Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Liberty Mutual: How Do They Compare for Builders Risk Insurance?

BHSI describes primary and excess builders risk placements with single-peril and difference-in-conditions choices; Liberty Mutual's page describes a proprietary form and a stand-alone Specialty Property offering without published form terms. 5,9,10

What Is Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance?

BHSI provides commercial and specialty insurance in the U.S., with product-specific industry lists that include healthcare, energy and technology. Online quote and application submissions are nonbinding. 1,2,3,4

Read the Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance profile

Read the Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Builders Risk Insurance page

What Is Liberty Mutual Business Insurance?

Liberty Mutual spans small-commercial, commercial, specialty, surety, and reinsurance businesses. The insurer and distribution route depend on the product, so check the offer and policy before you compare terms. 7,8

Read the Liberty Mutual profile

Read the Liberty Mutual Builders Risk Insurance page

What Is Builders Risk Insurance?

Builders risk protects the project you are building, including materials meant for it, against physical loss until construction ends. The gaps that cost owners money are materials in storage or transit, the existing building in a renovation, and coverage ending when you occupy early. 11,12,13,14

Read the full coverage guide

What Are the Key Differences Between Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Liberty Mutual Builders Risk Insurance?

How each carrier structures the placement

BHSI describes primary and excess positions and single-peril or difference-in-conditions choices for builders risk 5. Liberty Mutual instead describes a named proprietary form and a stand-alone Specialty Property offering 10. If your project needs layered or manuscript wording, BHSI's listed options are more specific on that point; Liberty Mutual's page does not say whether it offers them.

Project scope and what underwriters ask for

BHSI splits its target classes into EAR and CAR categories, considers Master Builder's Risk selectively, and says underwriting may request a construction schedule and contractor loss experience 6. Liberty Mutual addresses contractors and owners with single projects or portfolios, but its published thresholds apply only to the named program option 10.

What Should You Confirm in Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Liberty Mutual Builders Risk Insurance Quotes?

  • Ask Liberty Mutual which of its two offerings would apply to your project and what limits, deductibles and exclusions come with it 10.
  • Ask BHSI whether your project falls in its EAR or CAR class, and whether a portfolio would be treated as Master Builder's Risk 5.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Liberty Mutual Review Scores

These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Review Score

-/ 10

Review Score

No reviews found

The public ratings for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance are low but thin: Trustpilot shows 2.1 out of 5 from 9 reviews and BBB shows 1 out of 5 from 6. Both mix travel and commercial customers, so we don't count them in a score.[5][7]

Read Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance reviews

Liberty Mutual Review Score

7.2/ 10

Review Score

2 rated sources

Customers give Liberty Mutual 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 3,836 reviews, but that page mixes auto, home and life customers with business ones. For business insurance specifically, NerdWallet gives 3.0 out of 5 and reports more complaints than expected.[4][1]

Read Liberty Mutual reviews

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Liberty Mutual Builders Risk Compared

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Liberty Mutual: Builders Risk Insurance: documented features by provider

CriteriaBuilder’s RiskLiberty Mutual Builder’s Risk
Role in This Line

BHSI describes primary and excess options for its Builder’s Risk products, along with single-peril and difference-in-conditions choices. 5Company-reported. These are marketed placement options, not a commitment to provide any layer or a statement about how a specific project is insured.

Liberty Mutual lists Builder’s Risk in its property portfolio and describes both a named proprietary form and a stand-alone Specialty Property offering. 9,10Company-reported. Liberty Mutual’s cited product or program overview documents this description. It does not establish the issuing insurer for an individual quote, exact state or provincial availability, the policy form, complete exclusions, or terms offered to a particular buyer; confirm those in the quote and policy documents.

Who It’s For

BHSI separates its EAR and CAR target categories; it says Master Builder’s Risk is considered selectively. 5Company-reported. The published target categories guide submission discussions; they do not guarantee eligibility or acceptance.

The page addresses contractors and property owners with single projects or portfolios and describes construction projects ranging from buildings to infrastructure; its published project thresholds apply only to the named program option. 9,10Company-reported. Liberty Mutual’s cited product or program overview documents this description. It does not establish the issuing insurer for an individual quote, exact state or provincial availability, the policy form, complete exclusions, or terms offered to a particular buyer; confirm those in the quote and policy documents.

Coverage Features

BHSI describes Builder’s Risk as project property coverage and lists hot testing/commissioning, delay and soft-cost features. 5Company-reported. U.S. product-page marketing summary; does not establish that each extension is included in every project policy.

The page describes primary and excess placements and single-peril or difference-in-conditions options alongside its all-risk product description. 5Company-reported. These are marketed options, not a statement that a particular quote includes them.

BHSI lists its Builder’s Risk Form, follow-form quota-share or excess forms, and broker manuscript forms as options. 6Company-reported. A form being listed does not establish that it will be used for a project or what its final terms contain.

