House Flipping & Real Estate Investor Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a house flipping & real estate investor 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 fix-and-flip investors and renovating real estate investors. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against the properties held and how renovations are done.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builders Risk / Renovation Property Coverage | Covers properties under renovation, including materials on site, where standard dwelling forms may not fit. | Core | |
| Vacancy Permit / Vacant Property Coverage | Restores coverage for vandalism, theft, and water damage after 60 days vacant — standard forms remove it. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers injuries to visitors, buyers at showings, and neighbors, and damage from renovation work. | Core | |
| Inland Marine / Tools & Materials | Covers tools, appliances, and materials stored at job sites or in transit before installation. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required if the investor has employees doing renovation work. | Situational | |
| Pollution / Lead Liability | Covers claims from lead paint, asbestos, or mold disturbed during renovation — often excluded. | Prevalent | |
| Professional / Disclosure Liability | Covers buyer claims of hidden defects or misrepresentation after sale. | Situational | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits across multiple properties and projects. | Prevalent | |
| Landlord Coverage | Needed for properties held as rentals — complete the landlord form. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed gap for this class is vacancy. Under the standard commercial property form, a building vacant for more than 60 consecutive days loses coverage for vandalism, theft, water damage, and glass breakage, and other losses are cut by 15%. Flips often sit empty between purchase, renovation, and sale, and whether a renovation counts as "vacant" is often disputed after a loss. The fix is a builders risk or renovation policy, or a vacancy permit, bought the day the property closes. Lead paint is the second gap: EPA requires flippers renovating pre-1978 homes to be Lead-Safe Certified, and is prioritizing enforcement.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your house flipping & real estate investor coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: House Flipping & Real Estate Investor Insurance · House Flipping & Real Estate Investor Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a house flipping & real estate investor business need?
The core coverages for a house flipping & real estate investor business are Builders Risk / Renovation Property Coverage, Vacancy Permit / Vacant Property Coverage, Commercial General Liability. 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 house flipping & real estate investor 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.