Real estate business insurance helps pay for lawsuits and accidents, and it's often mandatory. Learn about Ohio's requirements and the top insurance policies for real estate agents and brokers.
With Insureon, real estate agents and brokers can get peace of mind knowing they're protected in the event of a lawsuit.
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The following policies protect real estate professionals against a wide range of risks. Some types of coverage may be required by laws and contracts.
Real estate E&O insurance helps pay for lawsuits related to professional negligence, such as failing to inform a buyer about asbestos. It's sometimes called professional liability insurance.
This policy covers third-party accidents, such as a client who trips and suffers an injury during an open house. Commercial leases, lenders, and contracts might require this coverage.
Commercial auto insurance covers the cost of accidents involving a real estate agency's car or other vehicle. Ohio requires this coverage for vehicles owned by a business.
A BOP bundles general liability coverage and commercial property insurance at a discount. It covers common lawsuits brought by clients and business property damage.
Ohio law requires workers' comp for real estate businesses that have employees. It also protects sole proprietors from work-related medical costs that health insurance might deny.
Cyber liability insurance helps real estate companies recover financially from data breaches and cyberattacks. It's recommended for any business that stores personal information.
Real estate agents and brokers in Ohio may need to carry the following types of insurance to comply with contracts and state laws:
E&O insurance covers legal defense costs when a real estate broker or agent is sued for negligence, such as a mistake in paperwork or failure to disclose known flooding risks at a property.
Also called professional liability insurance, this policy is required in some states for real estate professionals. However, Ohio does not require E&O coverage.
Even though it's not required by state law, real estate agencies, brokerages, and client contracts will likely require you to carry an E&O policy. It's a key part of risk management for Realtors and other real estate professionals during a property transaction.
General liability insurance protects your business from expenses associated with common mishaps, such as customer bodily injuries and accidental property damage.
Real estate agents and brokers might need this coverage to sign a commercial lease or qualify for a business loan. Clients and agencies might also ask for proof of insurance. For additional coverage on your general liability insurance and other policies, you can buy commercial umbrella insurance.
A general liability policy also helps protect against advertising injuries, such as libel, slander, and copyright infringement. So, if an employee at your real estate agency defames a competitor on social media, this policy would cover your legal costs if the other business sues.
A business owner’s policy bundles general liability insurance with commercial property insurance at a discount, and protects against common lawsuits, fires, and water damage. If you don't have an office, consider adding a business personal property (BPP) endorsement to your general liability policy instead.
To comply with Ohio's requirements, real estate businesses that have employees must provide workers’ compensation insurance. This policy covers medical bills from work-related injuries and occupational diseases, and provides disability benefits for injured Ohio workers.
Ohio is one of four monopolistic states, which means workers' comp policies must be purchased through the state fund and not a private insurance company. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is the only permitted provider, though some companies can apply for self-insurance.
Policies bought from the state fund do not include employer's liability insurance, which shields employers from legal fees if an employee blames them for their injury. However, you can still buy it as stop gap coverage from a private insurer.
Even sole proprietors should consider buying workers' comp, as personal health insurance can deny claims for injuries that are related to your job.
Commercial auto insurance protects vehicles owned by your real estate agency, such as a van used to transport home staging decorations to clients' homes. It can cover legal bills and other costs resulting from an auto accident. Depending on your policy, it may also cover vehicle theft, weather damage, and vandalism.
Ohio requires auto liability insurance with limits of at least:
For vehicles that your business uses but does not own, you'll need hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA). You can add it as an endorsement to your general liability policy or commercial auto policy. Keep in mind that if you drive your own car for work purposes beyond a commute, personal auto insurance won't provide financial protection.
Real estate agents and brokers in Ohio who buy policies from Insureon pay an average premium of:
E&O insurance: $42 per month
General liability: $35 per month
Business owner's policy: $40 per month
Factors that affect insurance costs for real estate professionals include:
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All businesses in Ohio must register with the Ohio Secretary of State in order to get a business license. In addition, real estate salespersons and brokers must obtain a license from the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing.
To earn a real estate salesperson license in Ohio, you must:
The process of becoming a real estate broker is similar. You must also have held a real estate salesperson license for two years, comply with educational requirements, and complete 20 transactions calculated according to the Division of Real Estate's formula.
Some states require E&O insurance or a surety bond as part of their licensing requirements. That's not the case for brokers in Ohio, though it's strongly recommended that you carry E&O insurance to protect against legal costs related to accusations of negligence.
Insureon helps Ohio real estate agents and brokers save time and money shopping for insurance by comparing quotes from top-rated U.S. insurance companies.
Our insurance agents are licensed in Ohio and can answer your questions and help you find insurance discounts.
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