Are you receiving a call at least once a year from your insurance agent to review your homeowners insurance? Does he or she review your policy annually with you? When you call with questions, are they answered promptly? Do you understand your coverage?
If you answered “no” to just one of these questions, you might want to consider finding a new agent – or have a discussion with your current one. It’s wise to periodically shop for the best price, and it’s equally wise to shop for the agent who will serve you well. So what should you look for?
LOCATION
If location is an issue, where is the office? Is it easy to find? Is there free, adequate parking? The best location of all is your own home. Some agents come to your home instead of you coming into their office. If that’s important, ask if this is something they normally do.
COVERAGE REVIEW
Do you receive an annual review of your coverage? Your agent should provide this service because there are changes that might need to be addressed. Remodeling or an addition to your home will increase the value; this most likely will require an increase in coverage. Have you added siding? Is there an automatic adjustment to address the increase associated with the housing market?
PROACTIVE WITH YOUR PREMIUMS
Do you know if you’re getting the best premium rates? Shop around and get a few quotes. Let your current agent know you’re doing this. I’m amazed at how many people tell me they get a better rate when they decide to shop their policies. Don’t assume you are always getting the best premium just because your current agent was the lowest price when you switched to him years ago!
CUSTOMER SERVICE
A good agent is responsive to questions and your claims needs. Do you receive a call back promptly when you have questions? Are the questions answered in words you can understand, or in ‘insurance speak’? If your agent is great with helping you understand your policy, you can be pretty confident he will be there for you when you have to file a claim.
If you like your agent but just don’t seem to be getting the service you expect, let him know you’re going to start shopping for a quote and state why. This will give him a chance to address the issues; maybe he wasn’t aware of your specific needs. Being upfront about this will give him an opportunity to review your premiums.
So how do you find the right insurance professional? One of the best ways is to ask friends, neighbors and family members about their agents. Find out if they are happy with them and why they remain a customer. If you are in networking groups, civic organizations, belong to a church, etc., you probably already know some insurance agents. Talk to them; let them know you’re shopping your insurance and ask for an opportunity to meet with them. Even if you’ve know them for years, treat it like an interview. Just because you like someone doesn’t mean they’re the right fit for you.
Changing agents is a business decision, so make sure all of your questions are addressed. Get at least 3 quotes plus one from your current agent. Be sure you’re being quoted on identical coverage so you are making a true comparison. And then make your decision based on both the dollars and the agent. You might find a great agent with fantastic rates. Or you just might find you’re right where you belong.
