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

BHSI describes its own builders risk product and forms; Marsh McLennan Agency places the coverage through its property practice and does not name an insurer on the reviewed page. 5,11

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 Marsh?

Marsh suits technology and larger businesses seeking specialist cyber placement or broad global risk advice; small firms wanting a quick standard quote should compare its MMA route or digital agencies. 7,8,9,10

Read the Marsh profile

Read the Marsh 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. 12,13,14,15

Read the full coverage guide

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

A named product versus a placement practice

BHSI describes Builder's Risk as its own project property coverage with hot testing, commissioning, delay and soft-cost features 5. Marsh McLennan Agency, Marsh's middle-market subsidiary, places builders risk as part of its broader property practice rather than as a separately branded product 11.

What the sources say about the policy

BHSI lists a Builder's Risk Form, follow-form quota-share or excess forms, and broker manuscript options 6. MMA describes the risks addressed, such as additions and alterations, foundations and temporary structures, but the reviewed page does not name a builders risk insurer 11.

Services and how you start

MMA lists hazard assessment, valuation, catastrophe modeling and claims advocacy, and you work with a property specialist rather than an online quote 11. BHSI instead lists the underwriting inputs it may request, including a project description and construction schedule 6.

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

  • Which insurer and form would MMA place your project with? 11
  • Does your project fall in a BHSI target category? 5
  • Are materials belonging to others covered, and on what terms? 11

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Marsh 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

Marsh Review Score

5.8/ 10

Review Score

2 rated sources

Marsh’s global Trustpilot profile has a poor 1.3/5 score. Treat it as a service warning to investigate with your proposed team; it does not isolate US commercial accounts.[2][4][7]

Read Marsh reviews

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Marsh Builders Risk Compared

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

CriteriaBuilder’s RiskMarsh McLennan Agency Builders' Risk Insurance
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.

Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), Marsh's middle-market subsidiary, places builders' risk insurance as part of its broader property insurance practice, not as a separately branded product. 11Company-reported. MMA property insurance page, Builders' Risk subsection.

Issuing Insurer

Confirm in your quote.

The reviewed page does not name a specific builders' risk insurer. 11Not publicly disclosed. MMA property insurance page as read on 2026-09-23.

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.

Confirm in your quote.

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.

MMA says builders' risk coverage addresses risks unique to a building under construction, including additions and alterations, foundations, temporary structures, and materials and supplies owned by the insured, and on a limited basis, materials and supplies belonging to others. 11Company-reported. MMA property insurance page; illustrative description, not a specific policy form.

Risk Services

Confirm in your quote.

MMA says its property practice offers hazard assessment and valuation services, loss and catastrophe modeling, claims advocacy, pre- and post-loss risk control, and program design expertise drawn from its global market experience. 11Company-reported. MMA property insurance page, Benefits of Property Insurance and Builders' Risk sections; these services are described for the property practice generally, not exclusively for builders' risk.

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.

You work with an MMA property specialist directly; the page names a National Accounts Property Practice Leader and describes advisor-led placement rather than an online quote. 11Company-reported. MMA property insurance page.

Related Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Marsh

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Sources for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Marsh

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 Marsh

  1. Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments. Marsh; Hero and capability tiles; FAQ: What does Marsh do?; industries served; Is Marsh the same as Marsh McLennan? January 2026 brand change. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Compensation guide for US clients. Marsh; US broking segments; broker role; retail commissions, client fees, wholesale, insurer consulting, contingent and supplemental commissions; Marsh LLC and Marsh USA LLC; page 3: broker role and Marsh & McLennan Agency segment; page 7: copyright © 2024 Marsh LLC. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). Marsh; Middle-market US organizations; wholly-owned subsidiary; business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, private client. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management. Marsh; Opening Technology Practice description; practice links including data center insurance, fintech and Stratus; Talk to us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  5. Property Insurance. Marsh McLennan Agency; Builders' Risk subsection under Property Insurance: risks unique to a building during construction, including additions and alterations, foundations, temporary structures, materials and supplies; Program design expertise; Benefits of Property Insurance. Accessed 2026-09-23.

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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