If you live anywhere besides under a rock, there is a high chance that you have heard some scary stories about homeowners and/or rental properties hiring uninsured contractors. And if you have heard one, you have pretty much heard them all: A homeowner hires an uninsured contractor, something goes wrong, someone gets injured or property gets damaged. Although the details can vary based on the situation, there is always one common denominator: the homeowner is responsible for any accidents that may have happened on their property.
Before all else, we are human. Even someone that has had every training on ladder safety can lose their balance. If an uninsured contractor gets injured while working on your property, you may be responsible for medical costs and possible court fees. When looking for contractors for any type of job, be sure to ask whether or not they have worker’s compensation insurance. No one plans on getting hurt. However, even if all safety measures were taken prior to the start of the job, things happen. Hiring insured contractors may cost a little more in the beginning but can potentially save you thousands of dollars in the case of an injury.
Not worried about workers getting injured on the job? What about property damage? All it takes is the wrong tip being used during a pressure washing job and bye bye fence. Now if you are a homeowner, you most likely have homeowner’s insurance. However, even that may have gaps. This means there’s a high chance that you will be responsible for some, if not all, of the damage. To protect yourself and your pockets, consider hiring contractors with general liability insurance.
We can’t tell you who to hire to do work on your home or business. This information is just to help you make a decision that will provide you with good quality work and a peace of mind in case the unpredictable occurs. Not only does insurance protect your pockets, it tells you about the company and/ or contractor. A lack of insurance could mean that you aren’t working with a legitimate company. On the contrary, if the contractors are fully insured, it shows that they take their work seriously. At the end of the day, the decision is yours. Do your research. Saving $100 can cost you thousands if something goes wrong.
Thank you for taking time to read this blog. We hope this information helped!
T.D and the Soap on a Rope Crew!