Handyman, insurance necessary?

[edro]

I have always been a DIYer, but I have a few tasks that I would rather pay someone to do.
One is staining our deck (I loath it this year), the other is a some high up work that requires a tall extension ladder that I do not have.

Both of these tasks can be done by a hillbilly.
I really don't need a fully insured professional.

Of course, the safest advice is to always hire a fully insured contractor... but...

Do you guys always require proof of insurance for handymen?
What is the real law on this type of thing?
Can they fake fall off the ladder and I am liable for $1M?

 

[BoomerD]

Yes. If they get hurt working on your property, you're liable if they don't have insurance to cover it.

That being said, I've hired "Joe from down the street" to do some light handyman work...and I KNOW he's not licensed or insured. BUT, I usually stay close by while he works.

 

[Newbian]

You are at fault only if they can find the body.

 

[thesmokingman]

You are at fault only if they can find the body.

At the end of the job, have him dig a hole?

 

[BoomerD]

At the START of the job, have him dig a hole? That way, you don't even have to pay for services rendered

 

[DrPizza]

I wouldn't worry at all for staining the deck. What's someone going to do? Get a sliver? But, I'd at least think twice about hiring someone to be up high on a ladder. Just how high up are we talking though?

 

[edro]

2 story house, top of the windows. Need a ~22ft extension ladder.

 

[boomerang]

Both of these tasks can be done by a hillbilly.

Interesting

 

[Mark R]

The insurance is not so much to protect the worker, but to protect you from their negligence.

So, if they are doing some work staining a deck, then decide to take a ciggy break, set fire to the stain and deck and burn half your house down, their insurance would pay for the damage. Without insurance, you'd have to sue the handyman personally for the cost of a new house, and that lawsuit is unlikely to be fruitful, even if you do win.

 

[FerrelGeek]

For the deckwork, you can probably get away without it, but for the second story work, get someone that's insured. Just google for handyman exterior painting services. A good number of people that do stuff like that for a living are insured.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Always ensure that anyone you hire has insurance. Otherwise, if Jethro climbs up his shaky, half-rotten wooden ladder and falls, your insurance is going to be paying his medical bills.

As an aside, I don't blame you about not wanting to get up high to do work - my upper gutters are 20+ feet high and the roof above them is super steep. I always hire people to do work up there.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Can these kind of businesses actually be run legally without insurance? Anyone working on the outside of my home, especially at an elevation that is off the ground, my business licensed, insured and bonded. Otherwise you are not a real business in my eyes.

And if you cannot afford to do business, then that is your problem.

 

[Humpy]

Your homeowners insurance may or may not include some type of workers comp/bodily injury coverage for a "casual employee". I think in some states it is required and probably in others no one has heard of it. If you have it you may as well utilize it and accept the risk. Just don't hire a retard.