Handyman Insurance Checklist

Handyman insurance requirements checklist

Business: ________________ Contact: ________________ State: ________________ Job or client: ________________ Requester type: ________________ Certificate due date: ________________

Use this checklist before requesting quotes or certificates. Check the contract first, then ask the agent or carrier to confirm whether each item is included, excluded, or available by endorsement.

For direct homeowner work, confirm whether the client only needs proof of insurance or has written contract terms.

• Certificate of insurance can be issued before work starts if requested.
• General liability is quoted for third-party bodily injury and property damage claims, subject to policy terms.
• Confirm whether the client asks for any specific general liability limit.
• Tools and equipment coverage is reviewed separately from general liability for tools moved between jobs, vehicles, and job sites.
• Commercial auto is reviewed if a pickup, van, trailer, or other vehicle is used to travel to jobs.
• Workers compensation is reviewed if the business has employees or the job contract requires it.
• Work type is described accurately, including whether any roof work, framing, exterior doors, windows, siding, flashing, waterproofing, or rough carpentry is performed.

For property managers or commercial clients, ask for the written insurance requirements before binding coverage.

• Certificate of insurance is required before work begins.
• General liability limit requested by the contract is identified.
• If the contract uses common subcontractor-style limits, review $1,000,000 each occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate with the agent or carrier.
• Products-completed operations aggregate is checked if the contract asks for completed work coverage.
• Additional insured wording is requested for the owner, property manager, or other required parties if the contract requires it.
• Primary and noncontributory wording is requested if the contract says the handyman policy must respond first.
• Waiver of subrogation is requested if the contract asks the carrier to waive recovery rights against the owner, manager, or other parties.
• Tools and equipment coverage is reviewed if tools are transported, used, or stored away from the business address.
• Commercial auto is reviewed if work vehicles are used for site travel.
• Workers compensation and employers liability are reviewed if employees are used or the contract requires them.

For GC or construction-project work, compare the subcontract requirements to the quote before work starts.

Standard contract limit checks from a subcontractor requirement example:

• General liability: $1,000,000 each occurrence.
• Personal and advertising injury: $1,000,000.
• Products-completed operations aggregate: $2,000,000.
• General aggregate: $2,000,000.

Higher-exposure scope checks:

• Ask whether the contract requires $5,000,000 each occurrence and $5,000,000 aggregates.
• Review higher-limit triggers before accepting exterior siding, flashing, skylights, windows, exterior doors, waterproofing, exterior sheet metal, rough carpentry, scaffold operations, or crane operations.
• Do not assume every handyman job needs $5,000,000 limits; confirm the written contract and work scope.

Endorsement checks:

• Additional insured status is requested for the GC, owner, and other required parties.
• Ongoing operations additional insured wording is reviewed.
• Completed operations additional insured wording is reviewed if the contract asks for protection after work is finished.
• Primary and noncontributory wording is requested if required.
• Waiver of subrogation is requested for general liability and workers compensation if required.
• Workers compensation is handled as required by applicable law or contract.
• Employers liability is reviewed if the contract asks for at least $1,000,000 bodily injury limits.

Questions to send with the quote request:

• Can the policy issue certificates before work starts?
• Are additional insured endorsements available for this customer type?
• Are primary and noncontributory endorsements available?
• Are waiver of subrogation endorsements available for the required coverage lines?
• Are tools and equipment covered away from the main business address?
• Is commercial auto needed for the vehicles used on this job?
• Does the carrier accept the listed work type, including any framing, roof-adjacent work, exterior work, or rough carpentry?
• Will higher limits change the quote or require underwriting review?