Liability question!

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Denali2011

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Im new to detailing and noticed alot of people take seats out when cleaning carpets. How big of a liability is that? say you break a wire taking them out or not tighten and customer gets in accident ? just seems like a hazard waiting to happen
 
Its can be a problem if something goes wrong this is why you should have insurance. I never really ever take out sets I have maybe 3 times.
 
Denali2011 said:
Im new to detailing and noticed alot of people take seats out when cleaning carpets. How big of a liability is that? say you break a wire taking them out or not tighten and customer gets in accident ? just seems like a hazard waiting to happen
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I wouldn't do it, jusy my opinion, it's a no go for me.
 
I could never see myself doing it either just one of those things that makes me think! I am 20 and have owned a Landscaping company for 4 years I know why insurance is important for sure haha! I have been learning part time with a couple people I know and hope to start detailing customers cars soon! I wanna learn as much as I can before jumping into this trade!
 
I never completely remove the seats with the airbags. Just unbolt them so i can tilt them forward and back to get to the junk. I may be wrong but I dont think insurance will cover this, take a good look at your coverage. When i was shopping around it was made clear to me by several agents that mistakes i make such as burn thru and the like are not covered, that is on me. What is covered is me driving the customers car, and the car is covered for theft or fire at my shop.
 
IF you do remove seats (actually remove anything), document that fact on the work sheet.

Pertaining to only the seats, find out what the factory torque specs are, and be certain that the seats are correctly installed. SOME seats some use "Loc-Tite." Put all that info on the work sheet.

It is a totally CYA, but for some strange reason those seats were to come loose during an accident (or any other mishap), the insurance will be all over it like a hungry dog on a ham bone.

As others have said above, this is a good reason for a detailer to have insurance.

Bill
 
sweatthedetails said:
I never completely remove the seats with the airbags. Just unbolt them so i can tilt them forward and back to get to the junk. I may be wrong but I dont think insurance will cover this, take a good look at your coverage. When i was shopping around it was made clear to me by several agents that mistakes i make such as burn thru and the like are not covered, that is on me. What is covered is me driving the customers car, and the car is covered for theft or fire at my shop.
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I've seen a lot of comments over the years where aspiring detailers think their insurance will cover paint burns or a chunk of paint blasted off the car from using a pressure washer too close to the paint. Simply not the case. I recommend having a few grand set aside for mishaps like these.

As far as removing seats goes. I've had a huge amount of people ask me if I would remove their seats when cleaning their interior. I ask them if they'll be willing to pay extra for that and tell them that I'll remove the entire interior carpet and all if they want me to as long as they'll be paying me to do so. Then I tell them that it's quite unnecessary.

I'm pretty sure (could be wrong) that on newer models with the airbags in the seats if you do remove the seats and unplug anything, the computer stores the fact that the seats were removed and that can cause issues down the road which may complicate the resale value of the vehicle.
 
tuscarora dave said:
I've seen a lot of comments over the years where aspiring detailers think their insurance will cover paint burns or a chunk of paint blasted off the car from using a pressure washer too close to the paint. Simply not the case. I recommend having a few grand set aside for mishaps like these.
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If this is true, and in no way am I disagreeing with you, then would there be any reason for a home-based detailer who never drives the customer's car off the property to have anything beyond their homeowners policy?
 
Would the homeowner's policy cover business related damage such as you jockeying the car into your wash area as the wife is backing in with the groceries and accidentally runs the grocery getter into your customer's car? I'm not up to speed on insurance laws so I really don't know the answer. I'm sure there could be several different scenarios where collision damage or liability could occur on your property and home owner's insurance wouldn't cover situations where running a business was the fault. That'd surely be a question to ask your insurance professional or your attorney.
 
RE: Detailing for Dollars.

Foreword:
Yes...Being properly insured is important.
Being in possession of the proper tools and the knowledge-base
to properly use them is also important.