The builder’s-risk page describes protection during construction, including materials, labor, construction-management fees, temporary structures and landscaping materials; actual coverage remains form-specific. 9,10Company-reported. Liberty Mutual’s cited product or program overview documents this description. It does not establish the issuing insurer for an individual quote, exact state or provincial availability, the policy form, complete exclusions, or terms offered to a particular buyer; confirm those in the quote and policy documents.

Limits and Retentions

Confirm in your quote.

The cited public overview does not establish the limits, deductibles, exclusions or form terms that would apply to a specific buyer. 9,10Not publicly disclosed. Ask for the quote and specimen or issued policy forms before treating a listed feature as covered.

Risk Services

Confirm in your quote.

Liberty Mutual describes property underwriting, risk-engineering and claims teams working together on complex property risks. 9,10Company-reported. Liberty Mutual’s cited product or program overview documents this description. It does not establish the issuing insurer for an individual quote, exact state or provincial availability, the policy form, complete exclusions, or terms offered to a particular buyer; confirm those in the quote and policy documents.

How to Apply

BHSI says underwriting may request coverage specifications, a project description, contractor loss experience and a construction schedule, among other project details. 6Company-reported. The guide gives examples rather than a universal or complete checklist; requirements depend on the submission.

Confirm in your quote.

Related Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Liberty Mutual

Builders Risk Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Liberty Mutual

Other Coverage Lines Compared for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Liberty Mutual

Other Builders Risk Insurance Provider Comparisons

Sources for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Liberty Mutual

Sources About Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

  1. At A Glance. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; United States section, zero-based PDF pages 49–53 (viewer pages 50–54): product/industry lists on pages 49–50; U.S. disclosure/version footer on page 53 is 2026-8-03 A. The 2026-09-14 A footer is on preceding European page 48, not the U.S. section. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  2. About Us. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; About BHSI; company profile page re-opened through official site on 2026-09-28; company says it is part of National Indemnity group. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Terms of Service. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Important Information Concerning Use of this Web Site, paragraphs 2–4; nonbinding submissions, contracted-agent authority, state variation, product availability and policy-specific terms. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. Public Disclosure — Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Singapore Branch. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Singapore branch public disclosure, Company Profile ¶¶ 1–2; direct page opened 2026-09-28. ¶ 1 identifies BHSIC as a Nebraska-domiciled direct P&C insurer; ¶ 2 states BHSIC is wholly owned by National Indemnity Company, itself wholly owned by Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. Builder’s Risk. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Retained canonical source record locator: current U.S. product page, lines 6–35: all-risk project coverage, hot testing/commissioning, delay/startup/soft costs, single-peril/DIC primary/excess, EAR/CAR target categories and selectively considered Master Builder’s Risk. Prior actual access 2026-09-28; direct re-open failed in this session. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. Builder’s Risk Appetite Guide. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; U.S. guide pp. 1–2: marketed coverage/participation and targeted classes, lines 0–35; listed BHSI, follow-form and broker-manuscript policy forms, plus example submission information, lines 39–53; dated 2026-01-30 A; all coverage remains subject to the actual policy, lines 63–65. Accessed 2026-09-30.

Sources About Liberty Mutual

  1. Company Profile. Liberty Mutual Group; Strategic business units paragraph: US Retail Markets (individuals/small businesses; small commercial; countrywide) and Global Risk Solutions (mid-size/large businesses; commercial, specialty, reinsurance, surety; worldwide). Accessed 2026-09-29.
  2. Commercial Insurance Solutions. Liberty Mutual Business Insurance; Commercial solutions index names commercial auto and fleet, cyber, environmental liability, equipment breakdown, excess and surplus, general liability, healthcare liability, inland marine, management liability, multinational, ocean marine, professional liability, property, reinsurance, surety, umbrella/excess and workers compensation. Disclosure says policy insurer is named when offered, may be an affiliate/subsidiary or surplus-lines insurer; states/jurisdictions and actual policy terms vary. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  3. Property. Liberty Mutual Business Insurance; Property solutions section describes commercial property, business-interruption protection, Builder's Risk, Equipment Breakdown, Inland Marine and Ocean Marine; named Premier Property Protector, RM Select, and Liberty Mutual Property Protector product descriptions; states standalone and package options. Coverage terms depend on the policy. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  4. Builder’s risk. Liberty Mutual Business Insurance; Official product page: single-project or portfolio scope; contractors and property owners; Premier Protector — Builder’s Risk and stand-alone Specialty Property offerings; covered materials, labor, construction management fees, temporary structures and landscaping materials. Source also describes project-specific program design, underwriting and claims support. Accessed 2026-09-30.

Sources for the Builders Risk Insurance Guide

  1. Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Builders’ Risk Policies; Ocean Marine; Auto Physical Damage; All-Risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial Property; Inland Marine; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Builders Risk Coverage Form. Insurance Services Office, Inc.; hosted by Touchpoint Markets; A.1–3 p.1; B.3.c p.11; C,D,E p.12. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Builders Risk Application Tip Sheet. US Assure; General policy application tips p.1; Remodeling tips p.2. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated . Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with the page URL and supporting source.

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