Harper vs 
Nationwide: How Do They Compare for Builders Risk Insurance?
What Is Harper Insurance?
Harper suits hard-to-place businesses such as contractors, care providers, manufacturers and transportation firms; standard small businesses seeking direct quotes should compare online carriers. Its workers’ compensation service helps classify payroll for audits. 1,2
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. 5,6,7
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. 9,10,11,12
Key Differences in Builders Risk Insurance
Construction Contract Administration
Harper places builders risk as part of its Construction & Contractors package and says it can issue certificates with additional-insured, waiver-of-subrogation, and primary-and-noncontributory wording the same day a contract requires it; it also checks subcontractor certificates. Nationwide's overview names construction property, materials, and temporary structures, but its published description does not outline certificate or subcontractor services. For a project with lender or owner contract deadlines, ask Nationwide's agent who will handle those documents and when. 3 8
Coverage Scope and Application
Harper describes protection for the structure, materials, and fixtures from ground break to handover, while Nationwide lists property under construction and optional debris removal, earthquake, flood, and business income. Harper says one construction application can be sent across markets, while Nationwide directs the buyer to an agent or quote request. Bring the same project values and requested endorsements to both routes; the descriptions alone do not establish matching policy terms. 3 3 8
What to Confirm in Builders Risk Insurance Quotes
- Ask each insurer or broker to list insured project property and whether fixtures are covered before handover, including any exclusions or completion conditions. 3 8
- If the contract needs special certificate wording, ask Nationwide's agent to confirm availability and turnaround; Harper describes same-day certificates with specified clauses. 3 8
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.
Harper
Review Score
No reviews found
We found no customer star rating for Harper. Its Trustpilot page has 0 reviews, and BBB shows 0 customer reviews and 2 complaints.[4][6]
Read Harper reviewsNationwide
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 reviewsOffering Details
Harper vs Nationwide: Builders Risk Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Harper Builders Risk Coverage | Nationwide builders risk (official overview) |
|---|---|---|
| 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. 3Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page; describes Harper's placement role for the package that includes builders risk, not a standalone builders risk product page. | Nationwide describes offering builders risk for the audience stated on the cited product page. 8Company-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. |
| Issuing Insurer | The reviewed pages do not name the insurer or insurers that would issue a builders risk policy Harper places; the industry page refers only to 'every market that writes construction' without listing carriers. 3Not publicly disclosed. Checked the Construction & Contractors industry page and homepage industries carousel on 2026-09-23; a specific insurer would appear on the quote or policy. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Who It’s For | Harper says Construction & Contractors coverage, including builders risk, is for general contractors managing subs, specialty trades such as roofing, framing, electrical, plumbing and HVAC, remodelers and handymen, residential and commercial builders, and construction managers. 3Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page 'Who this is for' section; not builders-risk-specific eligibility criteria such as project value or completion timeline. | Construction projects through completion; listed ideal risks include commercial/industrial construction and other named industries. 8Company-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 | 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. 3,4Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page coverage callouts and homepage industries carousel; the issued policy and declarations would control actual terms. | 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. 8Company-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 | Harper's reviewed pages do not publish builders risk limits, deductibles or maximum project values; the industry page says cost depends on trade, payroll and revenue and is quoted individually across multiple markets. 3Not publicly disclosed. Construction & Contractors industry page FAQ 'What does it cost?'; no published limit or retention figures found. | 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. 8Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. |
| 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. 3Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page; describes the certificate and risk-review service Harper says it provides around construction projects, which includes builders risk jobs. | Confirm in your quote. |
| 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. 3Company-reported. Construction & Contractors industry page 'Why Harper' section; specific markets contacted for a given project are not named. | 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. 8Company-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. |
Full Comparison
More Harper vs Nationwide Comparisons
Other Builders Risk Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Harper
- Text Messaging Terms and Conditions. Harper Global Enterprises Inc.; Effective August 24, 2026; sections 1–3 (entity, consent and service messages), 5 (message costs), 9 (delivery) and 11 (coverage confirmation). Accessed 2026-09-15.
- We're Announcing $47M to Build the Insurance Company Every Business Deserves. Harper / Dakotah Rice; February 26, 2026 article: brokerage identity; AI-assisted submissions and follow-ups; 24–48-hour coverage statement; more than 165 underwriters; plans for additional direct appointments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Construction & Contractors Insurance. Harper; Know your coverage: What is Construction & Contractors insurance?; Worksite liability, Builders risk, Tools & equipment, Certificates & additional insureds callouts; Who this is for; Why Harper (we know the trades, paperwork that wins bids, every market that writes construction, one call handled); FAQs on contractor insurance, certificate speed, subcontractor injuries, tool theft and cost. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Harper Homepage. Harper; Industries We Serve carousel: 'Construction & Contractors — From GCs to specialty trades: jobsite liability, builders risk, and the certificates your projects cannot start without.'. Accessed 2026-09-23.
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.
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.
