Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs
Nationwide: How Do They Compare for Builders Risk Insurance?
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 Nationwide?
Nationwide’s commercial catalogue includes common small-business policies and separate specialty products. A catalogue listing does not establish eligibility or policy terms; confirm the issuing company and coverage for your state and business. 7,8,9
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
What Are the Key Differences Between Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Nationwide Builders Risk Insurance?
How specifically each describes the project
BHSI describes hot testing and commissioning, delay and soft-cost features, and separates EAR and CAR target categories 5. Nationwide describes property under construction, materials and temporary structures, with debris removal, earthquake, flood and business income as optional endorsements 10.
Eligibility and selective appetite
BHSI says Master Builder's Risk is considered selectively 5. Nationwide names construction projects through completion as the target, with commercial and industrial construction among its ideal risks 10.
Getting a quote
BHSI says underwriting may ask for a project description, contractor loss experience and a construction schedule 6. Nationwide's page tells buyers to contact an agent or request a quote and sets no timeline 10.
What Should You Confirm in Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Nationwide Builders Risk Insurance Quotes?
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Nationwide 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
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 reviewsNationwide Review Score
Review Score
4 rated sources
Experts like Nationwide more than customers do. NerdWallet gives it 4.5 out of 5 for business insurance, while small-business customers on ConsumerAffairs give it 2.5 out of 5 from 19 reviews.[1][10]
Read Nationwide reviewsBerkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Nationwide Builders Risk Compared
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Nationwide: Builders Risk Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Builder’s Risk | Nationwide builders risk (official overview) |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Nationwide describes offering builders risk for the audience stated on the cited product page. 10Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| 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. | Construction projects through completion; listed ideal risks include commercial/industrial construction and other named industries. 10Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| 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 cited product page describes property under construction, construction materials, and temporary structures, with optional endorsements such as debris removal, earthquake, flood, and business income. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. 10Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | The cited overview does not set a universal limit or retention for this line. Ask for the proposed policy form, limits, retentions, exclusions, and conditions in the quote. 10Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. |
| 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. | The page directs prospective customers to contact an agent or request a quote. The page does not establish a quote, bind, or coverage-effective timeline. 10Company-reported. builders risk marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
Related Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Nationwide
Builders Risk Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Nationwide
Other Coverage Lines Compared for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Nationwide
Other Builders Risk Insurance Provider Comparisons
Sources for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Nationwide
Sources About Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Nationwide
- Small Business Insurance. Nationwide; Small business products and solutions, lines 185–214: BOP, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, umbrella, EPLI, cyber and surety; purchase guidance lines 235–247. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Small Business Insurance Solutions for Agents. Nationwide; Specialized small commercial solutions: BOP, auto, workers’ compensation, cyber, EPLI, umbrella, inland marine and professional liability; page states appetite varies by state, lines 129–163, 191–193. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Terms and Conditions for Nationwide.com. Nationwide; P&C products not offered by all companies/states; policy/declarations control; NMI and affiliates may underwrite; each underwriter responsible for own products, lines 358–368 and 391–394. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Get Builder’s Risk Insurance - Nationwide. Nationwide; Additional builder's risk coverage; property under construction, materials, temporary structures, and endorsement examples. Accessed 2026-09-30.
Sources for the Builders Risk Insurance Guide
- Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Builders’ Risk Policies; Ocean Marine; Auto Physical Damage; All-Risk. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial Property; Inland Marine; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- 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.
- Builders Risk Application Tip Sheet. US Assure; General policy application tips p.1; Remodeling tips p.2. Accessed 2026-09-16.




