Questions about insurance (specifically homeowners insurance)

Hello everyone,

we will soon start building our single-family house and the insurances still need to be arranged. We are building with a construction manager and individual contracts. According to our construction manager and some research, we need the following insurances:

[*]Builder’s liability insurance
[*]Construction all-risk insurance (formerly construction work insurance)
[*]Fire protection

Furthermore, I have read that the following insurances are helpful/necessary:

[*]Fire shell construction insurance/residential building insurance
[*]Construction helper accident insurance
[*]Liability insurance for undeveloped land

Our advisor recommends builder’s liability insurance and residential building insurance. I have read something here in the forum and the residential building insurance is supposed to cover fire as well. Under "Risk - Fire" the item shell construction insurance is listed for us. So I would tick that one. Otherwise, fire, tap water, storm and hail and extended natural hazard coverage are insured.
Is that also the fire protection that our construction manager recommends? According to the internet, fire protection is in the household contents insurance for belongings and in the residential building insurance for the property itself.

So far so good, right? But what about the construction all-risk insurance? There were differing opinions here. From as much coverage as possible to optional. How do you assess this, or is the construction all-risk insurance = residential building insurance?

Thanks for reading and I hope you can provide some clarity.

Builder's liability insurance is a must. It is a temporary matter, it ends with completion and moving in, then the regular liability insurance takes effect again. The insurance is inexpensive. A house must have building insurance, as far as I know it is even legally required. You can already take out this insurance now, it then includes the shell construction fire insurance, fire protection. The first premium is due upon completion. You report, are finished, house inhabited on such and such date, and then you have to pay the premium and have full insurance coverage. Karsten

Individual contracting. According to our site manager and some research, we need the following insurances:

[*]Builder's liability insurance
[*]Construction all-risk insurance (formerly construction all-risk)
[*]Fire protection

Furthermore, I have read that the following insurances are helpful/necessary:

[*]Fire shell insurance/homeowners insurance
[*]Construction helper accident insurance
[*]Liability insurance for undeveloped land

Our advisor recommends builder’s liability insurance and homeowners insurance. I have read something here in the forum and the homeowners insurance is supposed to cover fire as well. In our case, under
"risk - fire" there is the item shell insurance. So I would check that off. Otherwise, fire, water damage from pipes, storm and hail, and extended natural hazard coverage are insured.
Is that also the fire protection recommended by our site manager? According to the internet, fire protection in household contents insurance covers belongings and in homeowners insurance covers the property itself.

So far so good, right? But what about the construction all-risk insurance? There were different opinions here. From as much as possible to optional. How do you assess that, or is the construction all-risk insurance = homeowners insurance?

Builder's liability insurance = you definitely need this. It protects you from someone getting injured on the construction site and then demanding millions in lost wages. It can be included in your personal liability insurance, but beware, it is often capped, e.g., on a construction sum of €100,000. That is enough for an attic extension, but not for new construction. Especially in older, very comprehensive policies it can also be unlimited (was the case for us). Check what you already have. It usually also covers undeveloped land, but also check the fine print for exclusions.

Construction all-risk insurance = This is basically the household contents insurance before occupancy of the property. I would skip it if building with a general contractor since they are liable until handover of the house. In individual contracting, I would take out one – though it applies that "loose" materials belong to the risk of the respective trade, but once installed, it is your risk. Example: heat pump installed, afterwards damaged/stolen/whatever. Or window/front door installed and damaged during the construction phase. I would recommend agreeing on a deductible tariff here, e.g., €500. Many construction sites run damage-free, but some do not.

Fire shell insurance/fire protection = These are the same. Take out a building insurance policy before construction begins (with or without natural hazard coverage, as you wish). This usually includes at least 12 months of fire shell insurance. The first 12 months are premium-free. Small note for liquidity planning: the first insurance year for fire shell insurance is premium-free, yet the first annual premium installment is deducted immediately. As usual with insurance, no money no honey.
The financing bank often requires the conclusion of fire shell insurance or later building insurance. Important for not being in breach of contract alone for this reason.

Construction helper accident insurance = only necessary if construction helpers are used who are not accident insured themselves or if BG Bau insurance would be mandatory anyway. If you plan some own work (with helpers who are not immediate relatives), then consider this. Otherwise, probably not.

OK, we want to take out the builder and residential building insurance. This also covers fire. What apparently is still missing is the construction all-risk insurance. I will inquire about that. We probably will not take out insurance for construction helpers, since only family will be helping. Thanks!

I am asking here directly in the thread before opening a new one for this:
Is there anything against Gothar for the builder's liability insurance or Helvetia and Schleswiger for the residential building insurance?

Schleswig residents equal Angeliter Brandgilde? Well, they have service when something happens and are still not the most expensive. There are two. East Angeln residents in Süderbrarup, Dollerup residents in Steinbergkirche. Both are mutual aid associations.