Homes & Dwellings
Forms applicable: DP-1, DP-3, and HO-3. Just scroll down below to get started.
PERSONAL LINES APPLICATIONS:
Thank you for your interest in our Surplus Lines Homeowners Program! Whether it's a tiny home or a high-value-home, vacant or a builder's risk full of contractors, our niche markets favor those complex risks.
QUICK HIGHLIGHTS:
NO ACORD Apps Needed.
Up to $750k ($1M in California) in Coverage A in-house with program (up to $10Mil as a referral - some state limitations may apply).
Declined due to I.S.O. or Fireline Rating (Ex. HazardHub up to D10)
Quake and Flood available upon request
Primary home, Secondary, Short term rental, Annual rental, Vacant
Single, Duplex, Triplex and Four-plex all are fine
Low Credit Scores O.K.
Up to 3 claims O.K.
Lapse in coverage up to 60 days
Updates within last 20 years to electrical, heating, and plumbing and updates within 35 years for roof
Homes/Condos/Rentals: Please make sure to provide the year full updates were made to heating, plumbing, roofing, and electrical within the app. It helps immensely.
Exclusions:
Please note that we do not have robust markets for properties with polybutylene plumbing, knob & tube wiring, electrical fuses, or portable space heaters. The insured cannot have any indictments for crimes, liens, bankruptcies, foreclosures, or repossessions in the past 5 years nor would they qualify for this program if they have had more than 5 claims in three years.
Farm & Ranch: We have different markets if the home is on 200+ acres of farm land.
California: Our sweet spot in CA is mostly homes with a TIV of $2 mil or under. Additionally, in the following zip codes we have reached maximum capacity and are only able to offer DIC terms in the following Zip Codes: 90049, 90077, 90210, 91423, 91403, 92314, 92315, 92325, 92352., 92382, 92386, 96149. Also, we require 100” minimum brush clearance or there is a 10% wildfire deductible.
Other underwriters guidelines must be met, but are subject to each risk submitted.
Questions or comments? Email Sr. Underwriter and Team Lead of the Personal Lines Adriana Oregon or call us at 303-900-2960 ext. 4.
Submissions:
Log in to the Bigfoot Insurance Underwriting Portal to send us your submissions.*We may request a supplemental once reviewed. If you are not appointed or need a username, click HERE.
Read this wonderful guide on creating a winning submission HERE but don’t forget to answer all the requisite questions including why it’s declined from admitted market, if they have insurance in place (and current premium), mortgage/lender information, value of the home, occupancy, use of home, and questions about architecture or construction such as type and year of electric/wiring, roofing, plumbing, heating. We need to know if a business is operating in the home (especially if it’s a daycare) and how many employees live there (ex. housekeepers, butlers, caretakers, nannies, etc.
Safety or security questions may yield a better rate such as alarms and sprinklers but will be confirmed with an inspection. Be sure to ask your client about any lakes, ponds, swimming pools, wood stoves, animals, etc.
Be sure to provide any Loss Runs or loss history in the past three years. We need information like date, amount paid out, if the claim is still open and what preventative measures have been taken to prevent future losses.
Include other additional information that will be helpful for underwriting this risk. For example, policies with hair often have unique information like being on the National Historic Register
Review the indication and hit submit/request a quote. There may be additional requests for information about the risk.
Please look out for emails from the system (COMMERCIALINSURANCE@SUREFYRE.CO) and add us to your contacts to avoid updates ending up in your junk mail.
Need to make changes? Submit a note in the comments section of the application directly to your underwriter.
Underwriting:
Here are the following statuses:
Submitted, Indicated (Note that an indication does not mean the risk has been accepted)
Underwriting, With Carrier
Quoted
Bind Requested
Bound
Policy Issued
Requests for additional information will have a .5 status and the application will be unlocked for you to provide requested information. Please refer to the comments section for a list of any missing information that may be required to offer a quote, bind coverage, or issue a policy.
Inspections:
We use an application called Lighthouse Inspections which is a carrier requirement. Once the policy is bound, the insured has two options that you need to discuss with them:
Automatic Self-Guided Inspection App. (included in fees). The insured agrees to download the app and complete the inspection themselves or with the assistance of an agent, property manager, or tenant. They are automatically sent an inspection code (valid for two weeks) at the time the policy is bound. To request an extension, notify your underwriter ASAP.
Request a traditional inspection (extra fees in excess of $200+ depending on the location and other variable). An inspector will schedule a time to come by the house within the first 30 days of binding to take photos of the exterior and interior of the home.
Please note that failure to complete an inspection within 30 days will result in a notice of cancellation. Questions? Email plinspections@bigfootbinds.com or check out the Lighthouse Inspections website: https://simpleinspection.com/cig
Alternatively, photos can be submitted HERE. For more information, visit resources like the CalFire website. Things we look for:
Are there branches near chimneys
Did they at least clear the debris off the roof
Did they clear trees to at least 10 feet from the house
Have more questions? Email us at support@bigfootbinds.com
Already have a user name? Log on to the Bigfoot Insurance Underwriting Platform and simply click the plus sign in the top right (see below). Forgot your username or password? Click FORGOT PASSWORD.