Inspectors E&O Insurance: Prices Drop, Time to Learn How to Shop

By now, you probably have seen firsthand that prices for most home inspector errors and omissions insurance (E&O) programs are lower than they have been in many years due to the “softening” insurance market. With prices for fuel, food and practically everything else rising almost daily, it’s a much needed break — some inspectors are saving $1,000 or more on their annual policy.

Minimum premiums for the lowest limit levels ($100,000) are hovering around $1,250 before taxes and fees, but as most of us understand, price is not the only factor to consider when shopping insurance. Price, coverage and service all matter. Yes, prices have dropped — now it’s time to learn how to shop.

Coverage: What does the base policy include?

If you have insurance currently, determine if the carrier offers coverage for prior acts and, if so is it included or does it increase your premium? How about next year when you renew — is it surcharged then? (Read more about prior acts coverage below.)

Is Referring Party coverage included? This provides coverage for real estate agents and can be a marketing tool to make you competitive. Most programs include it free.

Does the policy surcharge for each additional inspector or is everyone covered for the advertised rate/minimum premium? If there is a surcharge, how is it determined — by revenue or per inspector? Are independent contractors covered? If so, is there a surcharge? This coverage can come in handy if you have overflow work or a job you need help with because you don’t yet have the competency. This may not seem relevant in slow times, but markets can change, sometimes quickly. If your policy covers multiple inspectors without additional premium required, it allows you the freedom to assign work at any time, even one job, to a trusted independent contractor and know the coverage is in place. Or, if business dictates, it allows you to hire an inspector part- or full-time without having it come out of pocket.

If you want to add an inspector or independent contractor mid-term, what is required? Is it as easy as notifying the agent by e-mail, or do you have to apply for new coverage and/or wait for an answer? In fact, how easy is the application process overall? Is it streamlined and easy-to-complete or time-consuming and frustrating?

Are other coverages available and at what cost, such as WDO/WDI (wood-destroying organisms/insects), radon, pool, septic, code compliance and new construction and/or commercial inspections? If you don’t offer additional services now and think this doesn’t matter, consider that certain coverages, such as for commercial inspections, may be good to have in case you get the opportunity during the year to expand your services — to learn and earn. This is especially true if there is no surcharge (or no surcharge up to a certain percentage of your total revenue). Competency is always required. Most programs include coverage for some commercial work up to a certain percentage of revenue. If the coverage is in place when opportunity knocks, you can answer the door rather than spending time scrambling for coverage and/or paying an additional premium.  

Incidental coverage

What coverages are automatically included in the policies you are evaluating? There are other reasons for choosing a base policy that offers broad coverage besides expanding your income. Consider the following scenario: You miss hidden termite damage during a routine inspection. You didn’t purchase WDI because you don’t do pest inspections. Does your base policy offer incidental coverage for this risk? If not, you may be on your own. Even though your scope of work is clear that you are responsible only for what is visible, and even though this is probably spelled out clearly in your contract, it does not prevent an irate homeowner from trying to make you pay.

If a claim is unjustified or frivolous, a professionally worded letter in language that opposing counsel can understand, prepared by a claims adjuster hired on your behalf by your insurance carrier, may be all it takes to convince the claimant that you did your job as per the signed agreement and you are not backing down. (To read an actual claim-rebuttal letter, click “Claim Rebuttal Letter” on the home page at OREP.org.)

Having your policy cover such a scenario offers peace of mind even if you don’t do pest inspections. If you do pest inspections, does the E&O program you’re considering include this coverage? If not, how much additional is it? If it is free and/or is there a surcharge after a certain percentage of your revenue? Find out which coverages are included in the base policy you are considering and which you have to pay extra for: WDI (termite/pest), radon, commercial, pool/spa. When it comes to your E&O insurance, big price does not necessarily mean big coverage (and vice versa).

Are Bodily Injury/Property Damage (BIPD) and General Liability coverages available? BIPD and general liability are not the same and may even be different from policy to policy. If you want coverage for bodily injury and/or property damage claims that arise out of your professional services as an inspector (“after the fact” claims — a child is injured after the family moves into the subject home due to a collapsed porch that you allegedly missed in your report), as well as premises coverage while you’re at the property (you forget to turn the water off in the bathtub during an inspection and ruin the new floors), you may need both coverages. Ask your agent to explain the differences. If they are available, are the prices competitive?

Prior Acts: In a previous article, we discussed prior acts coverage and Claims Made policies in depth. The vast
majority of inspectors have Claims Made policies and most of the recognized home inspector programs provide prior acts free for qualified applicants. The key idea is simple: If you have insurance currently, you must renew on or before the expiration of the policy to ensure continuous coverage for past inspections. The same is true if you are switching insurance companies: Do so before your policy expires and you should have no problems maintaining prior acts. For a complete discussion of Claims Made policies and prior acts, click on the story “Inspector’s E&O Insurance: Market Softens – Prices Drop” on the home page at OREP.org.

Service

All things being equal, decide how you would like to be treated and where you want to spend your hard-earned money. The harder I work for my money (and the older I get), the more I seem to pay attention to where and how I spend it — this includes shopping for shoes or shopping for insurance. Does the agent want and appreciate your business? Does he or she seem to care that you receive the information you need to make the best decision for you even if it’s not their policy? Do they answer the phone and/or return calls promptly? Do they provide clear expectations about how the process works and how long quotes/documents will take? You deserve to be treated honestly, courteously and efficiently. If you’re successful in your business, chances are you’ve worked hard and understand the importance of customer service — your insurance agent should, too.

Disclaimer: This article is written from an insurance perspective and is meant to be used for informational purposes only. It is not the intent of this article to provide legal advice or advice for any specific fact, situation or circumstance. Contact legal counsel and your
insurance agent for specific advice.