This subject came up with another mechanic today. I firmly believe to be in business today without it is crazy. Please let me know if I am wrong in my thinking and why. 
Insurance?
- Thread starter PoolTable911
- Start date
Pat, I certainly know you do but anybody considering working in other peoples homes without insurance would be very foolish.
As a homeowner, sometimes i will ask a company thats servicing something in my home if they are insured. I usually have to provide a copy of our insurance certificate for some of the companies we contract for.
As a homeowner, sometimes i will ask a company thats servicing something in my home if they are insured. I usually have to provide a copy of our insurance certificate for some of the companies we contract for.
I've been in business for myself for 10 years. I have laibility insurance and think its a complete waste of money. I've had one claim in those 10 years. A lady said my employees scratched her new floor, which they did. She wanted the entire floor replaced. I turned this over to my insurance and they sent her a check for $1700. My deductible was $500 and they raised my rates for the next 3 years, which ended up costing me over $3000. It would have been cheaper to just pay the pay it myself and leave out the insurance company. But then whats the point in having insurance, what can you possibly do to someone house that you can't pay for. Heath insurance is most more important than liability insurance. If you don't have enough money for both, pick the health insurance.
Just curoius what type of claims mechanics have had that they couldn't pay out of pocket????
I had wax go through a slate hole on a $20,000 one of a kind oriental rug. Have worked in homes in excess of $10,000,000. Which have items in them I can not afford to go into my pocket for. To each is own but anyone working in my home better be insured.
Well,
Years ago down here a mechanic accidentally let a homeowners dog out which was promptly run over by a car. Judgment against mechanic. 15k!
You never really know what can happen. We work in a lot of very high end homes with our antique tables and flooring is VERY expensive. One of our jobs this year we were told to be very careful of a rug under the table which was valued at 75k. I really do not want to take the chance.
We sub for quite a few companies that REQUIRE liability insurance.
Years ago down here a mechanic accidentally let a homeowners dog out which was promptly run over by a car. Judgment against mechanic. 15k!
You never really know what can happen. We work in a lot of very high end homes with our antique tables and flooring is VERY expensive. One of our jobs this year we were told to be very careful of a rug under the table which was valued at 75k. I really do not want to take the chance.
We sub for quite a few companies that REQUIRE liability insurance.
Having insurance as a business is just part of doing business. I get more work from places that require it than i pay for it.
Anything can happen so it's nice to have it but I hope I never have to use it.
I am with you on that Pat. We are in some high end homes. I worked in a home in Malvern PA. with leather floors. Scratch that!
Yeah, sort of like life insurance!LOL
yeah, $20,000 is a huge. Did you actually have a $20K claim? Just curious what your rates in your part of the country. How were your rates affected after the large claim? and was your insurance cancalled.
I pay $75 per month for liability insurance, $75 per month for Commercial Auto Insurance, $5000 a year for Workers Comp (when I had employees) and $475 for Health Insurance. I think paying all this money is bullshit. The only thing that I ever used was health insurance. But like you guys said certain jobs require insurance and that's the only reason why I have it.
Not a mechanic, but I'm curious.
Do you charge the same rate for someone who wants you to install a table over an expensive rug as someone who just wants a good playing table in a garage?
Personally, if a job would require that amount of concern about potential damage, I'd probably double my rate. Why wouldn't I? Extra worries for the same pay? F that.
Do you charge the same rate for someone who wants you to install a table over an expensive rug as someone who just wants a good playing table in a garage?
Personally, if a job would require that amount of concern about potential damage, I'd probably double my rate. Why wouldn't I? Extra worries for the same pay? F that.
ChrisShanklin
Banned
I have run into problems but always paid out of pocket since it has always been cheaper than using insurance. Insurance is like financing, they may pay it up front, but you pay it in the long run.
I have learned over time, that a small bit of precaution can make keep you from any problem. I know everyone here won't agree, but contact adhesive will never enter my customers home, unless it NEEDS to be there. We always put down packing blankets to make sure nothing can happen. After our air compressor went up and damaged a customers carpet we make sure to be extremely cautious in a customers home.
I have to agree with some, I make more with insurance then without it. One thing I will never understand is all these online retailers subbing out all this work, but none of them require proof of insurance, or even if you are actually in business.
I wish health insurance was $75 a month, I would have it.
I have learned over time, that a small bit of precaution can make keep you from any problem. I know everyone here won't agree, but contact adhesive will never enter my customers home, unless it NEEDS to be there. We always put down packing blankets to make sure nothing can happen. After our air compressor went up and damaged a customers carpet we make sure to be extremely cautious in a customers home.
I have to agree with some, I make more with insurance then without it. One thing I will never understand is all these online retailers subbing out all this work, but none of them require proof of insurance, or even if you are actually in business.
I wish health insurance was $75 a month, I would have it.
If you charge $600 instead of $300 for an install and have an oops on that $10K rug it's still going to cost you the damages (or deductible) so you don't gain much in peace of mind. Part of this kind of work is using the same level of care regardless of where the table is setup. As for insurance it's better to pay a deductible and let the insurance company handle a claim compared to paying an attorney and still being liable for a damages judgement.
Pat,
The real protection insurance provides is personal injury for your customer, during and after the install.
Jay
The real protection insurance provides is personal injury for your customer, during and after the install.
Jay
Hey Donnie,
I actually got lucky and found a rug guy who came in and used a brown bag and iron. It sucked up the wax and did not damage the rug. My liability insurance is 100 a month and my van insurance is around the same. The van has only liability insurance on it. I used to pay $500 a month for my insurance until I got married and went on my wife's plan.
sounds like your a little paranoid. So you take the rail out to the truck every time you need to glue a facing or cushion?
This subject came up with another mechanic today. I firmly believe to be in business today without it is crazy. Please let me know if I am wrong in my thinking and why.
my point is this. should the customers really care if the billiard mechanic has insurance. Everyone seems to have it and has spent thousands of dollars to keep, but no one has actually used it or needed it. I have it but don't think I need it.
Donnie....If you don't think you need it. Why do you have it?
I think the customer should care. They could be held liable if someone gets hurt while working in their home. I have life insurance also,hopefully i"ll never need it!
ChrisShanklin
Banned
Not paranoid, better safe than sorry. Yes, we do take the rail out to the van if we need to glue anything. I don't do re-cushion jobs on site. If a customer needs more than two bumpers glued back on we take them back to the shop.