You finished the job. You packed up your tools, collected your check, and moved on to the next one. As far as you are concerned, that project is done.

But what if something goes wrong six months later?

A wiring issue causes a fire. A circuit panel fails. A client says the work you did last spring is the reason they are now dealing with thousands of dollars in damage. And they are coming after you.

Here is the question most Iowa electricians and contractors never think to ask until it is too late: does your general liability policy actually cover that?

The answer might be no.

What Is Completed Operations Coverage?

Completed operations is a specific type of coverage that protects you against claims that arise after a job is finished and you have left the site.

Your standard general liability policy covers bodily injury and property damage that happens during the job. If a client trips over your equipment while you are on site, that is covered. If you accidentally damage something while working, that is covered.

But once you pack up and leave, that on site protection does not automatically follow you. Completed operations coverage is what fills that gap. It covers claims that show up after the work is done and the job is closed.

For electricians and contractors, this matters more than almost any other coverage on your policy. The nature of the work you do does not always show problems right away. Wiring faults, installation issues, and structural problems can take weeks, months, or even years to surface. By that time you are long gone from the job site.

Why Most Contractors Assume They Are Covered When They Are Not

Completed operations coverage is often listed as part of your general liability policy, which makes it easy to assume it is automatically included. In many cases it is. But not always.

Some policies exclude it entirely. Others include a version of it with limitations that make it nearly useless in a real claim situation. And some contractors have completed operations coverage on paper but have limits so low that a single claim would blow right through them.

Most people never read past the first page of their policy. They see general liability and assume they are covered for everything. Insurance companies are not going to call you and point out the gaps. That is not their job. It is yours to know — or it is your agent’s job to tell you.

Who Needs This Coverage?

If any of the following describes your business, you need to verify you actually have it.

You do installation work of any kind. Electrical systems, HVAC units, plumbing, roofing, flooring — anything that gets built into a structure and is expected to function over time carries risk after the job is complete.

You work on occupied buildings. Residential homes, commercial properties, rental units. If people are living or working in a space where you did work, the exposure is real.

You have ever been asked to show a certificate of insurance to a general contractor or property owner. Most certificates include completed operations as a line item. If you have been handing those out, you should know exactly what they say.

How to Check Your Own Policy Right Now

Pull out your declarations page. This is the summary page at the front of your policy that lists your coverages and limits. Look for a line that says completed operations or products and completed operations. It is usually listed alongside your general aggregate limit.

If you see it listed with a dollar amount next to it, note the limit and compare it to the size of jobs you typically do.

If you do not see it listed at all, that is a problem worth addressing immediately.

What Happens If You Do Not Have It

A claim comes in after a completed job and your policy does not include completed operations coverage. Your insurance carrier reviews the claim, determines it falls outside your coverage terms, and denies it. You are now personally responsible for the legal defense costs, the damages, and any settlement. On a commercial job those numbers can reach well into the six figures.

The contractors who find out they are not covered always find out the same way. Through a claim. There is no other moment that forces the issue.

Get a Second Set of Eyes on Your Policy

If you are an Iowa electrician or contractor and you have not had someone specifically check your completed operations coverage, that is worth doing now rather than after something goes wrong.

At Sands Insurance we do free policy reviews for Iowa contractors. No sales pitch. No obligation. We look at what you have, tell you exactly where you stand, and if there is a gap we show you what it would cost to fix it. If your policy is solid we will tell you that too.

It takes about 15 minutes. Reply to this post, send us a message, or give us a call.

Scott Sands Sands Insurance — Ankeny, Iowa 515-965-2429 | scott@sands-insurance.com | sands-insurance.com