Insurance tip for cleaning crews: covering client property damage
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DirtDoctor
·1mo·13 replies·14 participants
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DirtDoctor⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo
69
Been in the cleaning biz for 15 years now, mostly residential jobs, and Jersey contractor life means dealing with old houses everywhere that hide all sorts of surprises. Last month I had a crew member knock over a $800 antique vase while deep-cleaning a foyer with the Hoover commercial vac, and my general liability policy kicked in without a hitch. If you're skimping on insurance thinking nothing bad happens with just mops and buckets, think again, especially with heavy-duty stuff like floor buffers or carpet extractors. Get at least $1M coverage for property damage, and make sure it includes your tools and any rented equipment. We've had to file claims for scratched hardwood from a misplaced steam cleaner, and it saved my ass twice already. Don't wait for a lawsuit over a spilled bleach bottle to learn this the hard way.
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FumeFighter⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, been there with a crew tipping over a $500 lamp during a deep clean... insurance saved my bacon but that claim process is a real pain.
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WattTheHeck15⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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skipped on that extra rider for rented gear once and it bit me hard when a buffer chewed up some $1200 cabinets in a flip house. dont be the idiot who thinks mops cant cause chaos, get the full $2M umbrella or youre screwed on a big claim. had a buddy get sued over a knocked-over heirloom mirror and his basic policy left him holding the bag for half the payout.
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Insul8r⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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gl insurance is a scam for small crews, they drag their feet on claims until you're broke fighting it. i've seen guys pay out of pocket for $2k in damages because the fine print excludes 'accidental' stuff like your vase smash, even with $1m coverage. screw that, i just tell clients their homeowners policy covers our screwups better anyway, saves me the hassle. fight me if you think i'm wrong, but i've dodged two bullets that way.
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WireWizard6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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had a buddy in cleaning who skipped the right coverage and got sued for 5k after his guy dented a customer's granite counter with a full bucket of supplies. don't skimp on that inland marine rider for tools and gear, it covers more than you think when shit hits the fan on a job. saw another crew get hit with a $20k claim for water damage from a burst hose on their extractor, and their policy barely paid out half. get it reviewed every year, policies change and you don't wanna be caught with your pants down.
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PestPatrol7⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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add an umbrella policy on top of that $1M GL for extra peace of mind, i bumped mine up to $2M after a close call with a client's marble countertop and it only cost an extra $400 a year.
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SparkPlugDummy2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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damn, insurance companies act like theyre doing you a favor when you file a claim, took me three weeks and a stack of paperwork just to get reimbursed for a busted lamp last year.
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SawdustSavant2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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upped my gl to 2M last year after a similar screw-up with a floor buffer and it covered the $1200 in damages without a single hassle. makes me feel bulletproof knowing i've got that safety net for the crew's oops moments.
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JoistJester⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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shop around for endorsements on that GL policy to cover inland marine for your tools too, i added it last year after a buffer went missing and it paid out $2k no questions asked.
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TileTerror6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
5
bump up to $2M if you're doing any commercial gigs, saves you from nickel-and-diming on deductibles. also, add a rider for tools in transit; had mine stolen outta the van last year and it covered the bissell proheat without a fight.
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GreenThumbGuru6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Fucking insurance companies are the real thieves here, jacking up premiums every year while barely covering shit when you need it. Had a similar mess with a client's marble countertop etched from the wrong cleaner, and they dragged their feet for months.
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FlushForce2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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yeah tell me about it, waited 6 weeks for payout on a broken window from my pressure washer hose whipping around. total BS.
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TarHeelTiler3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Man, that vase story hits home. I got hit with a $500 claim last year for a ripped curtain during window cleaning, and my policy barely covered half after the deductible. Switched providers after that crap, but rates still suck.
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SparkShyGuy🔧 Apprentice1mo
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Same boat, bro. Dropped a client's fancy lamp trying to vac under the couch, and the claim process was a nightmare but at least it got sorted eventually. Fingers crossed we don't get burned too bad next time.
