# Insurance for facilities? **URL:** \ **Category:** Business/Operations\ **Created:** [September 10, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/insurance-for-facilities/984 "2008-09-10T20:46:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kelly\_Brown](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Kelly\_Brown](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Kelly_Brown)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/insurance-for-facilities/984/1 "2008-09-10T20:46:19Z")
I just got off the phone with our insurer and they are having a heck of a time trying to get an underwriter for us. It looks like they're going to get it done -- but I can't believe it'd even be an issue. We're really just renting office space and then allowing people to come in and work. (Some of) The underwriters are saying they need to know what each and every member's company does as there's risk associated with it -- (like one of us might be testing fire retardant pajamas in the facility). Anywhoo -- anyone else run into trouble? Anyone have any guidance on how they got their places insured to meet the landlord requirements? Any leads on coworking friendly insurers? Kelly Brown Office Space Coworking [www.officespacecoworking.com](http://www.officespacecoworking.com) ---
**Author:** ![Gmail\_User](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Gmail\_User](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Gmail_User)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/insurance-for-facilities/984/2 "2008-09-10T20:48:26Z")
Because we run our space as a Citizen Agency space that shares their office with others, we just make sure that everyone knows they are responsible for their own insurance. But it would be a different story, if Citizen Space was a business. T > **···** > > On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 1:46 PM, Kelly Brown [kela...@gmail.com](mailto:kela...@gmail.com) wrote: > > > I just got off the phone with our insurer and they are having a heck > > > > of a time trying to get an underwriter for us. It looks like they’re > > > > going to get it done – but I can’t believe it’d even be an issue. > > > > We’re really just renting office space and then allowing people to > > > > come in and work. > > > > (Some of) The underwriters are saying they need to know what each and > > > > every member’s company does as there’s risk associated with it – > > > > (like one of us might be testing fire retardant pajamas in the > > > > facility). > > > > Anywhoo – anyone else run into trouble? > > > > Anyone have any guidance on how they got their places insured to meet > > > > the landlord requirements? > > > > Any leads on coworking friendly insurers? > > > > Kelly Brown > > > > Office Space Coworking > > > > [www.officespacecoworking.com](http://www.officespacecoworking.com) > > – > tara ‘missrogue’ hunt > coFounder > Citizen Agency ([www.citizenagency.com](http://www.citizenagency.com)) > blog: [www.horsepigcow.com](http://www.horsepigcow.com) > > phone: 415-694-1951 > fax: 415-727-5335 ---
**Author:** ![jacobsayles](https://forum.coworking.org/user_avatar/forum.coworking.org/jacobsayles/32/347_2.png) [@jacobsayles](https://forum.coworking.org/u/jacobsayles)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/insurance-for-facilities/984/3 "2008-09-10T20:51:03Z")
We didn’t have any problems at all and I think you need to just find another insurance broker. We found ours through Biznik and have been very happy. Jacob > **···** > > On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 1:46 PM, Kelly Brown [kela...@gmail.com](mailto:kela...@gmail.com) wrote: > > > I just got off the phone with our insurer and they are having a heck > > > > of a time trying to get an underwriter for us. It looks like they’re > > > > going to get it done – but I can’t believe it’d even be an issue. > > > > We’re really just renting office space and then allowing people to > > > > come in and work. > > > > (Some of) The underwriters are saying they need to know what each and > > > > every member’s company does as there’s risk associated with it – > > > > (like one of us might be testing fire retardant pajamas in the > > > > facility). > > > > Anywhoo – anyone else run into trouble? > > > > Anyone have any guidance on how they got their places insured to meet > > > > the landlord requirements? > > > > Any leads on coworking friendly insurers? > > > > Kelly Brown > > > > Office Space Coworking > > > > [www.officespacecoworking.com](http://www.officespacecoworking.com) > > – > Office Nomads - Individuality without Isolation > [http://www.officenomads.com](http://www.officenomads.com) - (206) 323-6500 ---
