Managing the Risks While Renovating the House

Few undertakings are as financially and emotionally stressful as a home renovation. From major makeovers like adding a new wing to less ambitious kitchen revamps, a potential hornet’s nest of liabilities can sting at any time. 

The risks begin with hiring the general contractor, increase in volume and complexity during the construction phase, and live on well after the project is completed, as it takes time for faulty craftsmanship to appear.

For the high-net-worth homeowner, there may be an even higher price to pay when the risks are not managed well. In the absence of enhanced security during the course of construction, their homes and the expensive materials stored onsite may become attractive targets for thieves. In the event of a loss during the renovation, they may be underinsured by hundreds of thousands, if not millions. And if the contractor lacks adequate insurance, it could result in expensive and protracted litigation.

The important thing to consider: With more money spent on renovations, high-net-worth families have more to lose.

Selecting the Right Contractor

Having endured my own kitchen and bathroom renovations through the years, I’m personally acquainted with the stress levels these projects induce. I recently shared my experiences with Eric Bossuk, an agent who specializes in the insurance and risk management needs of a high-net-worth clientele. Eric has plenty of stories of what can go wrong when scant attention is given to the projects’ risks. Rarely do so many different and complex property and liability financial exposures arise from a single enterprise.

“It’s really quite alarming,” said Eric, who is CEO of B&B Premier Insurance Solutions, Inc., in Agoura Hills, California. “Not only are the risks thorny, there’s also the possibility of having inferior limits of insurance protection or no protection at all because the homeowner failed to comply with policy requirements.”

Before we tackle the latter scenario, let’s first address the most important decision a wealthy homeowner must make before commencing a major renovation—choosing the right contractor. Not only will this person be in charge of the project and contracted to abide by certain project rules, a timetable and an overall budget, but he or she must also assemble the various subcontractors that come together to complete the job.

Most general contractors are reputable businesses that are fully credentialed, and have their previous work histories listed with the Better Business Bureau and similar organizations. The question is: How reputable are the subcontractors chosen to perform specific tasks like plumbing, roofing and the electrical system?

If even one contractor is a bad apple, the risks to personal safety and the security of possessions loom large. Eric provided a sensible resolution —require the general contractor to verify and validate the subcontractors’ licensure and experience, as well as document their background screening. Not all contractors specialize in all types of home renovations, especially homes that are older or historic. “You need to have a contractor and subs that are experienced in working on these kinds of homes,” Eric said. “The subs must be experts in particular craftsmanship, such as woodwork or stained glass. They need to understand subtleties like the right type of plaster and mortar composed partly of lime, as these were the construction methods decades ago.”

When recruiting a general contractor, insist on viewing the firm’s completed projects. Visit these homes and question the homeowners as to whether there were any problems money- or time-wise, if the worksite was safe and whether the workmen were courteous and polite. If a concern is noted, discuss it with the general contractor.

Unique Insurance Considerations