Warehouse storage is insurance for warehouse storage operations. It helps cover a business as a bailee. This type of insurance is needed by anyone who stores goods in warehouses and can be purchased both by businesses that lease storage space and by businesses that own the space they use to store goods. A bailee, in the context of Warehouse Storage Insurance, refers to any person or business that takes possession of something belonging to someone else and then turns it over to someone else after storing it.
When your business offers to store goods for a client, it assumes legal responsibility for them, meaning you’re legally obligated to protect those items from damage or loss. While coverage varies by policy, Warehouse Storage Insurance will generally include protection for theft and loss of inventory as well as costs related to emergency repairs, such as mold removal. Many policies also include liability coverage in case someone is injured while on your property. If a fire were to break out in a warehouse where you store goods, both your inventory and any structures on your property could be at risk. warehouse storage insurance will typically cover the replacement of damaged items and costs related to damage or destruction of property due to fire.
In addition to Warehouse Storage Insurance, you should ensure your business has liability coverage in case someone is injured while on your property. Business owners also have a responsibility to maintain safe working conditions, which means they may be held responsible for any injuries that occur due to unsafe conditions. Typical losses covered by liability policies include medical expenses and loss of income if someone is injured at your business, or if you need to pay legal settlements or court costs due to an injury claim. You should also be sure that you have adequate automobile coverage in case you’re sued for damages incurred in an accident involving one of your vehicles. Additional types of insurance may be available depending on where you live and what type of products or services your business offers.
If you’re using a warehouse to store goods on behalf of others, Warehouse Storage Insurance is an important part of your business. It helps ensure that if something goes wrong with those goods while they’re in your care, you won’t be left out of pocket. From physical damage to theft and disruption, it pays to have adequate protection in place against some of these risks. Depending on your line of work, there are additional coverages that may come into play if you need help calculating or understanding what level of coverage is appropriate for your circumstances, talk to an agent from AIS today!
Depending on what type of goods you’re storing, there are some factors to consider when evaluating your Warehouse Storage Insurance. Physical damage is fairly straightforward: if there’s a fire or other disaster that affects your business’s facilities, you should be covered for any damage done to your goods. However, other potential losses may not be so obvious theft and fraud are two examples. For example, if one of your employees is committing fraud or theft against a client and uses their access to your warehouse space to move stolen property into and out of inventory, you could end up liable in some cases. On top of physical risks like fire and flooding which many policies also include, keep an eye out for coverage against perils such as employee dishonesty.
There are many different types of Warehouse Storage Insurance policies, so it’s important to know which policy will be best for your situation. For example, blanket warehouse storage policies cover all losses that fall under a general description, such as theft or damage from fire. You can also get coverage specific to what you’re storing; for example, if you have valuable items in your warehouse, you may want to purchase a higher Commercial Property Insurance value package than would otherwise fit your budget. Before you get any coverage, make sure you understand exactly what is and isn’t covered. It may seem obvious that you’ll be covered if anything in your warehouse is stolen or damaged by fire but is water damage included?
When you're choosing insurance, it's important to consider what will happen if a loss occurs. Most policies require a police report to make a claim; your insurer may ask for photos or other evidence as well. To learn more about whether Warehouse Storage Insurance is right for you, take a look at our policy page.