Overview — Gorst & Compass Insurance Commercial Property Insurance
Gorst & Compass Insurance offers a dedicated wholesale broker program placing commercial property risks through a mix of binding authorities and brokerage markets. Our program is built for agents who need flexible access to admitted and non-admitted capacity, optional earthquake and excess limits, and coverages that span builders’ risk to inland/ocean marine. Use this program to place owner-occupied and tenant-occupied property classes across small to mid-size portfolios.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
- Multi-family apartments and lessors’ risk (including small portfolios)
- Retail shopping centers and strip centers
- Office buildings and professional complexes
- Light manufacturing and warehouses
- Hotels and motels
- Vacant buildings (subject to underwriting review)
We typically appetite properties with standard construction, clear maintenance histories, and manageable vacant exposure. Accounts with complex environmental exposures, heavy manufacturing with high-hazard operations, or large catastrophic aggregation should be submitted for prior discussion.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
- Building and Business Personal Property (BPP) — broad form options available via admitted or non-admitted carriers.
- Builders’ Risk — for new construction or renovation projects.
- Crime and Inland/Ocean Marine — add-on modules to complete a client’s property program.
- Optional Excess layers and Earthquake coverage — flexible placement to meet client limits.
- Access to both admitted and non-admitted markets — useful when admitted capacity is limited or when broader wording is needed.
Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums
Underwriting focuses on risk details agents can provide quickly: occupancy, construction type, year built, replacement cost, sprinkler status, protection class, and loss history. For vacant buildings, provide vacancy duration and security/maintenance plans. Gorst & Compass works with carriers that accept binding authority submissions and full-brokered placements; minimum premium requirements vary by market.
Minimum premium: Varies by carrier and binding authority. Provide submission details to get a pre-qualification and estimated premium range.
Territories and Admitted Status
This program currently places business in California. We work with a mix of admitted and non-admitted carriers to give you placement options. Where admitted capacity is available we will use it; when broader terms or higher limits are required we can access non-admitted markets.
Why Work With Gorst & Compass Insurance
- Wholesale broker expertise — streamlined submission handling and access to multiple markets from a single point of contact.
- Binding authorities plus brokerage markets — faster decisions on eligible risks and flexibility when admitted capacity is constrained.
- Practical underwriting — we focus on coverages that matter to commercial property owners and investors, including builders’ risk and inland marine.
- Agent-focused service — clear submission checklists, targeted appetite guidance, and responsive quote follow-up.
Example scenarios that fit this program
- You have a client that owns a 40-unit apartment building in California needing building & BPP with optional earthquake coverage — this program can place admitted or non-admitted capacity depending on limits and exposures.
- A small shopping center owner needs a combined property and crime policy with an excess layer — Gorst & Compass can package the core property coverage and secure excess capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accounts are a good fit for this commercial property program?
Best fits include apartments, office buildings, shopping centers, warehouses, hotels/motels, lessors’ risks, and builders’ risk for small-to-mid-size projects. Vacant buildings are considered but require additional supporting information.
Which states does this program support and are admitted markets available?
The program currently writes in California and uses a mix of admitted and non-admitted carriers. Where admitted capacity exists we will pursue it; non-admitted capacity is available for broader terms or higher limits.
What information should I include with a submission to speed underwriting?
Include occupancy, construction type, year built, square footage, replacement cost values, protection class/sprinklers, loss history for the last 3–5 years, and details on vacancy or tenant mix. For builders’ risk include project values and timeline.
Are earthquake and excess limits available?
Yes. Optional earthquake coverage and excess layers are available through the program, subject to carrier appetite and underwriting review.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.