Frustrated with roofing liability insurance pushing my rates through the roof
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DuctDoctor
·8mo·129 replies·108 participants
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DuctDoctor⚒️ JourneymanOP8mo
189
I'm a roofer with 15 years under my belt, and these liability insurance premiums are killing me. Just got hit with a 25% increase even though I haven't had a claim in years, all because of some new regs on fall protection for steep pitches. We're in Texas so hail storms mean constant roof inspections and repairs, but the insurers don't care about that. I use CertainTeed shingles mostly and always follow OSHA guidelines, but still, it's like they think every job's gonna end in a lawsuit. Anyone else dealing with this crap? Saw a post in the Roofing Contractors Facebook group where a guy said he switched carriers and saved $2k a year, but I'm not sure if that's legit.
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ShingleShuffler5⚒️ Journeyman8mo
49
man that sucks, same boat here with premiums doubling last year.
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TarPaperTitan⚒️ Journeyman8mo
25
dude tell me about it, roofing's risky enough without the insurance BS.
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NailBiter3⚒️ Journeyman8mo
26
yeah, feel your pain brother.
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RollerRandy⭐ Expert8mo
28
it's everywhere, not just you.
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TileTerror4⚒️ Journeyman8mo
40
insurance companies are vampires in this trade.
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PanelPusher6⚒️ Journeyman8mo
25
screw em all.
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RootRanger⚒️ Journeyman8mo
27
screw the insurers, they're the real thieves in roofing.
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LawnLizard3🔧 Apprentice8mo
46
preach, they jack up rates after one windy season.
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DirtBagDan3⚒️ Journeyman8mo
61
been there, premiums ate my whole winter profit.
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SpringSpecialist11⚒️ Journeyman8mo
60
ugh, same here man.
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FixItFred🔧 Apprentice7mo
43
goddamn it, switched to a new policy and still paying through the nose for basic liability.
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NotAnElectrician19⚒️ Journeyman7mo
37
try a trade-specific broker, might shave off some.
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RollerRandy⭐ Expert7mo
29
yeah but even they can't fix the hikes.
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NailBiter3⚒️ Journeyman7mo
41
brokers helped me a bit, worth a shot.
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AmpedUpApprentice⚒️ Journeyman7mo
26
i feel ya, just starting out and liability's already a nightmare.
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TenYearVet4⚒️ Journeyman7mo
103
hang in there kid, it gets worse lol.
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BoxHauler3⭐ Expert7mo
31
yep, solidarity from this old timer.
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FrameFreak3⭐ Expert7mo
81
insurance is a joke, one slip on a wet shingle and you're done.
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PickMaster2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
32
exactly, they don't get how we work up high.
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KeyTwister2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
35
damn, that texas hail must make it worse.
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PrunePro2⚒️ Journeyman7mo
26
yeah premiums suck, but skip em and you're screwed if OSHA audits.
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GarageGuru2⭐ Expert7mo
21
OSHA's the devil too.
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LadderLad3🔧 Apprentice7mo
38
sucks man, i just raised my quotes to cover it.
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BrushStrokePro14⚒️ Journeyman7mo
29
hell yeah, insurers are ruining small roofing crews.
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BloomBandit⚒️ Journeyman7mo
56
join the club, every roofer's pissed.
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TarPaperTitan⚒️ Journeyman7mo
21
controversial take: go bare bones coverage and self-insure the rest.
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TileTerror4⚒️ Journeyman7mo
34
get with a group policy through the NRCA, cuts costs by 30%.
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PanelPusher6⚒️ Journeyman7mo
40
shop around every year, i use an independent agent who knows roofing.
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LawnLizard3🔧 Apprentice7mo
40
frustrated as hell, had to lay off a helper because of the increase.
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SpringSpecialist11⚒️ Journeyman7mo
25
i hear you, it's brutal out there.
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NotAnElectrician19⚒️ Journeyman7mo
31
this crap is why i stick to flat roofs only.
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RollerRandy⭐ Expert7mo
24
finally got my liability down to $8k/year by bundling with workers comp.
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NailBiter3⚒️ Journeyman7mo
20
shady but some guys use offshore insurers, risky af.
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TenYearVet4⚒️ Journeyman7mo
27
help: document every job photo to fight claims.
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BoxHauler3⭐ Expert7mo
46
don't skimp on coverage, saw a roofer bankrupt from one fall.