**Author:** ![Derek](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@Derek](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Derek)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/insurance-for-facilities/984/4 "2008-09-10T21:31:54Z")
We were required by our landlord to carry a couple million dollar policy. It wasn't a problem to get through a local broker. We explained that we were an office service and most folks would be doing office-type jobs. We never mentioned our fire retardant pajama tester, but it only took a few days to finalize. Plus, it was pretty darn cheap. A broker should be able to figure it out. We ultimately ended up with The Hartford I believe. Our lesson very early on in the process was to forget about explaining the rational behind coworking. If you tell them it's something new, folks seem to get worried. If you describe coworking using a long understood business vocabulary, things moved along smoothly. Derek Young Suite133 > **···** > > On 9/10/08 1:46 PM, "Kelly Brown" \ wrote: > > > I just got off the phone with our insurer and they are having a heck > > of a time trying to get an underwriter for us. It looks like they're > > going to get it done -- but I can't believe it'd even be an issue. > > > > We're really just renting office space and then allowing people to > > come in and work. > > (Some of) The underwriters are saying they need to know what each and > > every member's company does as there's risk associated with it -- > > (like one of us might be testing fire retardant pajamas in the > > facility). > > > > Anywhoo -- anyone else run into trouble? > > Anyone have any guidance on how they got their places insured to meet > > the landlord requirements? > > Any leads on coworking friendly insurers? > > > > Kelly Brown > > Office Space Coworking > > [www.officespacecoworking.com](http://www.officespacecoworking.com) > > \> ---
**Author:** ![alex](https://forum.coworking.org/user_avatar/forum.coworking.org/alex/32/338_2.png) [@alex](https://forum.coworking.org/u/alex)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/insurance-for-facilities/984/5 "2008-09-10T21:37:45Z")
We had requirements from our landlord as well. And we got a great deal from The Hartford. Explain that it’s shared workspace, that tends to move things along smoothly. -Alex > **···** > > – > > * * * > > ## – > > Alex Hillman > im always developing something > digital: al…@weknowhtml.com > visual: [www.dangerouslyawesome.com](http://www.dangerouslyawesome.com) > > local: [www.indyhall.org](http://www.indyhall.org) > > On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 5:31 PM, Derek Young [yde...@gmail.com](mailto:yde...@gmail.com) wrote: > > > We were required by our landlord to carry a couple million dollar policy. It > > > > wasn’t a problem to get through a local broker. We explained that we were an > > > > office service and most folks would be doing office-type jobs. We never > > > > mentioned our fire retardant pajama tester, but it only took a few days to > > > > finalize. Plus, it was pretty darn cheap. > > > > A broker should be able to figure it out. We ultimately ended up with The > > > > Hartford I believe. > > > > Our lesson very early on in the process was to forget about explaining the > > > > rational behind coworking. If you tell them it’s something new, folks seem > > > > to get worried. If you describe coworking using a long understood business > > > > vocabulary, things moved along smoothly. > > > > Derek Young > > > > Suite133 > > > On 9/10/08 1:46 PM, “Kelly Brown” [kela...@gmail.com](mailto:kela...@gmail.com) wrote: > > > > > > > > > > I just got off the phone with our insurer and they are having a heck > > > > > of a time trying to get an underwriter for us. It looks like they’re > > > > > going to get it done – but I can’t believe it’d even be an issue. > > > > > > > > > > We’re really just renting office space and then allowing people to > > > > > come in and work. > > > > > (Some of) The underwriters are saying they need to know what each and > > > > > every member’s company does as there’s risk associated with it – > > > > > (like one of us might be testing fire retardant pajamas in the > > > > > facility). > > > > > > > > > > Anywhoo – anyone else run into trouble? > > > > > Anyone have any guidance on how they got their places insured to meet > > > > > the landlord requirements? > > > > > Any leads on coworking friendly insurers? > > > > > > > > > > Kelly Brown > > > > > Office Space Coworking > > > > > [www.officespacecoworking.com](http://www.officespacecoworking.com) > > > > > > ---
