Harper vs 
Marsh: How Do They Compare for Builders Risk Insurance?
Harper takes a single construction application and writes certificates the same day; Marsh places builders risk through Marsh McLennan Agency's property practice with a specialist, not an online quote.
Harper describes builders risk from ground break to handover within construction coverage; Marsh McLennan Agency places the line in property insurance and names limited coverage for others’ materials. 1,3
What Are the Key Differences Between Harper and Marsh Builders Risk Insurance?
Construction Practice Versus Property Practice
MMA’s property description includes foundations and temporary structures, with materials belonging to others covered only on a limited basis. Harper’s package pairs builders risk with jobsite liability and certificate support. 3 1
Project Stages and Covered Property
Harper’s reviewed page describes the structure, materials and fixtures from ground break through handover. Marsh’s property material discusses foundations, additions and alterations, temporary structures and materials owned by the insured, with limited treatment for materials belonging to others. The labels are not interchangeable: the quote must show the project stage, property interest and applicable extensions. 1 3
Certificates Versus Property Risk Services
Harper says it handles additional-insured, waiver-of-subrogation and primary-and-non-contributory certificates the same day. Marsh describes hazard assessment, valuation, catastrophe modeling, claims advocacy and pre- and post-loss risk control within its property practice. Neither reviewed offering states which services attach to a builders-risk placement or publishes policy limits. 1 3
What Should You Confirm in Harper and Marsh Builders Risk Insurance Quotes?
- Ask each broker to identify the issuing insurer, admitted or excess-and-surplus route, and policy form. 1 3
- Compare treatment of foundations, temporary structures and materials owned by someone else. 3 1
- Confirm whether certificate turnaround, modeling, claims advocacy and risk-control services are included or separately scoped. 1 3
- Obtain limits, deductibles, soft-cost terms and project-duration provisions from both quotes; neither reviewed page publishes them. 1 3
Harper vs Marsh Builders Risk Insurance Compared
Harper vs Marsh: Builders Risk Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Harper Builders Risk Coverage | Marsh McLennan Agency Builders' Risk Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| How to Apply | Harper says it takes one application for construction risk, including builders risk, and quotes it across every market it says writes construction, admitted where pricing allows and excess-and-surplus lines when the work demands it. 1Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page 'Why Harper' section; specific markets contacted for a given project are not named. | 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. 3Company-reported. MMA property insurance page. |
| Coverage Features | Harper describes builders risk as covering the structure, materials and fixtures of a project from ground break to handover, alongside jobsite liability and the certificates a project requires to start. 1,2Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page coverage callouts and homepage industries carousel; the issued policy and declarations would control actual terms. | 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. 3Company-reported. MMA property insurance page; illustrative description, not a specific policy form. |
| Role in This Line | Harper places builders risk as one piece of its Construction & Contractors insurance package, describing itself as calling every market that writes construction and presenting the options back, rather than underwriting the coverage itself. 1Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page; describes Harper's placement role for the package that includes builders risk, not a standalone builders risk product page. | 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. 3Company-reported. MMA property insurance page, Builders' Risk subsection. |
| Risk Services | Harper says it writes certificates of insurance with additional-insured, waiver-of-subrogation and primary-and-non-contributory wording the same day a contract calls for it, and checks subcontractors' certificates so their risk does not become the general contractor's. 1Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page; describes the certificate and risk-review service Harper says it provides around construction projects, which includes builders risk jobs. | 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. 3Company-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. |