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PickMaster2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
28
document everything and get good legal advice upfront.
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GarageGuru2⭐ Expert6mo
44
insurers and lawyers are the enemy.
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BloomBandit⚒️ Journeyman6mo
28
i feel that, premiums up 40% here too.
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VoltageVagabond2⭐ Expert6mo
24
love how we band together against this BS.
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PalletPro⚒️ Journeyman6mo
43
controversial: liability's overrated, focus on safety training instead.
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DustBunnyHunter6⭐ Expert6mo
29
watch out for those texas inspectors, they flag everything for liability.
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WireWhisperer3⭐ Expert6mo
30
collective rage: screw the whole system, time for union power.
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MiterMaster⚒️ Journeyman6mo
20
i'm with you, it's exhausting.
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PaintSplatter2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
20
bold opinion: drop full coverage if you're solo, pocket the savings.
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SprayMaster⚒️ Journeyman6mo
23
get certified with GAF, they offer discounted liability rates.
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FramingFool3⚒️ Journeyman6mo
45
had a claim last year, premiums tripled, total BS.
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HardwoodHero3⭐ Expert6mo
26
man, roofing life's tough enough without this.
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BlowerDoorBob⚒️ Journeyman6mo
36
proud i negotiated mine down 15% by proving clean record.
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SprayGunStan⭐ Expert6mo
41
fight me: general liability ain't worth it for small jobs.
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RoofRat2⚒️ Journeyman6mo
30
use apps like RoofLink for job docs to lower risk ratings.
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FuseFiend⚒️ Journeyman6mo
39
yeah, insurance is screwing us all.
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DustBunnySlayer5⚒️ Journeyman6mo
42
scaled my roofing biz to 5 trucks, liability's still my biggest expense.
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SparkPlugPro⚒️ Journeyman6mo
27
i get it, hang in there.
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PackRatMover⚒️ Journeyman6mo
42
frustrated too, quoted a big tear-off and insurance killed the margin.
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AmpedUpApprentice⚒️ Journeyman6mo
7
how do you guys handle subcontractors' liability?
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DirtBagLandscaper⚒️ Journeyman6mo
45
this is why i hate thursday renewals.
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ShingleShuffler⭐ Expert6mo
32
shady companies are driving up everyone's rates.
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JoltJester2⭐ Expert6mo
44
help: try captives like AmTrust for roofers.
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SafeCrackerSue🔧 Apprentice6mo
35
don't do umbrella policies, they're a ripoff.
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SpringSpecialist3⭐ Expert5mo
37
insurers hate roofing, period.
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SparkPlugMike⚒️ Journeyman5mo
20
built my company without claims, still pay premium.
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FloorFumbler⚒️ Journeyman5mo
41
proud of my zero claims streak, but rates don't care.
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PestPatrolPete⚒️ Journeyman5mo
45
warning: one bad review and watch premiums spike.
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TenYearVet21⚒️ Journeyman5mo
59
haha, my agent's like a used car salesman.
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DeadboltDave⭐ Expert5mo
36
got to $300k revenue, liability's 10% of overhead now.
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FittingFiend2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
39
we've come far fighting these hikes together.
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PestPatrol3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
61
lol, thought i was the only one cursing my policy.
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DrainDiver3⚒️ Journeyman5mo
29
proud i switched to a mutual insurer, saved big.
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FlooringFiasco2⚒️ Journeyman5mo
24
scaling up but liability's capping my growth.
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VoltageVampire⭐ Expert5mo
52
customer slipped on tarps, claim denied, now i'm pissed.
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PrimerPal⚒️ Journeyman5mo
42
got my certs renewed and still no break on rates.
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DuctTapeDave4🔧 Apprentice5mo
78
haha insurance adjusters are the worst.
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GateGuard⚒️ Journeyman5mo
31
insurers banding together to bleed us dry.
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TenYearVet9⭐ Expert5mo
24
yeah, total commiseration.
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WireWhisperer3⭐ Expert5mo
24
screw em, raise rates on clients.
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LiftLord⚒️ Journeyman5mo
45
i feel your frustration daily.
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BugBlasterBen⚒️ Journeyman5mo
20
man, this liability crap is endless.
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DustBunnyBoss⭐ Expert5mo
62
same here, can't catch a break.
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RodentRidder⭐ Expert5mo
9
how much are you paying yearly?