**Author:** ![David\_J\_Kordsmeier](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@David\_J\_Kordsmeier](https://forum.coworking.org/u/David_J_Kordsmeier)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/insurance-for-facilities/984/6 "2008-09-10T21:51:32Z")
I second this comment. We have the hartford at redtap (redtap.com) and we told them it was a retail/cafe, and the owners were the business partners, and the co-workers were really just retail walk in customers, so there's no 'splaining to do. If you've got a huge space, then maybe they look at things a bit differently. The key is, remember, your name or your business is on the lease presumably, so therefore you need to carry the insurance to cover yourself, your business, and the assets therein. In SF, we have lots of petty crime like burglaries, theft, and vandalism. For the more expensive items, like $3K laptop/computers, you want to make sure these are itemized or included in the coverage you get. Remember, the $500 deductible is great for keeping the costs down, but not great for covering petty theft and vandalism that may occur. For example, a broken window will cost you $100, and that is just an out of pocket expense, a loss. You can't use your insurance for stuff like that. > **···** > > On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 2:31 PM, Derek Young \ wrote: > > > We were required by our landlord to carry a couple million dollar policy. It > > wasn't a problem to get through a local broker. We explained that we were an > > office service and most folks would be doing office-type jobs. We never > > mentioned our fire retardant pajama tester, but it only took a few days to > > finalize. Plus, it was pretty darn cheap. > > > > A broker should be able to figure it out. We ultimately ended up with The > > Hartford I believe. > > > > Our lesson very early on in the process was to forget about explaining the > > rational behind coworking. If you tell them it's something new, folks seem > > to get worried. If you describe coworking using a long understood business > > vocabulary, things moved along smoothly. > > > > Derek Young > > Suite133 > > > > On 9/10/08 1:46 PM, "Kelly Brown" \ wrote: > > > > > I just got off the phone with our insurer and they are having a heck > > > of a time trying to get an underwriter for us. It looks like they're > > > going to get it done -- but I can't believe it'd even be an issue. > > > > > > We're really just renting office space and then allowing people to > > > come in and work. > > > (Some of) The underwriters are saying they need to know what each and > > > every member's company does as there's risk associated with it -- > > > (like one of us might be testing fire retardant pajamas in the > > > facility). > > > > > > Anywhoo -- anyone else run into trouble? > > > Anyone have any guidance on how they got their places insured to meet > > > the landlord requirements? > > > Any leads on coworking friendly insurers? > > > > > > Kelly Brown > > > Office Space Coworking > > > [www.officespacecoworking.com](http://www.officespacecoworking.com) > > > \> > > > > \> ---
**Author:** ![Matthew\_Wettergreen](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@Matthew\_Wettergreen](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Matthew_Wettergreen)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/insurance-for-facilities/984/7 "2008-09-10T23:39:38Z")
We were required by our landlord to have a policy which covers both buildings and the lot. We have a friend who is an insurance agent with Farmer's and hooked up with a good deal. We recommend to each of our tenants that they obtain their own insurance also. > **···** > > On Sep 10, 4:37 pm, "Alex Hillman" \ wrote: > > > We had requirements from our landlord as well. And we got a great deal from > > The Hartford. Explain that it's shared workspace, that tends to move things > > along smoothly. > > > > -Alex > > > > -- > > ----- > > -- > > ----- > > Alex Hillman > > im always developing something > > digital: a....@weknowhtml.com > > visual:www.dangerouslyawesome.com > > local:www.indyhall.org > > > > On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 5:31 PM, Derek Young \ wrote: > > > > \> We were required by our landlord to carry a couple million dollar policy. > > \> It > > \> wasn't a problem to get through a local broker. We explained that we were > > \> an > > \> office service and most folks would be doing office-type jobs. We never > > \> mentioned our fire retardant pajama tester, but it only took a few days to > > \> finalize. Plus, it was pretty darn cheap. > > > > \> A broker should be able to figure it out. We ultimately ended up with The > > \> Hartford I believe. > > > > \> Our lesson very early on in the process was to forget about explaining the > > \> rational behind coworking. If you tell them it's something new, folks seem > > \> to get worried. If you describe coworking using a long understood business > > \> vocabulary, things moved along smoothly. > > > > \> Derek Young > > \> Suite133 > > > > \> On 9/10/08 1:46 PM, "Kelly Brown" \ wrote: > > > > \> \> I just got off the phone with our insurer and they are having a heck > > \> \> of a time trying to get an