Author Topic: Insurance! (Read 13229 times)

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #20 on:** February 11, 2014, 10:07:04 pm »

Awesome! Copied Pasted and printed. I will go hand this to the wife right now! Nice work!

Yankee11 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2014, 09:29:03 am »

Also,

I spoke with with 2 Farm Bureau agents and they said they couldn't do anything. But, my partner has Farm Bureau on his house now. He sent him an email asking if he were to buy 5 acres and build a house and have beehives on the property, would he be able to keep his homeowners. His agent said it would not be a problem.

So, moral of that story is even with the same company you get different answers from a different agent. Go figure.

Perry · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2014, 09:42:33 am »

Quote from: Yankee11 on February 12, 2014, 09:29:03 am

Also,

I spoke with with 2 Farm Bureau agents and they said they couldn't do anything. But, my partner has Farm Bureau on his house now. He sent him an email asking if he were to buy 5 acres and build a house and have beehives on the property, would he be able to keep his homeowners. His agent said it would not be a problem.

So, moral of that story is even with the same company you get different answers from a different agent. Go figure.

Sorta like beekeepers eh?

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2014, 10:16:13 am »

I have State Farm,a Farm and Ranch policy, i ask my agent about selling produce at the farmers market if i was covered or would i have to buy a separate policy. He said as long as it is produced from my farm i am covered selling it from home or where ever i set up. ( no extra policy) I said i have heard that i could loose my insurance if i have bee hives on the farm and sell honey, he said , i have not heard that, but i'll check it out and get back with you if there is anything to it. That was about 10 years ago and i still haven't heard anything?

Jack

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2014, 10:19:53 am »

Good to know!!!
As far as I know, we currently have NO insurance, but she took the info I gave her and headed off into the great blue yonder so we will see what happens.

keeperofthebees · « **Reply #25 on:** February 14, 2014, 01:20:44 am »

Quote from: LazyBkpr on February 12, 2014, 10:19:53 am

Good to know!!!
As far as I know, we currently have NO insurance, but she took the info I gave her and headed off into the great blue yonder so we will see what happens.

What about a waiver of liability??? Legally register the document, get the local locals to sign off on it, and forget the insurance companies.

CpnObvious · « **Reply #26 on:** June 11, 2014, 10:52:38 pm »

So, I am clearly going to have to dig deeper into my homeowner's policy as well as the one where I have two hives. I know there's only a couple folks here from Mass, but what have you found? Also, according to Mass.gov:
Do I need a permit to keep bees in Massachusetts?
At this time, a permit is not required, although you must register your hive so it can be inspected annually.

Do you all register your hive(s) to have them inspected annually?

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #27 on:** June 11, 2014, 11:04:16 pm »

I have mine registered, but have never seen an inspector, though I have spoken with the local inspector at meetings on multiple occasions.
Registering here also keeps "commercial" applicators from spraying anything harmful to the bees within a mile of their location. Of course, that does not stop farmers and any other "non-commercial" folks from spraying right beside the hives. I'll take what I can get.

Gypsi · « **Reply #28 on:** June 11, 2014, 11:27:43 pm »

My business liability insurance does not cover my removals or anything to do with beekeeping, I have a standard "waiver of liability" form, they don't sign I don't remove bees. I've left some too. In a tree, with the owner right next to it.

My homeowners insurance is Allstate, hives were not an issue. Standard homeowners liability is like 100,000, I have big dogs so I carry $300,000. Used to have a big dog that treed teenagers and did bite now and then, got the coverage for him and my ponds. Have never had a claim.

I manage my hives so they don't get too hot, and am well fenced and do not advertise that I have bees.

CpnObvious · « **Reply #29 on:** June 11, 2014, 11:33:10 pm »

Quote from: Gypsi on June 11, 2014, 11:27:43 pm

I have a standard "waiver of liability" form, they don't sign I don't remove bees.

Is this somewhat of a standard form you might be willing to share? Aside from a few locals and friends, I'm not advertising myself to collect swarms or colonies... YET! The idea of having some sort of waiver, even though in MA it probably won't mean much, is a great idea.

Beeboy · « **Reply #30 on:** June 11, 2014, 11:46:38 pm »

Incorporate or form a llc the llc or Corp owns nothing so that I'd it ever gets sued there is nothing to award so you lose nothing.

Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #31 on:** June 12, 2014, 07:55:14 am »

I have a waiver for doing removals, but my lawyer told me it wasnt worth the paper it was written on. Situation/impression/imagination are always different from person to person. You can explain what you are about to do in explicit detail, and the person you are explaining to will hear only what they want to hear.
So I usually ASK them how they would like the job done. Then do my best to do it their way. I also make sure they understand I gurantee my work. If they are unsatisfied for any reason I will DOUBLE their bees back!

tefer2 · « **Reply #32 on:** June 12, 2014, 08:32:50 am »

So, who did you end up using Scott?

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #33 on:** June 12, 2014, 08:50:28 am »

I believe she has State Farm or Farm Bureau.. I didn't ask which when she said we were set...

riverbee · « **Reply #34 on:** June 12, 2014, 11:45:44 am »

"Incorporate or form a llc the llc or Corp owns nothing so that I'd it ever gets sued there is nothing to award so you lose nothing."

beeboy, this is not completely true, also, in the event a business suffers a civil suit/ liability, 'shielded' or not, frivolous or not, you will be paying out a substantial amount of money in attorney's fees.

if anyone of us are concerned about liability, it is best to seek the advice of an attorney who practices in this field. do the best you can to protect yourself, and talk with your insurance company. like scott said, be judicious about the cutouts/removals you are doing.

Beeboy · « **Reply #35 on:** June 12, 2014, 11:51:10 am »

Quote from: riverbee on June 12, 2014, 11:45:44 am

"Incorporate or form a llc the llc or Corp owns nothing so that I'd it ever gets sued there is nothing to award so you lose nothing."

beeboy, this is not completely true, also, in the event a business suffers a civil suit/ liability, 'shielded' or not, frivolous or not, you will be paying out a substantial amount of money in attorney's fees.

if anyone of us are concerned about liability, it is best to seek the advice of an attorney who practices in this field. do the best you can to protect yourself, and talk with your insurance company. like scott said, be judicious about the cutouts/removals you are doing.

In your case true. In my case, not true. It helps I have unlimited access to a attorney in the family!

riverbee · « **Reply #36 on:** June 12, 2014, 12:26:59 pm »

"In your case true. In my case, not true. It helps I have unlimited access to a attorney in the family! "

well no.......i am married to a legal hat........but he doesn't practice in civil litigation, although others in the firm do...........

Beeboy · « **Reply #37 on:** June 12, 2014, 02:33:23 pm »

Then your not out attorney fees either.

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riverbee · « **Reply #38 on:** June 12, 2014, 06:06:18 pm »

well it depends beeboy...............lot's of bartering takes place........

for anyone else, i don't wish upon them a reason to seek legal advice, but when we need to, the smart thing is to do it, let them handle it, and give you appropriate advice for your situation, like cutouts and removals. it's what they do and spent a mortgage on the education. it's just 'smart' to be prepared if something goes wrong and cover our backsides as best we can, and sometimes that's just with 'firing a shot across the bow'...... i think most folks who want bees gone, are happy that we help them out. it's just like anything else, there will always be that someone who gets bent out of shape, so best bet is to plan for 'murphy's law'..............

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #39 on:** June 12, 2014, 07:40:49 pm »

There are people that WANT the bees gone...
"I am going to have to remove that siding. Its OLD and in pretty tough shape....."

1. "I know, do what you can and stack it over there. What i cant patch back in I will replace with new."

2. "So, you think you can get it off without breaking it? I don't want to have to buy new siding."

Reply number 1.. I will go out of my way to do the best I can, and get the job done.
Reply number 2.. I tell them they need to coordinate with a contractor to remove the siding, at which point I will step in and remove the bees.

I make a little money for removals, and get bees that I "may" be able to do something with. If a job looks like it is going to be a headache I don't do it.. Headache meaning a pain to deal with the owner or the money. My prices are excessively low compared to others who do removals nearby. I don't mind working hard for a little pay and some more bees. I do mind arguing about getting paid or how much repair I will do when the bees are removed. The bees are not in "MY" house or barn. If I have to argue or deal with Drama I am more than happy to let someone else do it.
The best removals??
"Were going to tear this place down, but the bees have to go first!"
"I'm in!"