The Contractor’s Blueprint: Why “General Liability” is Just the Beginning

The Contractor’s Blueprint: Why “General Liability” is Just the Beginning
If you work in the trades in Louisville—whether you are framing houses in Norton Commons, fixing plumbing in St. Matthews, or rewiring a historic building in Old Louisville—you know that time is money.

You also know that one accident can wipe out a year’s worth of profit.

At Dick Watts Insurance, we have insured Kentucky contractors for over 25 years. We know that you need more than just a piece of paper to show a general contractor; you need a policy that actually pays when things go wrong.

Here is the “Blueprint” for a bulletproof contractor’s policy.

1. General Liability: Your Ticket to the Job Site
   Most contractors treat General Liability (GL) as a “check-the-box” requirement to get a license or get on a job site. But it is your most vital shield.

What it does: It protects you if you accidentally damage a client’s property (e.g., drilling into a water pipe) or if a bystander gets hurt on your job site.

The “Completed Operations” Trap: Many cheap online policies stop covering you once the job is done. But what if the deck you built collapses six months later? You need a policy that includes Products & Completed Operations to protect you from claims that arise after you’ve left the site.

2. The “Inland Marine” Mystery (It’s About Your Tools)
   If you read your standard policy, you might be shocked to see that your expensive tools—your DeWalt drills, your compressors, your generators—are not covered once they leave your office.

If someone breaks into your truck at a job site or your trailer is stolen from your driveway, a standard policy pays $0.

The Fix: You need an Inland Marine floater (also called “Tools & Equipment” coverage).

It follows your tools wherever they go—in your truck, at the job site, or in temporary storage.

It covers theft, vandalism, and damage during transit.

Cost: It is surprisingly cheap. Insuring $10,000 worth of tools often costs less than replacing a single high-end saw.

3. The Certificate of Insurance (COI) Headache
   We know the drill: You are ready to start a big project on Monday, but the General Contractor (GC) won’t let you on site until they have a Certificate of Insurance in their hand.

If you use a “1-800” insurance company, good luck getting a custom COI on a Friday afternoon. You’ll be stuck in a call center queue while your crew sits idle.

The Dick Watts Promise:
When you are a client of ours, you text or call us, and we get the COI to your GC fast. We know that if you aren’t working, you aren’t earning. We treat your deadlines like our deadlines.

4. Workers’ Comp & The “Ghost Policy”
   If you are a solo contractor, you might not have employees, but the GC still demands proof of Workers’ Compensation.

We can help you navigate exemption affidavits (if you qualify).

We can write “Ghost Policies” (minimum premium policies) that satisfy contract requirements without breaking the bank.

Build on a Solid Foundation
You wouldn’t build a house on a cracked foundation. Don’t build your business on a “cheap” insurance policy that has more holes than a sieve.

Whether you are a one-man handyman show or a large electrical firm, we have the markets to protect you.
Call Dick Watts Insurance at (502) 245-3625. Let’s get you covered and back to work.