Many homeowners across Middle Tennessee take on renovation projects each year, especially as our older homes in Nashville, Franklin, and surrounding areas need updating. While most contractor experiences go smoothly, accidents can happen during renovations or repairs that leave homeowners wondering: “Will my insurance cover this damage?”

The Contractor Damage Dilemma

When you hire a professional to work on your home, you expect quality craftsmanship. Unfortunately, even the most careful contractors can make mistakes. From a plumber accidentally flooding your bathroom to a roofer damaging your siding, these situations leave homeowners stressed and confused about who’s responsible for the repairs.

How Your Homeowners’ Insurance May Respond to Contractor Damage

Your standard homeowners policy typically includes several types of coverage that might apply when a contractor damages your property:

Dwelling Coverage: If your home’s structure sustains damage during a renovation project, your dwelling coverage may help pay for repairs to walls, floors, or other structural elements.

Personal Property Coverage: When your belongings get damaged during construction work, this coverage could help replace or repair affected items.

Loss of Use Coverage: If contractor damage makes your home temporarily uninhabitable, this coverage helps with additional living expenses like hotel stays and restaurant meals while repairs are underway.

Personal Liability Coverage: This typically protects you if someone gets injured on your property, but rarely applies to contractor-related incidents since contractors should carry their own liability insurance.

The Tennessee Perspective on Contractor Insurance

Here in Middle Tennessee, our changing seasons and weather patterns create unique challenges for home construction and renovation. From summer storms to winter freezes, contractors working on your property need to be prepared for our local conditions.

Tennessee state law requires contractors to be licensed and insured for projects valued over $25,000, but many homeowners don’t realize this doesn’t guarantee comprehensive coverage for all possible damages.

Subrogation: When Your Insurance Company Takes Action

If your insurance company pays for damage caused by a contractor, they may pursue subrogation—essentially seeking reimbursement from the responsible party. If successful, your insurance company might even refund your deductible. This process often happens behind the scenes while your claim gets processed.

Protecting Your Middle Tennessee Home from Contractor Damage

Before starting any home improvement project, consider these protective measures:

1. Choose Contractors Wisely

• Check reviews on local platforms specific to the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area
• Verify licensing through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
• Ask neighbors and friends in your community for recommendations
• Request references from previous local projects

2. Verify Insurance Coverage

• Request certificates of insurance directly from the contractor’s insurance provider
• Confirm adequate general liability coverage limits (generally $1 million minimum)
• Verify workers’ compensation coverage for the contractor’s employees
• Check if their policy covers subcontractors they might bring to your property

3. Document Everything

• Take before and after photos of your property
• Get detailed contracts specifying materials, timelines, and responsibilities
• Keep all communication records, especially discussions about potential problems
• Create written change orders for any modifications to the original plan

When to Contact Benton White Insurance

As your local insurance experts in Middle Tennessee, we recommend contacting us:

• Before starting major renovation projects to review your current coverage
• Immediately if a contractor damages your property
• When you need guidance navigating the claims process
• If you’re unsure whether to file a claim or work directly with the contractor

Our Middle Tennessee Advantage

At Benton White Insurance, we understand the unique challenges homeowners face in Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, and surrounding counties. Our team has decades of combined experience helping local homeowners through renovation disasters, contractor disputes, and insurance claims.

Unlike national insurance providers, we know the local construction industry, weather patterns, and building codes that affect your home and renovation projects. This local expertise allows us to provide tailored advice that generic insurance resources simply can’t match.

Taking the Next Step

If you’re planning a renovation or experiencing contractor-related damage, don’t navigate these complex waters alone. Contact our Middle Tennessee insurance experts for personalized guidance on protecting your most valuable asset—your home.

Remember, the right insurance coverage provides more than financial protection—it delivers peace of mind during your home improvement journey.

If you are considering working on your home and want to make sure you understand your coverage, you can call us at any time. At Benton White Insurance, we ask that you call us BEFORE you file a claim for contractor damage.  We can save you money and time.  Those “bad actors” will knock on your door and offer you more than they can deliver – almost every time.  We can help you cut through all of that.

THANK YOU for your trust in what we do.  We’re here to help.  Let us help you if you have a claim. We will make it much easier on you for sure.

TEXT or CALL us at 615.377.1212 or EMAIL us at info@BentonWhite.com.  Also, on our website – BentonWhite.com, you can get more claim information and file a claim from the site.  Let us know how we can help you as we ‘earn’ your business!

This information is provided to help you understand insurance. Any coverage is subject to the terms of your policy. Please refer to your policy and declarations page for complete coverage details.