Residential Home Builder Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a residential home builder 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 custom, spec, and production residential home builders. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual 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 (Incl. | Completed Operations) Covers defect-driven property damage and injuries for years after closing; check for residential exclusions. | Core | |
| Builder's Risk | Covers homes under construction against fire, theft, and weather. | Core | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Community-wide defect claims and HOA suits exceed primary limits. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers field employees and uninsured subcontractors' workers in many states. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers superintendents' and crews' trucks. | Core | |
| Contractors Equipment / Inland Marine | Covers tools, equipment, and materials on site. | Prevalent | |
| Contractors Pollution Liability | Covers mold, soils, and stormwater runoff claims GL may exclude. | Prevalent | |
| Wrap-Up (OCIP / CCIP) | Consolidates coverage for you and your subs on a project. | Situational | |
| Professional Liability | Needed if you design or provide engineering in house. | Situational | |
| Home Warranty / Structural Warranty Program | Backs the written warranty you give buyers. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by home builders is subcontractor coverage that won't respond. Builders recover defect costs mainly through subs' policies, but many subs carry residential, tract-housing, or condo exclusions or lack completed-operations additional insured coverage, and certificates are lost long before the 10-year repose runs out. Review subs' policies for exclusions, require CG 20 37 completed-operations coverage, and keep records.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your residential home builder coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Residential Home Builder Insurance · Residential Home Builder Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a residential home builder business need?
The core coverages for a residential home builder business are General Liability (Incl., Builder's Risk, Umbrella / Excess Liability, Workers' Compensation, Commercial Auto. 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 residential home builder 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.