underwriter for us. It looks like they're > > \> \> going to get it done -- but I can't believe it'd even be an issue. > > > > \> \> We're really just renting office space and then allowing people to > > \> \> come in and work. > > \> \> (Some of) The underwriters are saying they need to know what each and > > \> \> every member's company does as there's risk associated with it -- > > \> \> (like one of us might be testing fire retardant pajamas in the > > \> \> facility). > > > > \> \> Anywhoo -- anyone else run into trouble? > > \> \> Anyone have any guidance on how they got their places insured to meet > > \> \> the landlord requirements? > > \> \> Any leads on coworking friendly insurers? > > > > \> \> Kelly Brown > > \> \> Office Space Coworking > > \> \>www.officespacecoworking.com ---
**Author:** ![Hassan\_Schroeder](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/ba9def/32.png) [@Hassan\_Schroeder](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Hassan_Schroeder)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/insurance-for-facilities/984/8 "2008-09-11T00:33:42Z")
What kind of insurance would an individual user of the space carry? > **···** > > On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 4:39 PM, Matthew Wettergreen \ wrote: > > > We recommend to each of our > > tenants that they obtain their own insurance also. > > -- > Hassan Schroeder ------------------------ hassan.s...@gmail.com ---
**Author:** ![Marina\_Stamos](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Marina\_Stamos](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Marina_Stamos)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 11:36pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/insurance-for-facilities/984/9 "2014-11-25T23:36:20Z")
Dear Folks! Trying to find insurance for a coworking space in South Philly…and any guidance would be much appreciated! (Alex, I saw the Hartford mention…and I have a call in to them…waiting for an answer…) THANKS! Marina > **···** > > On Wednesday, September 10, 2008 5:37:45 PM UTC-4, Alex Hillman wrote: > > > We had requirements from our landlord as well. And we got a great deal from The Hartford. Explain that it’s shared workspace, that tends to move things along smoothly. > > > > -Alex > > > > – > > > > * * * > > > > ## – > > > > Alex Hillman > > im always developing something > > digital: [al...@weknowhtml.com](mailto:al...@weknowhtml.com) > > visual: [www.dangerouslyawesome.com](http://www.dangerouslyawesome.com) > > > > local: [www.indyhall.org](http://www.indyhall.org) > > > > On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 5:31 PM, Derek Young [yde...@gmail.com](mailto:yde...@gmail.com) wrote: > > > > > We were required by our landlord to carry a couple million dollar policy. It > > > > > > wasn’t a problem to get through a local broker. We explained that we were an > > > > > > office service and most folks would be doing office-type jobs. We never > > > > > > mentioned our fire retardant pajama tester, but it only took a few days to > > > > > > finalize. Plus, it was pretty darn cheap. > > > > > > A broker should be able to figure it out. We ultimately ended up with The > > > > > > Hartford I believe. > > > > > > Our lesson very early on in the process was to forget about explaining the > > > > > > rational behind coworking. If you tell them it’s something new, folks seem > > > > > > to get worried. If you describe coworking using a long understood business > > > > > > vocabulary, things moved along smoothly. > > > > > > Derek Young > > > > > > Suite133 > > > > On 9/10/08 1:46 PM, “Kelly Brown” [kel...@gmail.com](mailto:kel...@gmail.com) wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I just got off the phone with our insurer and they are having a heck > > > > > > > of a time trying to get an underwriter for us. It looks like they’re > > > > > > > going to get it done – but I can’t believe it’d even be an issue. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > We’re really just renting office space and then allowing people to > > > > > > > come in and work. > > > > > > > (Some of) The underwriters are saying they need to know what each and > > > > > > > every member’s company does as there’s risk associated with it – > > > > > > > (like one of us might be testing fire retardant pajamas in the > > > > > > > facility). > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Anywhoo – anyone else run into trouble? > > > > > > > Anyone have any guidance on how they got their places insured to meet > > > > > > > the landlord requirements? > > > > > > > Any leads on coworking friendly insurers? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Kelly Brown > > > > > > > Office Space Coworking > > > > > > > [www.officespacecoworking.com](http://www.officespacecoworking.com) > > > > > > > > > > >