Home Improvement Store Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a home improvement store business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for big-box and regional home improvement centers. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual products, locations, and operations.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Liability | Covers falling merchandise and forklift strikes on shoppers. | Core | |
| Products Liability | Covers tools, ladders, and appliances sold to DIY customers. | Core | |
| Commercial Property | Covers large buildings with lumber, paint, and propane. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers forklift, lifting, and racking injuries. | Core | |
| Umbrella / Excess | Adds limits for crush-injury verdicts. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers delivery and rental truck fleets. | Prevalent | |
| Contractors E&O / Installation | Covers faulty installs sold under the store's name. | Prevalent | |
| Pollution Liability | Covers paint, chemical, fertilizer, and propane releases. | Situational | |
| Inland Marine / Equipment | Covers the rental tool fleet off premises. | Situational | |
| Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers staff errands in personal vehicles. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by home centers is installation sold under the store's name but done by subcontractors. When an installer damages a home, the customer pursues the store; without enforced certificates, additional-insured status, and indemnity from installers, the store's GL absorbs the claim. Some retail GL forms also limit completed-operations coverage.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your home improvement store coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Home Improvement Store Insurance · Home Improvement Store Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a home improvement store business need?
The core coverages for a home improvement store business are General Liability, Products Liability, Commercial Property, Workers' Compensation, Umbrella / Excess. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my home improvement store coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.