How do I found out if he's insured?
I am thinking about going next to a gentleman from church to put surrounded by my sprinkler system. It is my understanding that he doesn't want to be bonded (it's just him), but should I trademark sure he has insurance? And if so, how do I budge over his head to label sure he is up to date on it? What exactly should it cover (ie. just within case he get hurt, or should I make sure it would cover any damages to my home or property?). Any extra thoughts would be appreciated, as we are putting within $2000 to have this done!
Answers:
Ask him for a copy of his certificate of insurance. If he won't make available it to you, or gives you a sturdy time about it, later you automatically know that you should not be dealing with this party. If he provides it, give the broker tabled on the certificate a christen. Not only can they transmit you if the policy is in force, they might know how to tell you if he's have any claims made against him, and if you can really sweet talk them into it they might be capable of tell you whether they enjoy trouble getting the guy to pay his insurance premiums in good time (could mean financial difficulty!). You might enjoy better luck getting more information if you go within person to the broker's department (if possible) with a copy of the authorization rather than doing it over the phone, if not be super polite on the phone!
This is easy -ask for a copy of his "binder" - it will schedule the insurance company, and then phone them to make sure his premium is remunerated up! This should be for workman's compensation as well as liability insurance ($2M umbrella liability is a virtuous standard policy).
By the way, you still want him bonded - what if HE steals from you?
Other suggestion - who will pull the contract? Make it him, because if he has you verbs the permit, consequently you're liable in crust there is a problem.
Get a contract - it should specify authentic materials (brand name, number and type of respectively sprinkler head, how thoughtful the pipes will be buried, the type and location of the controller (model # is best) - think of it as a "bill of materials" if you be going to do it yourself - find out how many regions near will be - and then compare to home depot recommendation - more regions is better - especially have your landscape on it's own region (because you'll water it differently than the grass) - carry a drawing of where the lines are (in baggage you ever have to verbs them up) - and try not to have any head close to driving areas (so you don't have to replace them when someone accidently drives over them).
You ask him to afford you a certificate of insurance. You want to be listed as the 'certificate holder' on that card. It should show general liabiltiy coverage, and workers compensation coverage, beside current dates.
A "binder" simply shows he applied for insurance and doesn't give you ANY assurance that coverage is currently within place. A Certificate of Insurance doesn't cost him anything, and there's a blurb at the bottom of it, that they will attempt to notify you if his coverage changes or get cancelled.
You can verify it by calling the agency that issued the certificate - their phone number should be at the top of the page, in close proximity their name and address.
His common liability is NOT going to cover his shoddy workmanship, or any damage he does to part of the pack of the home that HE was working on. You still want him to enjoy it, because it means he is legit. But you want him to show you that he has workers comp, surrounded by case he or his workers bring back injured on your premises - otherwise YOU are responsible for paying medical bills and lost wages, in most states - EVEN surrounded by states that don't require an employer to carry workers comp, similar to Texas, or to insure fewere than five workers.
re: first answer
In most states, you do not need workman's compensation unless you hold 5 or more workers/employees.
You can still just ask for his proof of insurance, name them, and find out if he's really insured through them, and what it covers.
if you want to check for insurance, you shouldnt enjoy to go over his organizer. Ask him straight up to provide proof of insurance, and references. If he cannot provide this, dance with someone else. Just because he go to your church, does not mean he is 100% trustworthy or surefire