Home Inspector Insurance in Tennessee

Common risks for home inspectors

• Claims that you missed a defect
• Injuries while on roofs or in crawl spaces
• Damage to the home during inspection
• Data breaches
• Driving between inspections

Coverages home inspectors often consider

• Professional liability (E&O) Covers claims that your advice, design, or professional service caused a client a financial loss.
• General liability Helps if your business is blamed for injuring someone or damaging their property, and usually pays for a legal defense.
• Tools and equipment (inland marine) Covers tools and gear that travel to job sites or customer locations, or sit in your truck.
• Hired and non-owned auto Liability for when you or employees drive personal or rented cars on business errands.

Not every business needs every coverage. The right mix depends on your work, your contracts, and your budget. All coverage is subject to underwriting and the terms of the policy.

What a claim could look like

For example, imagine a buyer in Hendersonville finds water damage behind a wall after closing and says your inspection should have caught it. A claim like that may go to professional liability, depending on the facts and policy terms.

This is a hypothetical example for education only. Whether any claim is covered depends on the facts and your policy terms.

Tennessee rules to know

Licensing. If your work requires a state or local license or permit, check with the licensing board or office for any insurance or bonding rules. We can help you meet whatever they require.

Workers’ comp. Most Tennessee employers outside construction and coal mining must carry workers’ compensation once they have five or more employees, full- or part-time, per the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Even below that number, many owners choose to carry it.

We can review your requirements and help you shop workers’ compensation and the other coverages above with carriers that write home inspectors, subject to underwriting.

Certificates of insurance

Real estate brokerages may ask inspectors for certificates.

A certificate of insurance shows your coverage on the day it’s issued. If a contract asks for additional insured status or a waiver of subrogation, the policy usually needs an endorsement, not just a line on the certificate. Our certificate of insurance checklist walks through what to check.

What affects the cost

• The type of work you do and how it’s classified
• Annual revenue and payroll
• Number of employees and any subcontractors
• Where you work and the value of your equipment or property
• The limits and deductibles you choose
• Your claims history and years in business

We can’t promise a price ahead of time, but we can compare options and explain the trade-offs in plain English.

How Eric can help home inspectors

Agents and managers across Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Sumner, and Davidson counties juggle fast markets and lots of showings. As an independent agent affiliated with Hutsenpiller Insurance, Eric can review what you have, read your contract requirements with you, and help you shop options with more than one carrier. See how an independent agent works for you.

Related guides

• Real Estate Business Insurance in Tennessee
• All business types we can help
• Business insurance in Middle Tennessee
• General liability insurance
• Certificates and additional insureds explained
• General liability vs. professional liability
• Small business insurance checklist (PDF)
• Certificate of insurance checklist (PDF)
• Landlord insurance checklist