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NotAnElectrician5⚒️ Journeyman5mo
23
frustrated af with renewals.
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert5mo
43
yeah, it's a racket.
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GarageGuru9⚒️ Journeyman5mo
27
we're all in this mess.
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VentMaster99⚒️ Journeyman5mo
2
how do you document for audits?
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LatexLegend⭐ Expert4mo
25
proud i fought a claim and won.
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RollerRogue2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
39
get with a roofing association for group rates.
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VentilatorVic⚒️ Journeyman4mo
30
had to fire a sub over bad liability.
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VoltageVagabond2⭐ Expert4mo
39
try bundling with property insurance.
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ShingleShark6⚒️ Journeyman4mo
34
help: anyone use JobNimbus for risk tracking?
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KeyMaster99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
37
insurers love roofing claims.
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LockoutLulu⚒️ Journeyman4mo
46
i hear ya.
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RootRanger⚒️ Journeyman4mo
4
what's your deductible at?
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SpringSpecialist3⭐ Expert4mo
39
collective rage at the premiums.
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MulchMan⚒️ Journeyman4mo
43
switched carriers and saved 20%.
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OddJobOtto2⚒️ Journeyman4mo
42
don't ignore the exclusions clause.
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SparkSafety⚒️ Journeyman4mo
21
yeah, roofing's high risk for them.
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DrainDiver4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
25
built a safety program to lower rates.
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RoofRat99⚒️ Journeyman4mo
31
proud of my low claims ratio.
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TenYearVet19⚒️ Journeyman4mo
59
lol, my first claim was a bird strike.
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LadderLad⭐ Expert4mo
45
got to 10 years claim-free, still high rates.
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WattTheHeck14⚒️ Journeyman4mo
26
insurers are the villains here.
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SpraySavant4⚒️ Journeyman4mo
36
collective screw the system.
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MiterMaster⚒️ Journeyman4mo
26
man, i feel that.
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BugBlaster6🔧 Apprentice4mo
65
same struggles every renewal.
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ColorWheelCarl⚒️ Journeyman4mo
32
controversial: go uninsured for small gigs.
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PipeDreamer9🔧 Apprentice4mo
20
i get the frustration.
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NotAnElectrician⭐ Expert4mo
43
proud i negotiated better terms.
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DoorOpenerPro⚒️ Journeyman3mo
24
use QuickBooks to track liability costs.
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MulchMogul2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
28
yeah, it's tough.
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FixItFelix10⭐ Expert3mo
6
how do you vet new carriers?
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KeyMaster5⚒️ Journeyman3mo
39
warning: read the fine print on wind damage.
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WireWizard⭐ Expert3mo
33
insurers jack rates after storms.
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PipeLord4207⚒️ Journeyman3mo
90
haha, my policy's a joke.
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ColorCraze⚒️ Journeyman3mo
33
got my business licensed fresh, rates are killer.
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DustBusterDave⭐ Expert3mo
20
collective rage indeed.
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VacuumVanguard⚒️ Journeyman3mo
28
i feel ya brother.
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MopAndGloGuy⚒️ Journeyman3mo
8
how's the texas market for insurance?
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LeakHunter2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
26
help: recommend a good broker.
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PaintPusherPete⚒️ Journeyman3mo
39
screw the big insurers.
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WrenchWarrior⭐ Expert3mo
20
try state farm for trades.
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DrainDragon2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
21
warning: one lawsuit and you're toast.
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BoxTosser2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
4
help: what's NRCA's group policy like?
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FramingFool2⚒️ Journeyman3mo
37
collective frustration with hikes.
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StudStubborn⚒️ Journeyman3mo
40
yeah, roofing life's hard.
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PackRatPaul⚒️ Journeyman3mo
70
lol, birds causing claims? gold.
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FreonFanatic⚒️ Journeyman3mo
46
proud of dodging a big one last year.
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WireWizardWalt⭐ Expert3mo
27
help: audit your policy yearly.
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FixItFelix⚒️ Journeyman3mo
43
i feel that pain.
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VentKing⚒️ Journeyman3mo
4
how do you handle sub liability?
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BrushStrokePro13⚒️ Journeyman3mo
1
man, insurance companies are screwing us all with these rates, mine jumped 40% last year just cuz of one claim. sub liability is a nightmare, i tell my subs to carry their own or i walk away.