What Louisiana Real Estate Agencies Should Know About Commercial Insurance Coverage

One Monday morning in Baton Rouge, a real estate brokerage opened its doors to a routine property showing. By lunchtime, the office was scrambling to file a claim after a client slipped on freshly mopped tile and broke her wrist. That single incident led to a legal mess—and a lot of questions the broker wasn’t prepared to answer.

These are the moments when insurance stops being a line item and becomes your safety net. If you own or operate a real estate agency in Louisiana—whether in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, or New Orleans—having the right commercial insurance is more than just a smart move. It’s the difference between recovering quickly and facing long-term financial damage.

Here’s what you need to know.

General Liability Coverage Is Still One of the Most Important Policies You Can Carry

Every open house, office visit, or client consultation carries some risk. Even if your brokerage follows every safety guideline, things happen. That’s why general liability coverage remains the backbone of most insurance plans for Louisiana real estate businesses.

In Why General Liability Insurance Still Matters for Real Estate Brokerages in Louisiana, we covered the kinds of situations that can lead to third-party claims—slip-and-falls, property damage, or advertising-related lawsuits—and how this policy helps cover legal fees, medical costs, and settlements. Without it, one accident can threaten your entire operation.

Business Income Coverage Helps You Stay Afloat During Closures

What happens when a flood shuts down your Alexandria office for two weeks? Without any transactions closing and the phones silent, your revenue disappears overnight. Business income coverage is designed for exactly this kind of interruption.

In Why Real Estate Agencies in Louisiana Should Consider Business Income Coverage, we talked about how this policy helps replace lost income while your doors are closed due to a covered event. It’s one of the most overlooked coverages, but it’s a lifeline during hurricanes, fire damage, or any extended downtime.

Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance Shields You from Costly Mistakes

You don’t have to make a huge mistake to end up in court. One missed disclosure. One misunderstood contract clause. That’s all it takes. E&O insurance protects real estate brokers and agents from professional liability claims tied to the work you do every day.

In Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance: Why Every Louisiana Real Estate Broker Needs It, we break down how this coverage steps in when clients accuse your team of negligence, misinformation, or failure to uphold contractual duties. The defense costs alone make this policy worth its weight.

Cyber Liability Insurance Isn’t Optional Anymore

Your real estate brokerage holds sensitive client data—from social security numbers and bank info to digital signatures and tax documents. One breach could compromise your clients’ trust and expose you to serious legal risk.

In Cyber Liability Insurance for Real Estate Brokers in Louisiana: Why It's More Important Than Ever, we discuss the rise in cyberattacks and how this policy helps cover breach response, client notification, legal defense, and even ransomware payments. If your brokerage uses cloud-based CRMs or sends sensitive documents electronically, you can’t afford to skip this one.

Even One Vehicle Requires Commercial Auto Insurance

You don’t need a fleet of branded cars to benefit from commercial auto coverage. If you or your agents drive to showings, inspections, or closings in a personal vehicle used for work, your regular auto policy might not apply in a crash.

In What Happens When a Real Estate Office Loses Access to Its Space? The Case for Business Interruption Insurance, we tie commercial auto needs into broader business continuity planning. From fender benders to accidents involving clients, this coverage keeps you protected behind the wheel.

Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) Helps You Avoid HR-Related Lawsuits

One wrongful termination claim can eat up your deductible before you’ve had your first cup of coffee. Real estate offices often have small teams, but that doesn’t shield them from employment-related lawsuits.

In Why Real Estate Brokers in Louisiana Need EPLI, we go into the details of how this policy defends your brokerage against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage disputes. If you’ve ever had to let someone go or resolve a workplace dispute, you need to read that one.

Final Thoughts: Are You Missing a Coverage Gap?

Louisiana’s real estate landscape is competitive—and often unpredictable. From floods and power outages to data breaches and hiring challenges, your brokerage faces unique risks every day. These six insurance coverages—general liability, business income, E&O, cyber liability, commercial auto, and EPLI—work together to close the gaps that could otherwise leave your business exposed.

If you're a broker, agency owner, or team leader anywhere in Acadiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, or Alexandria, and you're unsure if your current policies actually protect what matters most—Kastner Insurance can help.

About Kastner Insurance Group