Bonds, Bids & Insurance Mistakes: A Contractor’s Guide to Surety and Coverage

PART 1:

Bonds & Bids: The Contractor’s Guide to Surety Success

Win more jobs. Avoid costly delays. Keep your projects moving.

Surety bonds are a critical part of winning work and protecting your business in the construction industry—but for many contractors, the process feels complex, time-consuming and full of red tape.

This session breaks down the entire bonding process in practical, job-ready terms, from the basics to the behind-the-scenes decisions sureties make when approving you. You’ll learn how to set up and maintain a bonding facility, avoid last-minute scrambles, and position your company to bid (and win!) bigger projects.

Topics:

• The basics of bonding and why it matters in construction
• Types of bonds and when each is required
• Prequalification documents and how to get them right the first time
• How to request bonds and bonding letters without last-minute panic
• Building and maintaining a strong bonding facility
• What brokers and sureties look for before approving you
• Common mistakes that slow down or derail the bonding process

PART 2: 

Insurance Mistakes in Construction (and How to Avoid Them)

Reduce risk. Protect your projects. Avoid costly surprises.

Construction insurance is more than a formality—it’s a critical part of protecting your projects and your company. Far too often, contractors only discover coverage gaps after a claim is denied or a lawsuit lands on their desk.

This practical course focuses on the insurance-related mistakes made in construction—and how to avoid them. Using real-world Manitoba examples, we’ll walk through common scenarios involving builder’s risk, general liability, project-specific policies and contract obligations you may not realize you’ve accepted.

Whether you’re managing projects, reviewing contracts, or running your own business, this session will help you understand how insurance really works in the field—and how to avoid costly missteps.

Topics:

• Real examples of denied claims and the mistakes that caused them
• Understanding the difference between general liability, builder’s risk, and wrap-up coverage
• What’s required under your contract
• Why insurance certificates don’t confirm full coverage or compliance
• Common oversights in project bidding and subcontractor coverage

Contractors, estimators, project managers, business owners, and anyone involved in bidding or securing work that requires bonds.

Patrick Smoke & Sel Tse

Apex Surety & Insurance Ltd.