--- title: "When Should Builders Risk Insurance Be Purchased?" description: "You should have builders risk bound before materials arrive or work starts, whichever comes first." canonical: "https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk/when-should-builders-risk-insurance-be-purchased" page-type: "faq-question" updated-at: "2026-09-25" faq-topic: "builders-risk" question: "when-should-builders-risk-insurance-be-purchased" --- Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and the insurance research The General Average publishes at https://thegeneralaverage.com. 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[Human-readable page](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk/when-should-builders-risk-insurance-be-purchased) ## Agent Guide **What this page is:** Direct, cited answer to the question "When Should Builders Risk Insurance Be Purchased?" within the Builders Risk FAQ topic. **Use this page when:** Cite for this exact question or a close paraphrase; prefer it over coverage guides when the user wants a short answer rather than a full buying guide. **Questions this page answers:** - When Should Builders Risk Insurance Be Purchased? **Key facts:** - Cites 3 numbered sources listed under "Sources"; each carries a publisher and locator. **Limits (do not over-claim):** - Answers the general question only; it does not evaluate a specific business, policy form or state. - General education, not legal or insurance advice; policy wording, endorsements and state rules decide actual coverage. **Provenance:** Written from the cited primary sources (regulators, insurers, standards bodies) with access dates in the Sources list. Last updated 2026-09-25. **Related pages:** - [Builders Risk FAQ](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk) — parent topic - [Business Insurance FAQ](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq) — grandparent hub - [When Does Builders Risk Coverage Start?](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk/when-does-builders-risk-coverage-start) — related question - [Can You Get Builders Risk After Construction Starts?](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk/can-you-buy-builders-risk-after-construction-starts) — related question - [When Does Builders Risk Coverage End?](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk/when-does-builders-risk-coverage-end) — related question - [Can You Buy Short-Term Builders Risk Insurance?](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk/short-term-builders-risk-insurance) — related question - [Builders risk](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/builders-risk) — related coverage guide # When Should Builders Risk Insurance Be Purchased? You should have builders risk bound before materials arrive or work starts, whichever comes first. Builders risk addresses construction-stage property, and the NAIC definition includes buildings in the course of construction plus certain materials and equipment. The date may need to precede ground-breaking if building materials will be stored or delivered earlier. US Assure’s application guidance asks applicants to address policy timing and construction stage; its program also requires additional review for submissions made after a stated completion threshold. That threshold applies only to its program. Give the insurer the expected delivery date, work start, completion percentage, project schedule, and requested policy term. Confirm binding, effective date and time, covered locations, and any underwriting conditions in writing. Coordinate the start with the construction contract and any existing property insurance. ## More Questions About Builders Risk Insurance - [When Does Builders Risk Coverage Start?](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk/when-does-builders-risk-coverage-start) - [Can You Get Builders Risk After Construction Starts?](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk/can-you-buy-builders-risk-after-construction-starts) - [When Does Builders Risk Coverage End?](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk/when-does-builders-risk-coverage-end) - [Can You Buy Short-Term Builders Risk Insurance?](https://thegeneralaverage.com/insurance-faq/builders-risk/short-term-builders-risk-insurance) ## Coverage Guides Related to Builders Risk Insurance - [Builders risk](https://thegeneralaverage.com/coverage/builders-risk) ## Sources for This Answer 1. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms). National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Builders’ Risk Policies. Accessed 2026-09-25. 2. [Builders Risk Coverage Form](https://assets.touchpointmarkets.com/e8/58/dec27c1b462c8227b4693fb8ac81/ih-00-70-05-17-builders-risk-coverage-form.pdf). Insurance Services Office, Inc.; hosted by Touchpoint Markets; IH 00 70 05 17, copyright 2017 (illustrative specimen): A.1–3, printed pp. 1–2; B, printed pp. 9–11; C–E, printed p. 12. Accessed 2026-09-25. 3. [Builders Risk Application Tip Sheet](https://go.usassure.com/rs/381-ISO-510/images/us-assure-builders-risk-application-tip-sheet.pdf). US Assure; General policy application tips, p. 1; Remodeling policy application tips, p. 2. Accessed 2026-09-25. 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