Wide Variance In Insurance Quotes

Thank you all for your contributions to this forum. I’ve learned so much in a few short weeks and I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of my equipment later this week.

I’ve read a number of posts about insurance and have reached out to most if not all of the companies mentioned. I’m also working with several local agents.

So far I have two quotes in. I don’t know much about insurance, but the coverage sounds roughly the same. I will take a deeper dive into the fine print and ask several questions before I move forward.

The variance between the two is almost $1,500 per year.

Is there something that I’m missing or should be asking? Or should I just do like most folks and pick whichever quote comes in between these two?

Commercial insurance is often audited so you’ll pay more if you earn more. Ask if they audit.

Look closely at the exceptions and coverage descriptions. I’ve had many agents say one thing then the quoted policy said another. They were all quick to back track or realize they couldn’t deliver on the coverage I wanted.

It needs to be in writing that what you wash and damage by washing is covered under the policy (my opinion). Companies word this differently.

Also the price difference might be if the underwriter is a B+++, A-, or A+ rated etc.

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Thanks. I will look into all of those points. I like the idea of having in writing exactly what I do and what I wash.

One of the agents asked about chemicals. Haven’t received her quote yet, but she didn’t seem all that concerned about it.

Yes…read that policy when you get it…there can be stipulations there that will make it useless if needed.

I feel like I am getting robbed for my insurance…but it is the cheapest that I can get complete coverage $1765 per year.

I now have two quotes at around $2,400 and another around $800.

I ran some specific scenarios by the agent with the lower quote and he’s due to get back to me. On the surface this sounds like it might be the useless if you need it type of coverage.

I’m looking forward to getting my hands on some policies and reading the details. Near as I can tell all the quotes are just numbers and really don’t mean much.

I had to get three quotes for insurance from three separate people using Erie insurance, they were all over the place. One of them made me fill out a 36 question application. Non of them insured me for walking on a roof, that would double my rates if not triple them. Ladders were ok. Took awhile to compare them all. I went with the one that was the most responsive to my calls and emails, some others, well, they got back to me when it was convenient for them.

Just go another one. Here are some of the details:

  • $2 million GAL
  • Products/ Completed Operations Included
  • Medical Expense Limit $5,000

The classification and description reads as follows: 91523 Cleaning of outside surfaces of buildings and other external structures.

Questions:

  • Is this language headed in the right direction for this business? Or should I ask for more specifics such as cleaning concrete services with chemicals and water pressure?
  • Is the Medical Expense limit high enough?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

The quote that was the most descriptive had this in it:

99952 CLEANING OUTSIDE SURFACES OF BUILDINGS BY WATER OR STEAM -
(Pressure Washing) - Includes power washing. Includes pressure washing of
driveways, sidewalks, and parking areas. Excludes maintenance or cleaning of
contractor’s equipment, watercraft, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, recreational
vehicles or automobiles. Excludes work on bridges, towers, water tanks or heights over
three (3) stories, work on roofs, any work involving water pressure over 4,000 PSI,
sandblasting.

Then had an exception that clearly stated it altered the coverage to allow roof work.

Frank Crum was $1756 a year. www.frankcrum.com

Man I really appreciate your help. I’ve go two quotes that are almost identical. Underwritten by Appalachian with Crum & Foster listed as the company. In the schedule of Hazards they have Pressure Washing 98522 listed. I’m not sure this is the same class as what you have. I’ll ask them to make this change and look it with and without roof work.

The quote I mention above is for $990.

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Hiscox wanted $1,500/mo when I called a couple years ago.:flushed:

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For ladder work only JDW was $1300 and Hiscox was $1000 for me in Texas.

The JDW quote is around $2,400. Also, in TX.

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Most of my Quotes were around 2,500$ :frowning: most likely because I’m just starting out and I’ve never been insured before. I felt like I was doomed. And I mean I contacted about every single insurance company. But surprisingly a local insurance company got me a quote for 800$… I have yet to completely find out all the details for I am still finishing my build but like everyone else said, find out the specific details in which they cover and keep shopping around until you find what works for you. There’s tons of info on this forum about insurance. These nice people have even made specific pages on google docs or PDFs linked in this forum on insurance based on experience which saves the headache. Good luck brother!

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Really!? Wow. Crazy.

I just went through this with Farm Bureau. Before I started doing house washes, I did mainly agricultural buildings predominantly hog barns. With that I had to have 2mil in coverage, and the work comp etc. Expanding into the residential & commercial my policy was fine as far as the 2 mil in liability and the comp etc, but the main issue they were having problems with was ladders/roofs. I ended up getting it in my contract that workers would not be above 16ft without a stationary lift vehicle. Anything up to 16ft can be done with only ladders. I think I am right around $278 a month roughly. They could care less what I was washing, the minute they saw ladders is when their alarms went off.

Thanks for the feedback. So far I’m not getting much static on ladders, All the quotes I’ve gotten are below 3 stories and no walking on roofs.

I spoke with an agent on Friday and his answer to several of my scenarios was to address them through T&Cs and Disclaimers and not to try to insure against every specific contingency.

On a side note, a lawyer friend of ours was over and I told her about the business. She told me one of the biggest things she’s seen is folks ripping up their feet with pressure washers. Her advice was no flip flops or crocks.

Update. Just got another quote for $6,527. Think I’ll keep searching.

Make sure they have care, custody and control. If you break a window your cleaning or destroy someone’s siding that you are cleaning and don’t have care, custody and control your not covered. It’s the main reason I have insurance.

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I’m having a tough time finding agents outside of JDW that understand that. I’ve got one that’s pretty good and I think she gets it but her quote is on the higher side. A couple of the $800 range quotes have no idea what I’m talking about. I have a gut feeling what they will offer will end up being useless should I need it. One that I gave some scenarios to has just stopped responding all together.

I’m wondering if insurance is getting so crazy due to DIY folks messing up and making claims.

I have lots of hardy plank down here so I want to make sure I’m all buttoned up on this. Thanks for the feedback.

Give them a few scenarios. If you break a window or damage siding you are cleaning will they cover you. See what they say.

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