You don't need a layer for this. The contractor just has to call his agent and give him your information. The agent will send you a certificate of insurance naming you.
If it is a one man job done by the owner, he will need liability but not workman's comp. The guy that took down my tree did that and had the certificate in an hour when he was going to start.
One contractor I'm talking to is from nearby PA. Says he has all the insurance but I will double check if I want to use him.
a certificate of insurance naming you is worthless - the certificate itself says so. You need a policy endorsement naming you, or a blanket additional insured coverage that covers you by its terms. If its terms are "as required by written contract with the insured" make sure your contract includes this requirement or the blanket coverage won't cover you.
I've never seen a certificate of insurance provided by a contractor that names "you". It simply shows what particular insurance a contractor has that covers him for liability, workman's comp, etc.
Wise property owners insist on being named as Additional Insureds, and making sure all the "i's" are dotted and all the "t's" crossed.
The certificates I get name us. I don't have them since I retired but some regular service providers (such as the air compressor service company) would send one every year. The one from my tree trimmer did to. It is a standard form they all use. '
See the second warning right up on to?
From what I've heard from friends with winter homes in Florida you are being generous. The 5:1 is optiministic on a GOOD day - mabee 10:1 in case of a minor disaster with local contractors, and one in a hundred when it comes to outside contractors after a major disaster (The "fly-by-nighters").One of the big issues the snowbirds report is getting quality work done at any price, on any kind of a schedule, particularly after a storm.
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