If you've never taken seats out of any vehicles...
-You need to practice on your own vehicle(s) first before possibly
jeopardizing someone else's property, health & well-being.
-Emphasizes the incentive of: "Do it right the first time"!

-Calling your insurance agent and asking him what liabilities you would face by the consequences
from any failures from seat removal/reinstallation, by you, in your own vehicle(s)... should give you
a pretty good idea of what you would face by doing the same to other vehicles not titled to you.

Just a thought or two.

:)

Bob
 
I don't see a big enough reward by taking out the seats.
Not worth it IMO.
Is the risk of damage worth the reward you may get?
 
I've done it in the past. I don't do it anymore. Too many electronics and gadgets on new cars. Its funny how many people think removing seats is standard procedure. Those same people usually think removing scratches is standard procedure
 
Tuscarora Dave is right again! Most, if not all, Garage Keepers Policies will have a "faulty work" exclusion. I haven't seen any policy that will pay for damage for faulty work though there may be some out there. General Liability policies have "care, custody and control" exclusions so you won't have coverage if the vehicle is in your care, custody and control. Homeowners policies won't pay for business related claims. The forum had a good discussion back in January of 2012 regarding insurance and the thread is titled "A Few Insurance Questions". Calling your agent is a good idea but a better idea is to call your agent and ask him or her who is the best commercial liability claims adjuster in the local claims office then call them for some professional advice.
 
First time I hear about this,

Taking out the seats will be like taking out the motor for a full Detail. IMO

Can it be done? Yes.

But I don't see why, while one might have insurance and be fully covered. What would happen if one forgot 1 bolt on the driver's seat?

Just saying
 
IMO it makes no sense to remove seats. One mistake and your @$$ is getting sued big time!

Another thing I refuse to do is remove/re-install baby seats. Big no-no for me and my guys. If they want under them seats cleaned they can unbuckle them and re-install themselves.


erichaley said:
If this is true, and in no way am I disagreeing with you, then would there be any reason for a home-based detailer who never drives the customer's car off the property to have anything beyond their homeowners policy?
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I dont know why you'd want to do that. Say someone sues you, they're also naming your home owners insurance company in the lawsuit and maybe a lawyer can argue some kind of lien on your property. Who knows what kind of down the road affects that will have on your premiums, policies, etc. And then of course you're running the risk of tying up your home into a lawsuit.

General Liab for my business is about $600/year and I'm required to name my landlord as additional insured covered to $1M. Of course, your local rates will vary, but it shouldn't be outrageous to insure your business separately from your home.
 
Homeowners policies do not normally cover losses related to commercial activity. Home based detailing would not be covered typically. Check with your agent for specifics of your policy.
 
I have never taken seats out. You should be able to work around them. Moving seats forward and back are usually enough for me to work around. To clean it really well. May not be pristine cleaning under the seat but I doubt a client is going to even look under there.
I have my little Bissell Green machine for this purpose alone. Being able to clean carpet under a seat.
 
the only tool i put on the cars is polisher ,
no screwdriver , pliers, drill , hammer or anything else related.
i don`t remove plates, wheels or seats , if the owner does than i do clean those areas under/inside etc.
keep things simple
 
jrs1418 said:
IMO it makes no sense to remove seats. One mistake and your @$$ is getting sued big time!

Another thing I refuse to do is remove/re-install baby seats. Big no-no for me and my guys. If they want under them seats cleaned they can unbuckle them and re-install themselves.




I dont know why you'd want to do that. Say someone sues you, they're also naming your home owners insurance company in the lawsuit and maybe a lawyer can argue some kind of lien on your property. Who knows what kind of down the road affects that will have on your premiums, policies, etc. And then of course you're running the risk of tying up your home into a lawsuit.

General Liab for my business is about $600/year and I'm required to name my landlord as additional insured covered to $1M. Of course, your local rates will vary, but it shouldn't be outrageous to insure your business separately from your home.
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Thats a really good point about the baby seats. Thats something the owner should be responsible for removing/installing
 
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