From rough framing to final walkthrough, Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc. offers Builders’ Risk Personal Lines Insurance to cover property owners and contractors during residential construction projects. This program is designed for new home construction, major remodels, and renovations. It is written primarily on a non-admitted homeowners platform, giving you a flexible option when a standard homeowners policy is not suitable.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
This program is intended for residential construction risks with a clear timeline and insurable interest. Typical accounts include:
- Owner-builders constructing a primary or secondary residence
- Homeowners completing major remodeling or structural projects
- Contractors building or renovating single-family homes on behalf of owners
Accounts that generally fit: ground-up single-family homes, significant additions, and multi-phase remodels where value-at-risk is documented. For projects that cannot be placed on a standard homeowners form during construction, you can often use the Dwelling Fire option to maintain coverage through completion and occupancy.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
Colonial General’s Builders’ Risk Personal Lines program is built to make submissions and servicing straightforward for agents:
- Streamlined application and one-time paperwork for the project
- Bundled policy options reduce marketing effort and improve placement speed
- Underwritten for residential construction from ground-up through completion
- Option to insure to completed value
- Contractor information can be provided to support underwriting and expedite quotes
- Backed by stable market relationships (carrier availability varies by risk and state)
Dwelling Fire Policy Options
When a homeowners form isn’t appropriate, the program offers Dwelling Fire alternatives to bridge coverage gaps during construction:
- Short-term policy periods: 3, 6, 9, or 12 months
- DP-1 or DP-3 broadness of form depending on the risk
- Premises liability available to protect owners and contractors on site
Underwriting Notes and Flexibility
This program operates on a non-admitted basis with some admitted markets available depending on location and risk. Underwriting reviews each project individually; providing clear project scope, construction timeline, estimated completed value, and contractor details up front speeds the process. Typical considerations include construction stage, security and fire protections onsite, and whether the property will be occupied before completion.
Territories and Availability
Available in the following Western states:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Utah
- Wyoming
Why Work With Colonial General?
As an MGA and Excess & Surplus Lines broker, Colonial General combines personal lines expertise with access to multiple markets for construction risks. Our underwriters know how to structure builders’ risk and dwelling fire placements for owner-occupied projects and contractor-managed builds. We provide responsive support through quote, bind, and policy administration to help you place tricky residential construction accounts.
Example scenarios: You might have a client building a vacation home in Colorado who needs coverage through completion, or a homeowner in Arizona undertaking a major addition where a standard homeowners policy won’t apply during construction. Colonial General can help you find the appropriate form and term to protect the client while work is in progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accounts are a good fit for this program?
Property owners or contractors involved in residential new construction, major remodels, or additions are the primary targets for this program.
Can I use this program for short-term construction projects?
Yes. If a homeowners form is not appropriate during construction, short-term coverage is available through the Dwelling Fire option for 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.
Is this program admitted or non-admitted?
The program is written primarily on a non-admitted basis. Some admitted markets may be available depending on the state and specific risk.
What information is needed to submit a risk?
Provide basic project details, estimated completed value, construction timeline, and contractor information (if applicable) to help underwriters evaluate the submission quickly.
In which states is this program available?
This program is available in AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.