Switching From a Generalist Broker? Here’s How It Works
Most contractors don’t leave their broker over price. They leave after a rejected certificate holds up a mobilization, a five-figure audit bill nobody warned them about, or a renewal that came back higher with no explanation. If your business has outgrown an agency that also writes restaurants and homeowners policies, moving to a construction-specialist broker is simpler than most people expect — and it doesn’t require a coverage gap.
Signs You’ve Outgrown Your Broker
- Certificates take daysA GC asks for a COI and you’re still waiting two days later while the job moves without you.
- COIs get rejectedMissing CG 20 37 completed-ops wording, no primary & non-contributory, waiver not on the policy.
- Surprise audit billsNobody adjusted your payroll estimate when you grew, so the audit landed as one big invoice.
- Your X-Mod is never reviewedNo one checks the worksheet for misreported losses or payroll — errors that cost you every year.
- Renewal = same carrier, higher priceNo marketing, no options, no explanation of what changed.
- Nobody reads your contractsInsurance requirements get signed first and figured out after the GC’s compliance team rejects you.
- Wrap-ups are a mysteryEnrolled in an OCIP or CCIP and no one set up a wrap-off endorsement or payroll segregation.
- Your agency was acquiredThe person who knew your account is gone and you’re a ticket number at a national.
What a Construction-Specialist Broker Does Differently
Reviews contracts before you sign
We check insurance requirements against your current program so you know what’s missing before the bid, not after the award.
Issues COIs within 24 hours
Standard certificates with the right additional insured endorsements, issued within 24 hours of your request.
Writes to contract requirements
CG 20 10 and CG 20 37, primary & non-contributory, waivers of subrogation, and per-project aggregate — on the policy, not just the certificate.
Manages workers comp actively
Class code reviews, mid-term payroll adjustments, pay-as-you-go options, and an annual X-Mod worksheet check.
Shops construction markets
Admitted and specialty carriers that want contractor business — not whichever carrier the agency happens to have appointed.
Knows wrap-ups and public work
OCIP/CCIP enrollment, wrap-off endorsements, prevailing wage, and the insurance specs on airport, hospital, and public projects.
Two Ways to Switch
At renewal
Start 90–120 days before your policies renew. That gives us time to review your program, gather loss runs, and take your account to multiple carriers before your current broker does.
Your current policy stays in force until it expires; the new program starts the day it ends. No overlap, no gap.
Mid-term, with a broker of record letter
A broker of record (BOR) letter is a one-page authorization, signed on your letterhead, that tells your carrier you’ve appointed a new broker to service your existing policy.
Your policy, coverage, and premium stay exactly the same — only the broker servicing it changes. Carriers typically process a BOR within days; some give the current broker a short window to respond first.
Why timing matters: market blocking. Carriers generally work with only one broker per account. If your current broker submits your renewal to a carrier first, that carrier is “blocked” for any other broker — even one you’d prefer. Starting early, or using a BOR letter, keeps the best markets open for your account.
How the Switch Works
Request a program review
Tell us about your business below or call (949) 415-4567. We’ll ask when your policies renew and what’s been frustrating you.
We review what you have
Declarations pages, endorsements, loss runs, and your X-Mod — measured against the contracts you actually sign. You get a plain-English list of gaps and overlaps.
We shop your program
At renewal we take your account to multiple construction carriers. Mid-term, we file a BOR letter so we can service your existing policies right away.
You decide
Options side by side, with the differences in coverage explained — not just price. If staying put is the right call, we’ll tell you.
What to Have Ready
- Declarations pages for every current policy (GL, workers comp, auto, umbrella, inland marine)
- Five years of loss runs — request them from your carriers or current broker
- Payroll by class code, plus your most recent workers comp audit
- Your current X-Mod worksheet (WCIRB)
- A recent contract or the insurance requirements from your top two or three GCs
- Vehicle list and equipment schedule
Don’t have all of it? Start anyway — we can request most of it with your authorization.
Common Questions
Will I have a coverage gap?
No. At renewal, the new program starts the day the old one ends. Mid-term, a broker of record letter changes only who services the policy — the policy itself never stops.
Does switching cost anything?
There’s no fee to switch or for a program review. A BOR letter doesn’t change your premium mid-term; your price only changes at renewal, when you choose a new program.
Do I have to tell my current broker?
Not directly. The carrier notifies them when it processes a BOR letter, and a non-renewal at renewal time is routine. Many contractors send a short courtesy note anyway.
What if I like my carrier and just want better service?
That’s exactly what a broker of record letter is for. You keep your carrier and policy; you get a broker who knows construction.
How long does the review take?
It depends on how quickly loss runs and policy documents come in. Starting 90–120 days before renewal leaves room for a full review and a real marketing effort.
Is this a good fit for my company?
We work best with established contractors — typically 5+ employees and $1M to $25M+ in revenue — including GCs, specialty trades, general engineering contractors, and commercial builders.
Request a Program Review
One licensed construction broker. Multiple carriers shopped. No obligation.
General information, not legal advice. Broker of record procedures vary by carrier. Coverage is subject to underwriting and policy terms.