New construction. Remodels. ADUs. Multi-family. Commercial buildouts. We shop them all in 50 states.

Submit once. A licensed agent reads the project and shops it to carriers that match the project type, value, and location.

Every quote includes the standard course of construction coverages:

  • Coverage on the building under construction, materials on-site, and materials in transit
  • Term length matched to your schedule (3, 6, or 12 months, with extensions available)
  • Optional soft costs endorsement for loan interest, lost rents, and re-permitting
  • Theft and vandalism coverage, with sublimits that vary by carrier
  • Debris removal up to a stated sublimit

Common exclusions:

  • Employee tools and the GC’s owned equipment (covered separately under inland marine)
  • Existing structures during a renovation (add the existing-structure endorsement to include them)
  • Named-storm wind in coastal counties and earthquake on the West Coast (buy-back endorsements available for both)

More on new construction coverage and the the cost factors behind your premium.

Why your lender will accept this certificate

Construction lenders want three things from a builders risk certificate: the carrier’s A.M. Best rating, the named insured spelled correctly, and the lender named correctly as mortgagee.

BuildersRiskNerd places coverage through A-rated carriers. Most projects go to admitted markets. Tougher projects (high values, named-storm zones, prior losses) go to specialty non-admitted markets. Every carrier we shop holds an A.M. Best rating of A- or better. That’s the threshold most construction loans, agency loans, and warehouse lines need to see.

Every certificate runs through an ISAOA ATIMA formatter. The lender’s vesting line (“Its Successors and/or Assigns As Their Interests May Appear”) prints clean. Flag the project as financed in the form, and the loss payee endorsement gets added at bind.

What happens after you bind

Once payment goes through, the carrier issues the policy to the named insured.

Coverage begins on the date you selected. If that date is in the future, the policy turns on by itself when the day comes. Claims go directly to the carrier. Your BuildersRiskNerd agent stays the point of contact for endorsements and renewals.

If the project runs long (it often does), extending coverage takes about 60 seconds in the customer portal. Pick a new end date and accept the prorated premium. The carrier issues an endorsement extending the policy term.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a builders risk quote without talking to an agent?

Yes. This form IS the agent intake. Submit it and a licensed BuildersRiskNerd agent shops the project against carrier appetite. You get back two to four bindable quotes by email and pick the one to bind. Most quotes go out the same business day.

If the project has unusual needs (long vacancy gaps, frame construction in a coastal county, prior loss history), an agent reaches out to clarify before quoting.

What information do I need to bind a policy?

Most of what’s needed is in the quote form. To bind, you’ll also need three things:

  • The named insured’s full legal name (as it appears on title or LLC formation)
  • The construction lender’s name and address, if the project is financed
  • The deposit amount required by the carrier

Your BuildersRiskNerd agent confirms exact bind requirements when you select a quote.

What if my project is in a high-risk state?

BuildersRiskNerd quotes builders risk in all 50 states. Carrier appetite varies by region. California wildfire zones, Florida named-storm counties, and Texas hail belts each carry their own underwriting rules and deductible math. Every state has carriers willing to write coverage through admitted or non-admitted markets. The form routes your submission to carriers writing coverage in your area.

Do you cover homeowners as the named insured?

Yes. BuildersRiskNerd places homeowner-named policies for owner-builders, custom home buyers, and renovating homeowners. Some carriers prefer the GC as named insured with the homeowner as additional insured. Others write directly to the homeowner. The form lets you pick either structure. The agent confirms what works best for the project before bind.

BuildersRiskNerd is a brand of ContractorNerd Insurance Services, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (CA License #6015566). All insurance products and services are offered through ContractorNerd Insurance Services, LLC. We’re a broker, not an insurer. Policies are underwritten by admitted and non-admitted carriers. See what’s covered for a full coverage breakdown.