Blog


InterWest Insurance
InterWest Insurance

InterWest Insurance's Blog

What Contractors Need To Know To Rebuild California

What Contractors Need To Know To Rebuild California

It’s difficult to comprehend the incredibly vast scope of rebuilding that needs to be done in California. In August of 2020, California saw 7,175 fire incidents, with almost 600 fires burning concurrently. In a single month, more than 1.6 m million acres burned, 3,000 structures were damaged or destroyed, and seven lives were lost. And the fire season will continue for the next few months, with more destruction coming our way. Homeowners are, understandably, very eager ...
COVID-19 Ushers in New Cyber Risks for Employers

COVID-19 Ushers in New Cyber Risks for Employers

Cyber threats are always present, but the COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new era of cybercrime, increasing risks to employers and organizations. Scammers Use COVID-19 as Phishing Bait Phishing scams, using emails to capture personal data or financial information, are nothing new. But COVID-19 has given cybercriminals a shiny new lure to bait unsuspecting victims, by masquerading as: Suppliers of masks, ventilators, and other medical supplies, or in-demand commodities like hand sanitizers. Economic loans/ government ...
Does Contractor Insurance Cover COVID-19 Losses?

Does Contractor Insurance Cover COVID-19 Losses?

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to make global headlines, contractors wonder if their contractor insurance policies will cover COVID-related losses. If you had a project shutdown by local municipalities to limit the spread of the pandemic, project financing withdrawn by a lender, or experienced significant delays from material suppliers; you might be wondering the same. Builders Risk Insurance May Cover COVID Losses One contractor insurance policy that may protect you against COVID-related losses is builder's risk. Builder's ...
What is Course of Construction Insurance?

What is Course of Construction Insurance?

Designed to protect construction projects that are in progress along with tools and equipment on the job site, course of construction coverage helps protect you from financial losses caused by natural disasters, vandalism, theft, fires, or even pandemics like COVID-19. Also called builders risk insurance, the short explanation of what this policy does for your construction business is simple: It protects your business' investment in an active construction project. Course of Construction Has You Covered Taking out a ...
How is COVID-19 Impacting the Construction Industry?

How is COVID-19 Impacting the Construction Industry?

New pandemic protocols, updated contracts, deferred spending to preserve cash...COVID-19 has changed the way many contractors and construction pros are doing business. Here are a few of the ways COVID has impacted the construction industry so far. Construction Considered "Essential" While many State governments ordered many businesses to shut down to slow the spread of COVID, the construction industry managed to elude ordered shutdowns. Infrastructure projects, in particular, are noted for their importance. And health and safety risks ...
7 Ways Employers Can Prevent Cyber Risks from a Remote Workforce

7 Ways Employers Can Prevent Cyber Risks from a Remote Workforce

Remote work was increasingly common before COVID-19, and now more and more companies are offering employees ways to work part-time or full-time at home. Unfortunately, remote work can bring its own unique set of challenges to employers, not the least of which is cybersecurity. Here are seven ways employers can reduce the risks of data breaches and hacks when they have a remote workforce. Avoid Unsecured Networks Free WiFi is available everywhere these days. And your employees ...
3 Tips to Keep Information Secure with a Remote Workforce

3 Tips to Keep Information Secure with a Remote Workforce

If your business adapted a virtual office environment during COVID-19, developing a remote work policy is critical for securing confidential data. Whether you're updating an existing remote work policy or starting one from scratch, there's no better time to make sure you're protecting the valuable data your remote workers are taking out into the world. How should you secure data with remote employees? We've got three tips to help you put together an ironclad data security ...
Contractor Insurance Dos and Don'ts

Contractor Insurance Dos and Don'ts

You need insurance for your construction business, but you don't want to spend too much or too little on it. If you're paying too much for your contractor insurance, you're tying up cash that you could use to help your business grow. But spend too little, and you may be sacrificing coverage -- and there's nothing worse than finding out after-the-fact that you don't have enough coverage if something goes wrong. Contractor Insurance Dos and Don'ts These ...
10 Small Business Lessons Learned During COVID-19

10 Small Business Lessons Learned During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on the global economy, with small businesses hit particularly hard. Despite challenging times, many business owners have learned a lesson or two. Here are a few takeaways from the pandemic that may help your business weather this -- and any future -- storms. Stay Positive, Cash Flow The line between profit and cash flow can be fine, but business owners who survive tough times agree that positive cash flow ...
Your Five Biggest Small Business Challenges Solved

Your Five Biggest Small Business Challenges Solved

For entrepreneurs, running your own business offers rewards as well as challenges. Some issues, like reducing employee turnover and successfully building a brand, are at the top of many business owners' list of complaints—regardless of organizational size. But small business owners have their own unique hurdles to overcome in order to succeed. Read on to learn about the five biggest small business challenges... and how to solve them. Challenge #1: Managing Money While cash flow is an issue for ...