signs that state that your company’s environmentally friendly. For example, say that you avoid toxic chemicals and recycle excess materials.

One of the best ways to make people aware of your business is to volunteer within the community. Make a shelf for the elderly lady who needs a place to put all her books. Churches and religious organizations create many opportunities for community outreach. You could also team up with local charities, The word about your abilities will spread.

5. Introduce your Innovations

This marketing strategy is somewhat expensive, but it yields results. Perhaps you refurbished your clients’ homes with self-healing concrete, a material that your competitors don’t use yet. Introduce this innovation at an exhibition. You may incur costs, but we’ll get an audience.

6. Focus on progress, not just results

Many contractors have photographs that show off their completed projects. Of course, all clients want to see finished products. But do showcase your progress as well. Take snapshots of ongoing construction. Clients will understand your capabilities when they view the process.

Drones are useful tools. Track your project’s progress with aerial photography. It’s accurate and gives you and your clients a multi-angled view of the construction.

7. Have a niche

You should be familiar and competent with all types of construction. However, that isn’t enough. Being a niche specialist always gets customers’ attention. They will come to you because you have expertise in the area where they need help.

Having a niche also allows you to set higher charges. You may be more expensive, but you provide better quality than someone who’s not an expert.

8. Have a social media presence

Many construction companies aren’t active enough on LinkedIn or other social media. A public profile is essential for lead generation. It increases your chances of getting questions from interested parties. A social media presence raises brand awareness. You can also use social media platforms to run promotions.

9. Create videos

Another way to increase sales is to tap into visual media. Create videos that showcase your projects, and again, highlight the processes as well. Videos have a more significant visual impact than words.

10. Produce engaging content

One of the most effective promotion methods is to produce an article on Wikipedia or one that it can source. It creates traffic, which can turn into sales. Having your business showcases on Wikipedia also tells customers that it’s trustworthy.

Create engaging content for your website. Do-it-yourself articles(e.g., How to create a custom dresser) that go viral showcase your expertise and create buzz.

11. List yourself in directories

People use directories like Craigs List or Angie’s List to find out about businesses in their areas. Get yourself listed in one.

12. Have a party

Satisfied clients will be willing to give positive referrals. Throw a dinner party and encourage them to bring their friends. You’ll never know who else is looking for a contractor.

Use these contractor marketing tips to increase sales. They will enhance your brand’s presence.

Contractor Insurance

Your Contractor Isn’t Insured, Now What?

March 14, 2018March 20, 2018 | by agenda84

You have just found out you’re contractor isn’t insured, now what do you do? Do you know what can happen when you work with an uninsured contractor? Contractors should have at least two different types of insurance before they take on any project, liability and worker’s compensation. This not only protect the contractor but it protects you too. Liability will protect the construction site and imagine it is your home that is having work done and your contractor destroys a load bearing wall and your roof caves in, your homeowner’s policy is not going to fix the damage. So let’s look at some worst cast scenarios and why you only ever work with insured contractors.

Your Homeowners Policy Won’t Cover Damage

Not hiring an insured contractor puts the liability strictly on you. If your property or even the neighbor’s property gets damage then you are completely on the hook for the costs. That can mean being sued into bankruptcy. All homeowner’s policies will exclude damage done by a contractor without insurance and there is legal precedent that will support the insurance company should it ever come to court. The same goes if any of the crew of the construction company is hurt while on the job, no matter the circumstances you can be held liable.

Here is why you only work with an insured contractor.

The Most Basic Skills

When a contractor shows you that he has insurance he is demonstrating that he at least has the basic skills to get the job done. They didn’t learn trade on YouTube or from HGTV home improvement shows.

Protect Your Property

Not only does insurance protect your property while the project is ongoing it protects you into the future too. Suppose you are renovating your home in order to sell it and you want to improve the value first. Demonstrating to a potential buyer that a licensed contractor did the job maintains the value. Bottom line, uninsured contractors can lower your property values.

Third Party Property Damage

In an urban area houses can be pretty close together and it’s not unheard of for residential construction to cause damage to the house next door or even to people walking by. Whether the damage is cause by negligence on behalf of the contractor or just an unforeseen accident the damages will fall on you if the contractor isn’t properly covered.

You may think it is not really a big deal whether your contractor has insurance or not as long as he does a good job and does it cheaply. That’s exactly when things go wrong and do you really want to risk bankruptcy by not hiring a reputable contractor.