I need to get 2 big trees cut down that are at my investment property. Both are very close to the house and one tree is hanging over the neighbor’s house. It’s in a small town. I am requesting for the tree cutter to have liability insurance, worker’s comp insurance and to name me as an additional insured to make sure that I will not need to use my own insurance if something happens. They are all acting as if I am asking for too much. What are your thoughts on this? One tree guy claims that what my research shows online regarding what to ask for is untrue.
I am in Georgia.
Posted by Head_League1013
10 Comments
Find another tree company that is willing to provide this information to you. When you own commercial property, you can require all contractors do this for you or they don’t get the job. Tree removal companies are everywhere
Find a new tree guy. He’s probably not insured because what you’re asking for is reasonable and trivial to get. (Assuming that you’re not asking to be added as AI on the WC policy, which you won’t get.)
You’re asking for too much.
It depends on what state you’re talking about.
Some states don’t require liability coverage and worker’s comp insurance at ALL (namely Texas). Some states have a work comp requirement but only after you reach a certain number of employees.
And I don’t know why you’d want to be listed as an additional insured – although it’s your property I don’t know of any scenario where you’d be liability for the work of others there
depending on your state if the tree company is just owner/operator they may not be required to carry worker’s comp.
But asking for COIs everyone should do. but that will list the companies and policy numbers for all their lines of biz.
Adding you on as an additional insured costs them money and depending on what carrier they are with it could be a substantial fee. I’ve seen some E&S carriers charge $250-$500 for it.
Additional inured for a residential job is typically overkill and no one wants to deal with it. If they cause any damage to a neighbor or anything just give them a copy of the COI and they can file directly with the companies insurance.
CGL i would say is a must but they are hired for a single job and not employees of the household so i wouldn’t worry about WC and adding you as additional insured i also think is overkill but to each their own.
I would also call the agent/broker listed on those certificates to confirm the policies are still active. I was hiring a tree trimmer and called the agent to confirm coverage. The agent: “Insurance was cancelled a few years back! Tell that som bitch he still owes us money.”
Do not use this tree company. It sounds like they are doing the work without the proper coverage. You are 100% correct to ask them for everything you asked for & it is their responsiblity to supply it. If they’re not supplying it, they don’t have it. Someone who is legit, wouldn’t bat an eye at your request. It’s what should be requested from them for EVERY job they do.
Had a similar issue a few years ago. Ended up going with a tree company that charged a bit more but was fully insured. He had no issues.
A month or so later the uninsured tree company we didn’t use went out of business because they damaged a home while cutting down a tree. The owner was sued and it for ugly for him.
Why do the trees need to come down?
You probably wont get anyone to list you as additionally insured, and there is little reason to.
Just get a certificate of insurance and leave it at that.
If it’s an owner operator (or specific other situations), they may not have workmans comp. In that case, just have them write up something acknowledging that they alone are responsible for their own potential injuries.
Simple reality, though, is that most homeowners just call some names with a good website and pick one based on a gut feeling. A lot of tree guys stay busy, so if you go above and beyond what the next guy asks for, only a slow company will deal with you. That is usually the underperforming companies and/or the overpriced ones.
The tree company should already have GL and WC coverage, and if you’re willing to pay to be added as an additional insured on the GL policy, they should be willing to oblige. There’s usually a charge to add the homeowner to the policy for a specific job, and you should be willing to absorb that charge if you want the coverage.
If there aren’t enough tree services in that small town, expand your search radius.